Gul Scorpion Nationals 2016 Runners & Riders
by Carl Jones 22 Jul 2016 17:25 BST
30 July - 5 August 2016
With only a week to go until the 2016 festival of Scorpion Class Sailing at the fabulous venue or Looe in Cornwall here are this year's runners and riders for this year Gul National Championship.
Last year's Champions Andy McKee and Chris Massey will be polishing everything they can to try and maintain every inch up those long beats... even the mast gets a good polish (some say it's perfectionism, other might think it ever so slightly OCD) in a hope of holding onto the coveted title.
Last year's close runners up, the two Toms, Jeffcoate & Pygall who are currently the form pairing of 2016. Leading the Silver Scorpion as well as winning this year's Inland Championships at Rutland. Tom would love to erase the disappointment of the final day in Lyme Regis (2015) and add another title to an already impressive trophy cabinet in the Jeffcoate (the classes legendary family) household.
Pete Grey & Richard Pepperdine are arriving at this year's Nationals, winning two consecutive Silver Scorpion titles and on the back of a run of good National results and nearly there's will be in with a very good shout at this year's show down. Bringing along a brand new Gosling Scorpion he will be hoping he is up to the relentless pace at the top.
Experienced champion Chris Turner, in his second year back in the fleet and now making the new Scorpions at Ovington, sailing with Alex Hayman will certainly be in the running in Discreet Banana. With an impressive win under their belts at this year's Silver Scorpion Open at Eastbourne Sovereign.
The list goes on with Big Bad Wolf Barry Wolfenden & Catherine Maguire and the Northern pairing of Steve Walker & Jerry Hannabus all performing very well throughout this season.
This year's dark horses, class legend John Mursell has teamed up with a young crew (relative to himself) Ollie Wells to produce a pairing rich in National experience and titles.
But enough of the front runners. What we like about the Scorpion nationals is the races within the race. Will Chris Yates & Dave Barker win the Silver fleet now that Peter Crowther & Dave Thompson have been promoted to the gold fleet? Or will Martin & Neil Moore, or Steve Mitchell & Polly Newman beat them to it? Same goes for Martyn Denchfield & Harry Janes in the Bronze fleet, can they be pipped by Carl & Shellie Jones.
It doesn't stop there either. Janet Ritchie will be trying to hold onto the first Lady Helm and repeat her race win last year. The first lady crew will be hotly contested, the first over 45 helm, over 45 crew, Youth combo, over 90 combo and over 100 combo and other special prizes.
One sure winner will be Carol Haines who will be sailing her 50th Scorpion Nationals. That really is quite some record and a testament to the class that she wants to keep coming back and enjoying a good sail with good company and fabulous parties.
By the way she is still difficult to beat!
Now on to the real competition - the fancy dress. Who will be this year's winner? Will it be Toy Story again? Or maybe the mystery machine will make a reappearance? For those of you going I'm sure you're in for a real treat, for those who are not keep your eye out on the Scorpion Facebook page and I'm sure there will be some costumes worthy of the Hollywood studios themselves!