X
After 13 years of trying, the £1,000 cheque to the first team to win all races at the John Merricks Tiger Trophy has gone to Andy Smith and Tim Needham, who conquered some fierce conditions in their 505 this weekend.
Some competitors were surprised when race officer David Wilkins, an Olympic silver medallist, decided to send sailors out for the three handicap races on Saturday. “David reckons it’s only 20 knots,” muttered competitors grimly in the changing rooms, looking as though they were about to sent out to almost certain doom.
“It was averaging 18 knots, with some occasional gusts over 25,” said Wilkins afterwards, “although most competitors had it at about five knots stronger than that. It could have been the dense cold breeze that you tend to get in the winter, which can make the breeze feel stronger.”
While sailors were tipping in left, right and centre across the reservoir, keeping the tireless rescue teams working full bore all afternoon, Smith and Needham sailed majestically around the trapezoid course with seemingly little bother. That said, even Smith admitted to three capsizes during the course of the day. “There was one at the end of the second race near the leeward mark, ended up teabagging Tim and he fell off, another when the spinnaker sheets went under the bow, and another down the run. But I think everyone fell in at some point during the day.”
Some ended up beached on the lee shore by the concrete dam, having to leave their boats there until there was time to rescue the equipment later. All in all, a big day.
In the evening there was the customary dinner to celebrate the life of John Merricks, the Olympic silver medallist who learned his trade on Rutland Water and who would have loved the big breeze of this weekend.
The following day dawned even windier, and there was nervous chatter at the prospect of the pursuit race taking place in high wind, with the exception of a few gung-ho competitors such as former OK World Champion Nick Craig. In the end, the race officer decided to call off the racing, although Craig went out anyway and put on a masterclass of survival sailing in his OK while everyone else packed up to go home.
Meanwhile, Smith and Needham were celebrating winning the Tiger Trophy and picking up the £1,000 cheque at a prizegiving in the brand new John Merricks Training Centre. This is a high performance facility funded by Sport England, Rutland SC, the John Merricks Sailing Trust and Tony Everard at Everards Brewery. John’s father, Dennis Merricks, and Tony Everard were there to open the new building and to present the prizewinners with their hard-won trophies.
Smith said he’d find something to spend the money on. “There’s always something to spend money on with the Five-Oh. Twin poles, I reckon, to make the gybes a bit easier.” Not that it looked like they need any help gybing the boat in the strong winds of Saturday. Smith and Needham have also won the opportunity to sail with Team GAC Pindar at the Cowes Week Extreme 40 event as VIP guests.
Runner-up to the 505 was the 420 of Chris Taylor and Caroline Croft who also won the Junior Tiger Trophy, with last year’s overall winners, Merlin duo Matt Biggs and Ben Hollis in third. Biggs and Hollis also win the SailJuice Global Warm-Up 2011, the winter travellers series that encompassed four of the major multi-class handicap events and which concluded this weekend at Rutland.
Thanks to Rule 26 for event logistics and site branding, and Everards Brewery for all the prize glasswear and Tiger beer for every entrant.
John Merricks Tiger Trophy 2011 winners:
Tiger Trophy: Andy Smith & Tim Needham (NCSC) 505
Junior Tiger Trophy:- (Highest placed Junior team.) Chris Taylor and Caroline Croft (HISC) 420
Shere Khan Trophy - (Highest placed team with combined age of 75+) Roger Dean & Dave Turner (Rock SC) 505
Lady Tiger Trophy- Val Millward (RSC) Challenger
Photo credit: © Tim Chapman
Rank | Class | Fleet | SailNo | Helm | Crew | R1 | R2 | R3 | Nett |
1 | 505 | F | 9012 | Andy Smith | Tim Needham | -1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
2 | 420 | S | 53232 | Chris TAYLOR | Caroline CROFT | 2 | -3 | 2 | 4 |
3 | Merlin Rocket | S | 3705 | Matt BIGGS | Ben HOLLIS | -5 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
4 | RS 600 | F | 962 | Jamie MAWSON | -13 | 8 | 3 | 11 | |
5 | OK | S | 2134 | Nick Craig | 3 | (119 OCS) | 8 | 11 | |
6 | Laser Standard | S | 195318 | Jack Wetherell | 6 | 7 | -12 | 13 | |
7 | 29er | F | 1509 | Callum ELLIS | Will HARRIS | -12 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
8 | 505 | F | 8881 | Roger DEANE | Dave TURNER | (119 DNC) | 11 | 5 | 16 |
9 | Scorpion | S | 2013 | Peter Gray | Rich Pepperdine | 7 | -10 | 9 | 16 |
10 | 29er | F | 157 | Ian PAYNE | Chris BERRY | -18 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
11 | Challenger | S | 257 | Val MILLWARD | 8 | -14 | 11 | 19 | |
12 | RS 400 | F | 498 | Steve Tylecote | Ben Schooling | 10 | 9 | -15 | 19 |
