Osprey Open at Shoreham Sailing Club
by Alan Henderson 1 Oct 2013 16:00 BST
28-29 September 2013
Ospreys at Shoreham © Mike Rice /
www.fotoboat.com
Ospreys' leading ladies
Two lady helms are leading this year's Wilkinson Sword Osprey series, after the Shoreham Osprey Open meeting on September 28/29. With just two events still to come, Alexandra (Alex) and Nick Willis (daughter and father) top the table, with married couple Ros and David Downs in second place. Can any of the men catch up?
The month of October brings the last two fixtures in the series, with the Scottish and Northern Championships at Yorkshire Dales on October 19/20, and the Inland Championships closing off the series at Rutland on October 26/27. Who can stop the ladies' charge in the series?
Best of the rest is Richard "Basher" Marshall who hopes to crash the party, but has a formidable forty points to make up on leaders Alex and Nick Willis. 48 Ospreys have joined in this popular series so far, and good results in both remaining fixtures could yet propel another team up the table of this eleven event nationwide series.
At Shoreham, three race wins helped Chris Gould and Nick Broomhall to a clear victory. Terry Curtis and Tim Bowden had the perfect start, winning the first race, but had to settle for second overall. In third Mick Greenland and Ian Knight improved as the regatta progressed, finishing with a second place, while another lady helm, Bryony Meakins took fourth, just ahead of Alex Willis.
Shoreham Open Results: (top five)
1. Chris Gould and Nick Broomhall, Blithfield SC, 3pts
2. Terry Curtis and Tom Bowden, Weymouth SC, 5pts
3. Mick Greenland and Ian Knight, Isle of Sheppey SC, 10pts
4. Bryony and Phil Meakins, Hamble River SC, 11pts
5. Alex and Nick Willis, Hayling Island SC, 12pts
Wilkinson Sword Series Leaders:
1. Alex and Nick Willis, 28pts
2. Ros and David Downs, Tata Steel SC, 39pts
3. Richard Marshall and various crews, Poole YC, 68pts
4. Paddy Lewis and various crews, Datchet Water SC, 68pts
5. Mike Pickering and Mike Priddle, Restronguet SC, 74pts
Next fixture: Scottish & Northern Championships, Yorkshire Dales SC, October 19/20.
Did You Know? There are many lady crews as well as lady helms in the Osprey fleet these days. No longer is the class just for big hairy men!