RS Aero UK Northern Circuit 2017 Overall: Showdown at Nottingham!

by RS Aero UK Class Association 2 Nov 2017 07:50 GMT 2 November 2017

RS Aeros on the Trent © Nottingham SC

The 2017 RS Aero Northern Circuit title, sponsored by Green Frog Genovate went all the way to the wire with a grand showdown between the top 5 contenders at the 6th and final event, the UK River Champs on the Trent at Nottingham.

A 3 way tie at the top of the table had 'the flying Scot' Iain McGonigal (East Lothian), Steve Stewart (Yorkshire Dales) and Andrew Molyneux (Huddersfield) all on 8pts. Each were hoping to shave off a point or two to take the title. Additionally a good counter on the Trent would have both Matt Thursfield (Chelmarsh) and Ben Rolfe (Burghfield) jump back into the running. They had one final shot, would the Midlander prevail or could Ben pillage the trophy back down to the south?

Intense rivalry was building for the coveted Top Lady title which was equally tight with Jackie Craven (Yorkshire Dales) and Julie Archer (Ullswater) locked in combat, also tied and set for a final showdown on the challenging waters of the Trent!

The forecast looked good for Nottingham and with pre-entries up to 18 a quality counter was going to be hard earned! On the challenging waters of the Trent it was Andrew Molyneux of Huddersfield who prevailed with a 3rd, just enough to edge out his rivals by one point. As the wind died towards the end of the day an elated Jackie Craven glided away to take the Ladies title for 2017 on tie break.

RS Aeros at Yorkshire Dales - photo © Paul Hargreaves Photography

32 RS Aero sailors competed in at least one event with some 16 Northern and Scottish clubs represented. The 2017 circuit visited some fantastic and mixed locations ranging from open sea, attractive lakes and the fun of the river. Venues included Ullswater for the Northern Champs, Yorkshire Dales, North Berwick in Scotland, Filey, Bala in North Wales and finally the Trent. In addition a 2017 Scottish Championship was held at Aberdeen & Stonehaven YC.

RS Aeros at North Berwick, Scotland - photo © Derek Braid

Many thanks to the circuit sponsors Green Frog Genovate, the innovative power providers, for their support of the circuit, wonderful trophies and glassware. The circuit prize giving was held at the UK Inland Champs at Northampton with all winners in attendance.

In 2018 the RS Aero Northern circuit will expand to visit fresh locations and new RS Aero fleets. Details will start to be available soon on the UK Event Page of the class website.

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Club	Ullswater	Yorkshire Dales	East Lothian	Filey	Bala	Nottingham	Pts
1	2298	Andrew Molyneux	Huddersfield SC	100	4	100	2	2	3	7
2	2155	Iain McGonigal	East Lothian YC	6	6	1	100	1	100	8
3	1581	Steve Stewart	Yorkshire Dales SC	5	7	4	1	3	6	8
4	1258	Nick Craven	Yorkshire Dales SC	7	10	7	6	4	5	15
5	1744	Matt Thursfield	Chelmarsh SC	4	2	100	100	100	10	16
6	1653	Richard Butler	Covenham SC	100	9	100	4	7	8	19
7	1846	Steve Fraser	East Lothian YC	10	14	6	5	100	100	21
8	1509	Peter Craggs	York RI SC	8	11	3	100	100	13	22
9	1264	Jackie Craven	Yorkshire Dales SC	11	15	9	8	6	11	23
10	1594	Julie Archer	Ullswater YC	9	16	8	7	8	14	23
11	2297	Allan Brooks	Huddersfield SC	100	12	100	100	5	12	29
12	2152	Ben Rolfe	Burghfield SC	1	1	100	100	100	100	102
13	1305	Ed Storey	Yorkshire Dales SC	3	8	100	100	100	100	111
14	1062	Dan Philllips	Filey SC	100	100	100	3	100	9	112
15	2055	Chris Woolley	Combs SC	100	17	100	100	100	16	133
16	2093	Peter Barton	Lymington Town SC	100	100	100	100	100	1	201
17	1089	Kent Martin	Ogston SC	100	100	100	100	100	2	202
18	1265	Angus Boyd	East Lothian YC	100	100	2	100	100	100	202
19	2028	Chris Jenkins	Bowmoor SC	2	100	100	100	100	100	202
20	1118	Gareth Williams	Leigh & Lowton SC	100	3	100	100	100	100	203
21	1218	Christopher Abbott	Nottingham SC	100	100	100	100	100	4	204
22	2299	John Wilcox	East Lothian YC	100	100	5	100	100	100	205
23	1428	Peter Townend	Chelmarsh SC	100	5	100	100	100	100	205
24	2184	Martin Hewitt	Notingham SC	100	100	100	100	100	7	207
25	1595	Jeanette Davies	Chester SC	100	100	100	100	9	100	209
26	2135	Alex Potter	Ullswater YC	12	100	100	100	100	100	212
27	1370	Mike Saqui	Carsington SC	100	13	100	100	100	100	213
28	1745	John Hobson	Notts County SC	100	100	100	100	100	15	215
29	2274	Rhys Williams	Ely SC	100	100	100	100	100	17	217
30	9	Michael Williams	Ely SC	100	100	100	100	100	18	218
31	1216	Matt Butler	Yorkshire Dales SC	100	18	100	100	100	100	218
32	1088	Vanessa James	Yorkshire Dales SC	100	19	100	100	100	100	219