‘Spitfire Premium Ale Concours dElegance trophy

Mandy Mitchell's GP14 'Koru' wins the 2009 'Spitfire Premium Ale Concours D'Elegance' trophy © Stephen Stott / Y&Y

2009 saw the first awarding of the ‘Spitfire Premium Ale Concours d’Elegance’ trophy for the boat of the show at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show. To be eligible for the trophy boats must be displayed by a class association and have been sailed at least once.

The judging panel of David Townshend (Shepherd Neame), Steve Gray (RYA) Gael Pawson (Y&Y) and Mark Jardine (YachtsandYachting.com) visited every class association stand at the show on Saturday afternoon, scoring every boat and coming up with a final three boats; the GP14 ‘Koru’, the Asymmetric Canoe and the classic International 14 from 1929. A second look round each of these resulted in the panel unanimously deciding to award the ‘Spitfire Premium Ale Concours d’Elegance’ trophy for 2009 to Mandy Mitchell’s GP14 ‘Koru’.

The award was presented during the Exhibitors’ Party sponsored by Shepherd Neame and Wildwind where the exhibitors enjoyed Spitfire Ale and music from Wildwind’s ‘Spencer Horton’s Armada’.

The GP14 class were thrilled to win the award, proudly displaying it on their stand on Sunday. The judging panel found ‘Koru’ to be a true sailor’s boat, taking part in multiple national championships and open meetings over the past 4 years, yet being kept in immaculate condition and lovingly built.

The prize for winning the ‘Spitfire Premium Ale Concours d’Elegance’ is either two nights accommodation for two people, including dinner, bed and breakfast at a Shepherd Neame Managed House or ten cases of Spitfire Premium Ale.