Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy at Ullswater Yacht Club

by Sue Giles 10 Jul 2007 09:12 BST 7-8 July 2007

Lester Noble (left) & Lee Noble (centre) after receiving the Lord Birkett Trophy for a record fourth time in a row from UYC Commodore John Robson © Sue Giles

Brothers Lester and Lee Noble won the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy at Ullswater Yacht Club for a record fourth time in a row on the weekend of July 7 and 8. In the 44 years since the foundation of the race no team has won in four consecutive years. The brothers, who sail a 49er at UYC, dedicated their record win to their father Bob, a long standing honorary member of the club who died earlier this year.

The annual long distance race for the Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy has become a ‘must-do’ event for sailors from all over the country.

The quest for the ‘Holy Grail’ of a Birkett win attracted a total of 210 entries from national champions to novices in a huge range of different boats all racing the full length of Ullswater and back on both days.

The unique race was established in 1963 to commemorate the successful defence of the right of public access to Ullswater which was threatened with reservoir status in the early 1960s. The Birkett is open to all monohulls with a recognised handicap rating and organisers were delighted with the turnout despite the recent bad weather and a poor forecast.

Saturday’s race, with one mass start and a line stretching across the full width of the lake, began in a brisk westerly wind and with the heavy showers which had been predicted.

The course was set down the lake, a distance of seven miles, past Birkett Crag and the plaque to the memory of Lord Birkett who made the decision to stop the lake becoming a reservoir. The turning point was the second island at the Glenridding end of the lake, Wall Holm.

The wind was brisk all the way down the lake, until the island when it became very light and fickle. The Noble brothers were first round the island, followed by another club 49er sailed by Matty and James Lyons. With asymmetric spinnakers up in the strong winds, the high performance boats were soon back to the other end of the lake.

Lester and Lee Noble crossed the finishing line first after just over 1 hour 25 minutes and were first on handicap. Second on handicap was a Musto Skiff sailed by Richard Stenhouse of Rutland SC and third was Ian Trotter of Derwent Reservoir SC also in a Musto Skiff.

The light and shifting conditions around Wall Holm caused many place changes further down the fleet and the strong unpredictable winds on the run back to the club took their toll on many of the competitors who kept the safety crews busy all afternoon.

Sunday brought bright sunshine with an opportunity for the visitors to see Ullswater at its very best.

The wind was south westerly and lighter than the day before, making for a tricky mass start. After a general recall the fleet got away, this time heading for the first island at Glenridding, Norfolk Island, as a turning point. If the competitors took their eyes off the telltales they could see the increasingly dramatic scenery as they sailed south.

Again the Noble brothers won on handicap and with two firsts they took the trophy for a record four times in a row. Lester’s wife Anne came second in race two in a 29er crewed by Hayley Moran and third was John Reekie of Largs SC in a Musto Skiff.

Musto Skiffs took the next two places overall with Ian Trotter in second place and Richard Stenhouse third.

At the prizegiving Commodore John Robson – who came fifth overall in an asymmetric International Canoe – thanked all the club members who had given up their time help make the event such a success. And he promised an extra special Birkett next year when the club celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Overall Results:

1st Lester and Lee Noble, 49er, UYC, 2pts
2nd Ian Trotter, Musto Skiff, Derwent Reservour SC, 7pts
3rd Richard Stenhouse, Musto Skiff, Rutland SC, 8pts
4th Anne Noble and Hayley Moran, 29er, UYC, 18pts
5th John Robson, IC Asymmetric, UYC, 22pts
6th John Reekie, Musto Skiff, Largs SC, 24pts
7th Richard and Heather Marsh, RS400, Elton SC, 24pts
8th David and Catherine Nicklin, RS400, UYC, 31pts
9th Dave and Sue Giles, Flying Fifteen,UYC, 33pts
10th Stephen and Danielle Graham, Burwain SC, 38pts

Fleet prizes
Topaz: J Danks, Chasewater SC, (139th)
Etap: Robin Barratt, Robin Stanley and Andrew Cutting, UYC, (45th)
RS800:
1 R McKerchar and T Watson, Dalgety Bay SC, (50th)
2 E Whitehead and R Whitley, Filey SC, (65th)
RS400:
1 Richard and Heather Marsh, Elton SC, (7th)
2. David and Catherine Nicklin, (8th)
RS200:
1 Stephen and Danielle Graham, Burwain SC,(10th)
2 Matt and Emma Jenkins, Sheffield Viking SC, (13th)
49er: Lester and Lee Noble, UYC, (1st)
29er: Anne Noble and Hayley Moran, UYC, (4th)
Musto Skiff:
1 Ian Trotter, DRSC, (2nd)
2 Richard Stenhouse, RSC, (3rd)
Laser:
1 Patrick Hamilton, Burwain SC, (46th)
2 Dylan Noble, UYC, (59th)
GP14: Greg Pitt and Joanne Macdonald, Royal Windermere YC, (22nd)
Flying Fifteen: Dave and Sue Giles, UYC, (9th)
Fireball: Lucy Boreham and Richard Anderton, Dell Quay SC, (28th)
Enterprise:
1 John Bocock and Lucy Bancroft, Scammonden Water SC, (54th)
2 Peter Lawson and James Ellis, Bassenthwaite SC, (56th)
Albacore: Judy and Paul Armstrong, Scaling Dam SC, ((19th)