Please select your home edition
Edition
CompareBoatInsurance Leaderboard

Fireball Inland Championships at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club

by Andy Robinson 2 Nov 2014 20:32 GMT 1-2 November 2014

The Allen Brothers sponsored Fireball Inland Championships was held at the lovely Chew Valley SC this weekend. With 37 boats on the entry list, the final event of the season promised to be a corker and with amazing conditions on day 1, it certainly didn't disappoint. The fleet is enjoying a revival ahead of next years UK World Championships and it was great to see the return of some quality partnerships and the forming of new teams.

Race 1 got underway 1st time in 15 knots of breeze and bright sunshine. It was Jonny McGovern & Tim Carter from Port Dinorwic SC who made the most of the conditions. They headed a trio of boats who escaped the pack and used the subsequent laps to extend quite a significant lead over the remainder of the fleet. McGovern/Carter were kept honest by DJ Edwards and Vyv Townend, and the podium was completed by Pete Gray & Tim Saunders.

Race 2 saw the wind swing slightly east, dropping in strength and the sun disappear behind some ominous looking clouds. The fleet again got away 1st time but this time it was Lucy Boreham & Richard Anderton who led at the 1st mark after a disappointing result in race 1. They were chased down by Dave Hall & Paul Constable with Edwards/Townend and Gray/Saunders also in the mix. Some great racing ensued with cracking reaching conditions in a freshening breeze. The final order saw Edwards/Townend take the win with Hall/Constable in 2nd and the consistent Gray/Saunders bagging another 3rd place.

In race 3 the conditions remained largely the same and again there were plenty of place changes and some screaming reaches. Christine & Graham Slater led the 1st lap but the eventual winners were the formidable Edwards/Townend with Ally Martin and Russel Thorn taking a well deserved 2nd and Hall/Constable in 3rd.

The tired fleet retired to the bar for some beer and food and the warm hospitality (and great bar prices!) at Chew Valley SC.

Day 2 dawned with rain and low cloud. After some delay due to the changing conditions, race 1 got underway in the driving rain and a westerly breeze of 8-10 knots. It was the overnight leaders who made the most of the variable conditions and they went on to take another bullet from Gray/Saunders and Hall/Constable who completed the now familiar top 3.

In race 2 the wind freshened and moved left, leaving the 1st reach too tight for most, including Edwards/Townend who rounded the windward mark 1st. Towards the end of the reach they had to drop the kite and head up to make the mark but despite this, their lead remained unassailable and they took another bullet and won the event with a race to spare, allowing them an early shower. The majority of the fleet had to Aussie drop on the 1st reach to make the gybe mark and the freshening breeze took a few casualties.

Race 3, without the presence of the dominant winners, allowed the chasing pack to fight it out for the podium places and it was Hall/Constable who took a deserved win from Gray/Saunders.

The prize giving was well attended and there were generous prizes from Allen Brothers for 1st Youth boat, 1st Classic boat, 1st Lady, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in both Bronze and Silver fleets and prizes for the top 10 boats including the overall winner and the highest placed local crew.

The class really enjoyed the event and DJ Edwards led the show of appreciation to Chew Valley for their excellent organization and warmth.

More Errol Edwards photos can be found here.

Overall Results:

