 |
|||
 |
|
|
|
Photos from the Scorpion Open 2010 over 9/10th oct 2010
for two reports & some results scroll down below the photos video link
Notts County Scorpion Open 9th/10th Oct 2010 by Penny Jeffcote & Jack Banks
For the last event of the Scorpion travellers series 44 boats descended upon Notts County for an excellent weekend of very close racing, great socials and the end of season prizegiving. Saturday started out grey and gusty and racing got underway in a reasonable Force 3.
Catherine Putt and Simon Maguire of Zephyr (2001) kicked off the battle for pole position with some close racing with Andy McKee and Tarren Jones in Sidewinder (1951). Andy and Tarren managed to get through to take the first gun with Catherine and Simon close behind. John and Jamie Clementson (J) (2010) took 3rd, followed by Jack Banks and Penny Jeffcoate in Not Another Wombat (2017) and Nigel Potter and Ferret (2018). A little further down in the fleet Nikki Theokritoff and Alison Goodall (My Monkey, My Back 1919) had a storming race, coming 20th, which earned them Flyer of the Event.
In the second race, an inspired course change by RO William Jeffcoate gave a long fast spinnaker leg which proved useful for the taller frames of Nigel and Ferret who stormed to the front when a snapped mainsheet caused the leaders, Tom Jeffcoate and Jerry Hannabus (Angel Dust 1947), to drop to 4th. Peter Gray and Richard Pepperdine (2013) managed to hold off Catherine and Simon to the finish to achieve a 2nd and John and Thomas Rose (J) (Silverlode 1995) had a great race coming 5th. Ryan Buchanan and Guy Revell (Brahms and List 1840) also had a good race with a 16th, gaining 9 places from Race 1.
After some lunch to revive the sailors, it was back out for the third and final race of the day. Tom and Jerry and Catherine and Simon headed straight to the front, followed by Nigel and Ferret and Tim and Sarah Parsons (Intoxicated 2014). Good work in the gusty conditions on the run allowed the pack to catch the leading pair, with Tim and Sarah eventually getting through to take the win. John and Joyce Henderson (Jammy Dodger 1902) had a great race, improving by 15 places to achieve a 13th position. After racing, and a splendid supper, John also regaled the troops with some Irish folk tunes with his band; Dave Snutch, sailing Does my bum look big in this? (2000), and his band played some lively sixties classics.
Sunday turned into a sunny, surprisingly warm, October day which was good for those suffering from sore heads, as well as the early start. The usual suspects were back at the front, plus an appearance by Barry and Linda Wolfenden, which was unfortunately cut short by a capsize along the blasting spinnaker leg. Andy and Tarren held a commanding lead for most of the race until a misjudgement at the mark let Nigel and Ferret slip through. Tim and Sarah came 3rd, Tom and Jerry came 4th and the Rose lads and Jack and Penny reappeared at the front in 5th and 6th. An improvement of 6 places upon the last race was seen by a couple of boats, including Dave Elston and Gavin Pouillon (1959) who rose from 18th to 12th and John Coulton and C Berger (1857) who went from 39th to 33rd.
With only a few points separating the top five, the final positions all came down to the last race. The overall leaders Nigel and Ferret however had a bad start and let their rivals get a good bit of distance on them. Tim and Sarah again got to the front and were closely followed by a brilliant performance from Janet and Alan Ritchie in Drama Queen (2005). The rest of the pack spread out considerably, meaning that Catherine and Simon and Andy and Tarren couldn't quite get the positions they needed to clinch the event. The overall title went to local sailors Nigel and Ferret. Graham Watts and Mark Harden in Dolly (1983) achieved a strong finish to the regatta, gaining 15 places from the previous race to come 5th.
On the juniors side of things there was a close battle between Jamie Clementson (2010), Thomas Rose(1995) and Mike Thackrey (1967) for first junior crew, however Jamie clinched it with consistently good results. The youth combo of Alex Hayman and Martin Moore (1962) also had some good results, with lots of teens and a 10th. Helena Pugh (200T) had some good racing and managed to win the junior helm prize. Helena was closely followed by 12-year-old Austin Hubbard, crewing for his dad in They think it's all over (1966), who won the Juniors Up and Coming Cup.
The weekend was brilliant success with good courses from the RO and team, close racing at all levels of the fleet and a lively Saturday social. What a great way to end the season!