13 | Lark | S | 2495 | Stuart HYDON | Nick HYDON | 9 | 13 | (119 DNF) | 22 |
14 | Merlin Rocket | S | 3670 | Ian DOBSON | Andy TUNNICLIFFE | 22 | 2 | (119 DNC) | 24 |
15 | 505 | F | 9039 | Tim BIRD | Richard NURSE | 21 | -28 | 7 | 28 |
16 | Challenger | S | 270 | Graham HALL | 11 | -19 | 18 | 29 | |
17 | Phantom | S | 1359 | Simon HAWKES | -26 | 12 | 17 | 29 | |
18 | RS 600 | F | 702 | John CHARLES | 15 | 16 | -23 | 31 | |
19 | Phantom | S | 1291 | Andrew WILDE | 14 | 18 | (119 DNC) | 32 | |
20 | Laser 2000 | S | 22215 | Andy Dring | Simon Laken | (119 DNC) | 17 | 20 | 37 |
21 | FINN | S | 18 | James HADDEN | 23 | 15 | (119 DNC) | 38 | |
22 | RS 200 | S | 1203 | James STEWART | Eluned STEWART | 19 | -23 | 19 | 38 |
23 | 29er | F | 342 | Aaron Smith | Alec Rodgers | -33 | 25 | 14 | 39 |
24 | Merlin Rocket | S | 3563 | Paul Hollis | James Dawes | 17 | -22 | 22 | 39 |
25 | Laser 4.7 | S | 136452 | Timothy LUPTON | -27 | 21 | 21 | 42 | |
26 | Laser Radial | S | 196559 | Kerry MORGAN | 25 | 20 | (119 DNC) | 45 | |
27 | BLAZE | S | 678 | Rob JONES | 30 | -35 | 16 | 46 | |
28 | Musto Skiff | F | 288 | Andrew Peake | 24 | 24 | -26 | 48 | |
29 | RS 600 | F | 811 | James Nuttall | -31 | 26 | 24 | 50 | |
30 | 420 | S | 50457 | Lucia LACHLAN-COPE | Emma HOULDER | -29 | 27 | 27 | 54 |
31 | Firefly | S | 2 | Tristan ELLIS | Isabel SCRUBY | -37 | 30 | 29 | 59 |
32 | Firefly | S | 4 | Jan HAPPEL | Richard RANDALL | -35 | 32 | 28 | 60 |
33 | RS 600 | F | 920 | Peter NELSON | -42 | 29 | 31 | 60 | |
34 | Firefly | S | 3 | Emily NAGEL | Sarah KENT | -36 | 31 | 30 | 61 |
35 | RS 400 | F | 1289 | Stuart HALMAN | Sue BRANNAM | 32 | 34 | (119 DNF) | 66 |
36 | Firefly | S | 1 | Cathy LEAR | Francine COUNSELL | 38 | 33 | (119 DNF) | 71 |
37 | Flying Dutchman | F | 369 | BARSLEY-DALE | Gareth RUSSELL | 4 | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 123 |
38 | 420 | S | 53377 | Sarah Allen | Hannah Mitchell | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 6 | 125 |
39 | 420 | S | 52907 | Callum AIRLIE | Drew AIRLIE | 16 | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 135 |
40 | RS 100 | S | 159 | Paul CHILDS | 20 | (119 OCS) | 119 DNC | 139 | |
41 | RS 600 | F | 676 | J Rickard | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 25 | 144 | |
42 | Laser Standard | S | 166427 | Jonathan Swain | 28 | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 147 | |
43 | RS Feva | S | 3746 | Mikhail Radionouskiy | Goerge Hunter | 34 | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 153 |
44 | RS 400 | F | 824 | Chris HART | Mark PEAK | 39 | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 158 |
45 | Laser Radial | S | 182444 | Peter Guttridge | 40 | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 159 | |
46 | Laser 4000 | F | 4271 | John WARBURTON | James CLAPHAM | 41 | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 160 |
47 | OK | S | 10 IRL | Tim Goodbody | 43 | (119 OCS) | 119 DNC | 162 | |
48 | Musto Skiff | F | 262 | Andy RICE | 44 | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 163 | |
49 | Musto Skiff | F | 16 | Tim Chapman | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | 29er | F | 54 | Alex LEONARD | Olivia STOREY | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | AltO | F | 108 | Oliver LOVE | Gareth LINCOLN | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Musto Skiff | F | 186 | James SAINSBURY | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Musto Skiff | F | 281 | Jamie HILTON | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Musto Skiff | F | 284 | Sergei Samus | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | 29er | F | 311 | Joan FURNESS | Will CARLISE | (119 OCS) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 29er | F | 312 | Glen BURROWS | Patrick FORD | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Musto Skiff | F | 351 | Ian MARTIN | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Musto Skiff | F | 369 | Kit STENHOUSE | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | RS 600 | F | 684 | Ben MURRELL | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | 29er | F | 900 | Matt VENABLES | Will ALLOWAY | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Musto skiff | F | 393 | Jonathan OLIN | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | RS 300 | F | 401 | James RUDDIMAN | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | RS 300 | F | 426 | Richard LE MARE | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | RS 500 | F | 525 | James TANNER | Sam CHILDS | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | RS 500 | F | 545 | Sam NICHOLLS | Alice HERBERT | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 29er | F | 613 | Bradley HILTON | Noah KNAPTON | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | RS 500 | F | 616 | Scott Room | Ian Preedy | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser 4000 | F | 4425 | Brian ALLEN | Claire ALLEN | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser 