Norfolk Punt Athene Cup at Hickling Broad Sailing Club
by Rachel Clayton 19 Sep 2011 14:46 BST
17 September 2011
Blustery SW winds proved challenging for 10 Norfolk Punts competing for the Athene Cup at Hickling Broad Sailing Club on Saturday 17th September.
Two passage races with combined times were held to determine the trophy winners. Race officer Tony Aldous set a course to Potter Heigham and back to the Hickling Club for the first race. There was some spectacular reaching on the expanse of the Broad and some testing beating with the gusts whipping between the bungalows on the close confines of the River Thurne. A timely lunch was taken during which hail stones and a storm of biblical proportions was witnessed by the competitors from the safety of the clubhouse. The weather calmed in the afternoon and a race from Hickling to Martham with a few extra buoys on the broad tested the crews. Rupert Reddington helming Grebe made a spectacular capsize with spinnaker flying within sight of the finish line.
The Athene Cup went to father and son team Geoff and Alex Tibbenham who skilfully guided their 1939 Herbert Woods built punt Limelight home first in both races. Runners-up were Will Daniels and Bart Sawyer in Swallow II with Simon and Rachel Clayton in Peregrine coming third.
The Hickling Commodore Tricia Hudson presented the prizes and said it was a pleasure to host the Athene Cup for the first time, and congratulated the crews for the close competitive sailing.
Overall Results:
1st Geoff & Alex Tibbenham, Limelight (Hickling Broad Sailing Club)
2nd Will Daniels & Bart Sawyer, Swallow II (Norfolk Punt Club)
3rd Simon & Rachel Clayton, Peregrine (Hickling Broad Sailing Club)