Slideshow of photos Spring Regatta

Notts County sailors enjoyed plenty of success at the annual spring regatta, this is the 21st year the club has been at Hoveringham and over 200 members & visitors took part in the event, with forty two youths. Visitors came from as far afield as Banbury, Tamworth, Rutland and Cheshire. The event encourages participation, and a number camp down, there are socials every night, starting with a bring your own BBQ on Friday night, after the marque had been erected. Then Saturday night saw a cooked meal and live music from Winter Wilson with a niht race entered by 13 boats. Sunday has a BBQ organsied (in the kitchen due to the appauling weather) by the Fireballs, followed by a disco in the conservatory, and Richard Potter freestyling in the headlights.

The event is split into class racing, the Commodore's Cup (handicap), Junior Cup and Regatta Cup, with various novelty races such as a night race. There is plenty of action with up to twenty boats on single starting lines.

The Regatta started on Saturday in sunshine but with virtually no wind, the wind was flicking all over the place, including 90' shifts, making it difficult to set a course. Sunday saw continuous rain, with a building but reasonably steady wind reaching up to force 4 or 5 by the final race of the day, meaning testing conditions for many, and it was cold. Monday had a gentler wind, and less rain, but some squally gusts, did I mention it was cold, it was colder still today - definatly winter wear. The Regatta finished with the children's boat building competition. Andrew Kilburn won all the junior events in his Optimist dinghy, whilst the Commodore's son William won the fast handicap.

After a closly founght childrens' model boat contest rizegiving was held in the clubhouse. Thanks to all who made the event possible, and of course those who enjoyed it, in particular Steve & Viv Payne and the Regatta Committee, and of course the Twemlow Team for the results.

Results: Commodore's Cup Fast: 1st William Twemlow & Andy Wood - 29er - Notts County / Yeadon 2nd Jeremy Arnold & John Allen - Flying 15 - Notts County SC 3rd John Sears & Lindsay Ogden - RS400 - Notts County SC Slow: 1st Jeff Peters & Rachael McEvoy- Scorpion- Notts County SC 2nd Castles - Lark - Banbury 3rd Paul & Sharon Plested - RS200 - Winsford Flash Junior: 1st Andrew Kilburn - Optimist - Notts County SC 2nd Rebecca Odgen - Topper - Notts County SC 3rd Emily Castle - Topper - Winsford Flash Windsurfers: 1st Ian Pilkington, 2nd Steve Payne (both Notts County)

Class Racing: (all Notts County unless otherwise indicated) Fireball: 1st Simon & Fiona Hextell, 2nd Bob & Debbie Tuckwood, 3rd John Hobson & Amy Clay Windsurf: 1st Ian Pilkington, 2nd Steve Payne Laser: 1st Tim Cripps, 2nd Steven Lindley, 3rd Tim Hand (Sutton in Ashfield) Menagerie: 1st Castles- Lark- Banbury, 2nd Will Gardner & N Theok - Flying 15, 3rd Ian Firth - Solo Junior: 1st Andrew Kilburn - Optimist, 2nd Rebecca Odgen - Laser 4.7 Enterprise: 1st Kevin & Freya Evison, 2nd Adam & Susie Belamy, 3rd Richard Hibbard & Keston Challen Scorpion: 1st Jeff Peters & Rachael McEvoy, 2nd John & Karen Marshall, 3rd Mike & Kim Goldby RS200: Paul & Staron Plested (Winsford Flash), A Bailey & H Sawley (Winsford Flash), 3rd N Kelsal & P Kelsal (Banbury).

Novelty Race: 1st Andrew Kilburn, 2nd Steve & Viv Payne, 3rd Simon McEvoy & Debbie Knox, 3rd Jacob Flint
Night Race: 1st Andrew Kilburn, 2nd Neil & Rebecca Kelsall (Banbury) 3rd, Greame Castle

Short clip of Richard Potter night sailing from James Logan (windows media)

The pirates on the cobble

a couple of shots of Richard Potter from Russ Morton