Open results
1st Nigel Potter and Ferret (Notts County SC)
2nd Catherine Putt and Simon Maguire (Lymington/Lyme Regis SC)
3rd Tim and Sarah Parsons (Lyme Regis SC)
4th Tom Jeffcoate and Jerry Hannabus (Notts County SC)
5th Andy McKee and Tarren Jones (Dovestone SC)
1st Youth Combo - Alex Hayman and Martin Moore (Lyme Regis SC)
1st Junior Helm - Helena Pugh (Poole SC)
1st Junior Crew - Jamie Clementson (Chipstead SC)
Up and Coming Junior - Austin Hubbard (Notts County SC)
Tenacity prize - Russ and Amy Clay (Notts County SC)
Flyer of the Event - Nikki Theokritoff and Alison Goodall (Notts County SC)
Travellers Results
Silver Scorpion
1st Andy McKee and Tarren Jones (Dovestone SC)
2nd Tim and Sarah Parsons (Lyme Regis SC)
3rd Tom Jeffcoate and Mark Hogan (Notts County SC)
4th Steve Walker and Chris Muxworthy
5th Catherine Putt and Simon Maguire (Lymington/Lyme Regis SC)
6th Janet and Allan Ritchie (Chipstead SC)
Bronze Scorpion
1st Helm Alex Hayman
1st Crew Mike Thackrey
Written by Penny Jeffcoate and Jack Banks
Open Meeting
Sunday AM
A collective hangover shared by men and women of varied ages slowly dissipates as the start time nears.
Refuelled by a “Full English” and refreshed by a chilly North Easterly their bodies reluctantly start to work and their minds saunter towards “Race Mode”.
Covers off, jibs unfurled and mains hoisted, the quiet of a Sunday is broken by a chorus of crackling race sails.
Boats are gently pulled into the lake and the crews briefly wince as the icy cold water penetrates, making wet suits wet.
Spinnakers are launched at loiter and dropped at a dawdle, then a leisurely reach to the “Stoke Ferry” to note the course
Suddenly, aches, pains and hangovers disappear, movements become sharper and minds quicker, the tacks neater,
The athlete within surfaces,
Crew & boat become one.
Ready to RACE
“Sub mole velis”
Anon
And from the Fleet Captain: Morton Boats, Notts County SC Scorpion Open Meeting – 9th/10th Oct 2010
An impressive 44 teams from 15 different clubs around the country made the trip to Notts County to contest the traditional end of season open meeting.
It has been a big year for the Scorpion, celebrating its 50th year, a huge turnout at the National Championships – over 50% up on previous entry levels – so it was fitting that so many came to round of the year in some style.
Pre event weather forecast was an easterly 12kts – absolutely the worst direction for NCSC as it comes over a big hill and disperses in random directions but what a difference a few degrees can make. The actual, north easterly meant that the wind was blowing directly down the lake allowing PRO William Jeffcoate to set a start line within a few metres of the launching bank, and use the full length of the water to get in two good beats.
With a few last minute arrivals due to some traffic problems on the south approach, the first start was thoughtfully held up to allow everyone to get off the shore, and almost as a thanks for that, the fleet was well behaved and all got away clear.
Congestion reigned at the windward mark with lots of hailing, a number of last minute duck outs and the odd bump – oops!
Andy McKee and Tarren Jones in 1951 took the early honours with Catherine Putt and Simon Maguire in 2001 in hot pursuit. John and Jamie Clementson brought up the podium positions.
In race 2, which again got away clean, it was local boy Nigel Potter and “Ferret” in the currently un-named 2018 who showed the way. Last years champion Peter Gray sailing 2013 with Rich Pepperdine took 2nd – Catherine and Simon kept up consistency with 3rd.
After a break for some well earned sustenance Race 3 got away – once again no-one was over enthusiastic, and with an unchanged course it was Tim & Sarah Parsons in 2014 who ran out winners. Catherine & Simon recorded their 3rd podium in 2nd, Nigel & Ferret were 3rd.
Overnight Nigel was just holding the lead from Catherine on countback.
The evening was spent doing what the Scorpion fleet does best – partying! Nearly 80 stayed on for “Paulines Plateful” – a magnificent 2 course roast with meat that just melts in the mouth. After clearing away, two members of the fleet who currently play in bands provided a couple of hours of musical entertainment and judging by the amount of singing, dancing and lack of tomato throwing, it all seemed to be well appreciated.
With a 10 a.m. Sunday start scheduled, the considerate Mr Jeffcoate allowed a few moments for the sore head latecomers to get off the shore. The wind was almost in the same place and a little fresher and the very slight direction change allowed even more of the lake to be used for the first beat – game on!
Race 4 saw the one and only general recall with too many trying for the starboard end. With the line reset to undo the bias the restart got away clean and it was Nigel who showed he meant business by recording his second bullit. Andy and Tarren came in 2nd and Tim & Sarah coming into form took 3rd.
In the final race, a mark was removed to make for a more exciting reach and it was Tim & Sarah who made the most of the conditions with their 2nd race win. Janet & Alan Richie – the Drama Queens in 2005 got into the places for the first time and 2008&9 National Champion Tom Jeffcoate sailing 1947 with Jerry Hannabus finally made podium in 3rd.
Club Commodore John Parr and Paul Richards from event sponsors Morton Boats made the presentation of prizes for the open meeting