PosGroupSail NoHelmCrewClubR1R2R3R4R5R6Pts
1stGold15096D.J.EdwardsVyv TownendBewl Valley SC21111(DNC)6
2ndGold15073Peter GrayTim SaundersStaunton Harold33‑1122212
3rdGold15100David HallPaul ConstableBlackwater SC‑62343113
4thGold15093David WinderSimon PottsHollingworth Lake5810‑124431
5thGold15089Jonny McGovernTim CarterPort Dinorwic115736(OCS)32
6thGold15094Ally MartinRuss ThorneBurghfield762‑1111733
7thGold14898Paul CullenAdam WhitehouseWeirwood4‑121287637
8thGold14941Derian ScottAndy ScottCVLSC‑159498RDG39
9thGold15112David SayceNick ReesHayling Island14413‑2110546
10thGold14886Simon MaskellTom MaskellHunts17‑245591349
11thGold15113Dave WadeAdrian KennyNorthampton10149155(DNF)53
12thGold15081Lucy BorehamRichard AndertonChichester SC‑205141017854
13thGold14483Allan TylerTim ParsonsLyme Regis1213‑196151561
14thSilver15041Maria RichardsRichard WagstaffBlackwater SC217(OCS)1420365
15thGold15083Chris GillJon GillPortishead SC13(RAF)622141267
16thGold15045Christine SlaterGraham SlaterPortishead19178‑2316969
17thSilver15115Steve JarredNick CollinsBlackwater SC‑2319187121470
18thSilver14928Anthony WilcocksJames WilcocksPYSC‑26181618131176
19thSilver15066Mark MaskellNigel SheppardBlackwater SC11‑262116222191
20thSilver14801Richard CornesJames GoodfellowWhitstable‑34112520211693
21stSilver14834Charlie MaunderWill MaunderCVLSC‑28162019191993
22ndSilver14909Ian PriestLucy PriestScaling Dam1821‑2317231796
23rdSilver15091John SmalleyAdam BroughtonCVLSC242015‑302518102
24thGold15070D. PoppleGavin TilsonShoreham8252413(DNC)OCS108
25thBronze14991Fiona GrayTim MorganWaldringfield30‑3117261822113
26thSilver14976Nick CopseyAndrew ClarkeHISC1623262524(OCS)114
27thSilver15004Rob WatsonSi ForbesStaunton Harold9222824(DNC)DNC121
28thBronze14889Barry SmithOlivia StidiekThornbury SC2727‑29282623131
29thBronze14391Hannah ShowellJo LineStarcross‑332827292820132
30thSilver14821Nick HurstJake ElsburyHayling Island22292227(DNC)DNC138
31stBronze14229Geoff HoldenSophie HoldenNorthampton25‑3533313024143
32ndBrass14791Angus HemmingsSteve ChesneyStokes Bay291031(OCS)DNCDNC146
33rdBronze14894Bryan ThompsonTorie MorleyCobnor‑373636352925161
34thBronze15075Andy WilcocksAndrea WilcocksPortishead31303032(DNC)DNC161
35thBronze14761Mark DinwoodieRory DinwoodieCVLSC3534343327(DNC)163
36thBronze14624Vicky EllisLaurie EllisCVLSC3632353431(DNC)168
37thBronze14950Chris ThorneJez WhiteLyme Regis323332(DNC)DNCDNC173

Related Articles

Young Sailors Invited to the 2025 Fireball Worlds
A special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants for the event at Lake Garda Circolo Vela Arco and Fireball International are inviting young sailors from around the world to take part in the 2025 Fireball World Championship at spectacular Lake Garda, with a special discounted entry fee for eligible youth participants. Posted on 1 Jul
Fireballl Munster Championship at Monkstown Bay
Another spectacular event with warm medium breezes on Saturday and stronger conditions on Sunday Eighteen Fireballs gathered at Monkstown Bay Sailing Club last weekend (21/22 June) for their Munster Championship, kindly sponsored by Doyle Sails. Posted on 24 Jun
Fireball Inland Championship at Chew
Race team did an excellent job of keeping the race track away from weed After a lively Nationals at Looe the fleet were looking to enjoy some freshwater sailing on some flatter water. The forecast was for a moderate breeze on Saturday with and increasing wind on Sunday. Posted on 18 Jun
Fireball World Championship preview
38 entries from the UK and 17 from Australia, going to Lake Garda It's still two months away but entries for the 2025 Fireball Worlds on Lake Garda have already reached 127 boats. Posted on 12 Jun
P&B Zhik Fireball Nationals overall
One big wind race on the final day Day 4 of the P&B Zhik Nationals. With the first two positions already decided, Tom and Shandy, and Vyv and DJ had already packed up their boats by the time the remaining 15 or so hardy souls decided to venture out for one last race. Posted on 31 May
P&B Zhik Fireball Nationals day 2
A day from the sublime to the ridiculous and back again The fleet was all planning for war at sea, but by the time we were going down the first run of race 3, we were frantically pulling out the fast pins. Race 3 was won by the championship leaders, Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson. Posted on 26 May
P&B Zhik Fireball Nationals day 1
36 boats in Looe, fuelled by the biggest Cornish pasty ever baked Thirty-six boats entered and were ready to go. Back in Looe, we were greeted by an extremely welcoming shore team and an intimate dinghy park. Fuelled by the biggest Cornish pasty ever baked, we reached down to the starting area. Posted on 25 May
Fireball Worlds coming to English Riviera in 2026
Royal Torbay YC are pleased to host The Royal Torbay Yacht Club are pleased to announce that the Fireball World Championship will be held in Torquay in July 2026. Posted on 24 May
Enter now for Chichester Harbour Race Week
Last year nearly 600 competitors in 383 boats attended Book your place at the biggest dinghy and keelboat regatta in the UK! With the website open, you can now reserve your place in this year's 'must attend' event. Starting on Monday 11th August, ending on 15th. Posted on 24 May
Final call for event delivery to Looe
The P&B and Zhik Fireball Nationals takes place this weekend The P&B and Zhik Fireball Nationals take place at Looe Sailing Club this weekend, the fleet's looking strong, as are the conditions! If you need an order taking we can arrange that for you. Posted on 22 May