Inaugural River Hamble Games
by Louise Craigen 23 Jul 2012 13:41 BST
21 July 2012
A resounding success!
The first ever River Hamble Games, inspired by the 2012 Olympics took place on Saturday with 26 teams and over 300 competitors taking part in the 5 events, Swimming, Running, Kayaking, Sailing and Rowing. It was a fantastic spectacle with a great community spirit that brought together all sides of the river.
The Games hosted the first open water swim in the River with over 70 swimmers taking to the water. The tide proved challenging but made for a great competition with spectators all along the Warsash banks cheering the swimmers to the finish.
The 5K and 10K runs ended with a spectacular finish down Hamble High Street cobbles into the village. Gold in the 10K went to Stubbington Green team captain Lewis Chalk in a fantastic time.
The Gig racing followed the swimming on the Warsash stretch of water, with Elephant Boatyard taking the Gold.
The wind filled in enough for some great dinghy racing in the Sailing event which took place in Southampton Water, just off Hamble Point. The Laser class was narrowly won on count back by Russell Peters.
The Kayaking slalom race was staged just off the Hamble foreshore with some tricky manoeuvres required to complete the course.
The day was wrapped off with the Medal ceremony at MDL's Hamble Point Marina where Round the World Yachting Legend Mike Golding OBE presented the medals to the winners. The overall winning team was RK Marine who took Gold, Silver went to Bursledon Bods and Bronze went to Stubbington Green XYZ.
Thanks go to the 75 volunteers who helped run the event, River Hamble Harbour Authority and all the various sporting clubs, Itseeze, MDL, Coopervision, CoastGraphics and all event sponsors and supporters.
Results are on the website at www.riverhamblegames.com