4000 | F | 4546 | Tim Litt | Harry Litt | (119 DNC) | 119 DNF | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser 4000 | F | 4616 | Chris BILTON | Alex WATTS | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 505 | F | 8526 | Russ HOPKINS | Olly HOPKINS | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 505 | F | 8935 | Russell SHORT | Andrew SHORT | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Firefly | S | 5 | Anna MCCORMACK | Tom PADDOCK | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | RS 800 | F | 1013 | Ant CHAPMAN | Edward LANGFORD | (119 DNC) | 119 DNF | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | RS 400 | F | 1077 | Mike KNEALE | Kath SIMPSON | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 29er | F | 1122 | Philippa GRAY | Will GLOVER | (119 OCS) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 29er | F | 1276 | Alice KENT | Lucy CHILDS | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | RS 400 | F | 1376 | James BOTTOMS | Anne HULBERT | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 29er | F | 1782 | George MEREDITH | Ashley GREENALL | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 29er | F | 1784 | Sam GRAY | Nathan BATCHELOR | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Cherub | F | 2698 | Stu TINNER | Nick PRATT | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Int Moth | F | 3755 | Thomas Lambert | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Int Moth | F | 3760 | Mike COOKE | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Laser 4000 | F | 4033 | Hadfield STUART | Lewis KNEALE | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser 4000 | F | 4094 | Adrian HEATH | Carolyn MORHAN | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser Standard | S | 188781 | Ian MORGAN | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | 29ER | F | 605 | Graham Smith | Nicola Smith | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Enterprise | S | 21889 | Tim VICK | Rebecca MARKS | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 420 | S | 53703 | Will KENNEDY | Max INGALL | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser 4.7 | S | 136536 | Rebecca OGDEN | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Laser Radial | S | 164935 | Damon Westwood | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Merlin Rocket | S | 3616 | Peter HORN | Niki LAPSLEY | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Solo | S | 4736 | Graham Wilson | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Solo | S | 5138 | Patrick OVERS | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Albacore | S | 6956 | Matthew METCALFE-SMITH | Paul METCALFE-SMITH | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser 2 | S | 10100 | Rebecca Law | Eieanor Jones | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser Radial | S | 20304 | Gary TOMPKINS | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Laser 2000 | S | 21772 | Stephen CARVER | WEEDON-JONES | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 420 | S | 51051 | James THOMAS | Marianne BRETT | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | 420 | S | 51357 | Oliver MULVEHILL-WILSON | Max BURROWS | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Firefly | S | 6 | Jamie Rankin | Lydia CRAWSHAW | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser Vago XD | S | 164 | Ed DEACON | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Laser Vago XD | S | 358 | Dave BAXTER | (119 DNC) | 119 DNF | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | British Moth | S | 783 | Abby FREELEY | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | British Moth | S | 856 | Colin HALL | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Phantom | S | 903 | Andrew BELSON | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Laser Vago XD | S | 1067 | John DAVIES | Jack DAVIES | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser Vago XD | S | 1078 | Nick WEETMAN | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Phantom | S | 1149 | Laurence MILTON | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Splash | S | 2243 | Benjamin HAYNES | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Lark | S | 249 | Kevin ROSE | Lucy EVANS | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Laser 2000 | S | 2992 | Fergus BARNHAM | Harriet MORRIS | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | National 12 | S | 3411 | Nick COPSEY | Naomi BILTON | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |
49 | Phantom | S | 1288 | Doug CONWAY | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Phantom | S | 1325 | Mike TUSTIN | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Phantom | S | 1375 | Tim ANDREWS | (119 DNF) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | Phantom | S | 1378 | Mark WESTON | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 | |
49 | RS Tera | S | 1769 | Will ROBINSON | (119 DNC) | 119 DNC | 119 DNC | 238 |