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John Merricks Tiger Trophy at Rutland Sailing Club

by Dan Sanders 7 Feb 2005 20:36 GMT
Flying moth at the John Merricks Tiger Trophy © Martin Hollingshead

The 2005 Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy

With 250 entries the 2005 Rutland Challenge for the John Merricks Tiger Trophy firmly established itself as the biggest winter dinghy event of the year. Mild weather and the promise of great racing, a good social occasion and all in aid of a worthy cause attracted the record entry to this fantastic Midlands venue.

The first Tiger Trophy was won by the late John Merricks 12 years ago and for the last 8 years the event has been dedicated to supporting the John Merricks Sailing Trust raising over £23,000 in the process. This year the event was sponsored by Rutland Sailing Club, Everards Brewery, Purple Marine, Ovington Boats, Rule 26 and SportWorks from Herbalife.

John loved sailing and having a good time doing it, so the event’s format reflects this. Three average lap handicap races split into Slow and Fast fleets on the Saturday followed by the Tiger Dinner on the Saturday night and then a non-discardable pursuit race on the Sunday make it demanding both ashore and afloat – not least for the race officials who did a great job.

The £1000 prize offered by Everards Brewery to any boat that can win all 4 races is yet to be won and the shifty, light southerly winds made that especially hard this year. Steve Irish and Martin Gotrel in an RS 800 in 2003 remain the closest anyone has come to winning this prize. As always there was an especially high turnout of youth classes which is a lovely feature of this event that normally favours the faster boats.

The first Fast handicap start had a general recall and Race Officer Dave Wilkins showed no hesitation in using the black flag for every subsequent start. At the second attempt the first race got underway for the Fast handicap whilst five minutes behind them the 420 dominated slow handicap kicked off with a minimum amount of fuss.

In order to race such a huge number of boats on one course, and to minimise any waiting around in the chilly conditions between racing, corrected times are worked out on an average lap times and in race one there was just enough breeze for the Fast handicap skiffs to post some impressive times. Results are combined from the outset and it was the Buzz of Justin Linnell and Charlotte Banks which claimed victory and pushed Athens Olympic bronze medallists Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks into second place. The first Slow handicap boat was in third place and took the form Richard Whitworth and Elena Bremner’s Merlin Rocket.

The first 420 in race one was down in the late teens and with the wind becoming lighter by the minute it was shaping up not to be a good year for trapeze boats. Race two got underway without delay for both fleets and on the same long course as for race one; much of the fleet could only complete two laps before things were shortened. For those who just missed the cut off it meant a painful extra lap, each boatlength painfully hurting their average lap times.

With daylight fading rapidly on the overcast Saturday afternoon and the very important Tiger dinner to get to, race three was sailed on a slightly shorter trapezoid course in the main body of Rutland water and the solid 10 knots of early breeze had been gradually replaced by a tricky, shifty, 4-6 knots. Once ashore the chaos of sorting out the average lap times and working out corrected results for 250 boats ensued and it wasn’t until well into the evening’s festivities that it became clear the traditional classes would be storming the 2005 Tiger Trophy. Overnight it was Whitworth and Bremner, with a perfect scoreline in races 2 and 3 who led from fellow Merlin Rocket, Matthew Winder and Chris Robinson. Draper and Hiscocks represented the first Fast handicap boat in third place with a second and a ninth, discarding a 17 in the final race of the day.

At the Everards Brewery sponsored Tiger Dinner on Saturday night, sailors and guests were reminded about the objectives of the John Merricks Sailing Trust and Chris Draper told of how John had personally assisted in his career. John’s father, Dennis Merricks, rounded off speeches thanking all the organisers, sponsors and competitors before a Team GBR poster, adorned with autographs of the whole team was auctioned off, raising £400 for the trust.

Rutland fog and no wind greeted some fairly foggy minds on Sunday morning before a light south easterly filled in and the Laser 4.7’s kicked off the pursuit race in around 7 knots of shifty wind. By the time the GP 14 of Adam and Tim McGovern started some 12 minutes later in the two hour race the wind was up to about 9 knots, but not for long.

It became clear to the plethora of spectators lining the club balcony that the well sailed early starters would dominate this race, and as the minutes ticked down to the two o’clock finish, so did the breeze. Everybody drifted down the south arm of Rutland water at the same pace and it was a comical affair as almost 200 boats tried to round what turned out to be the final mark for most of the fleet, at the same time. With about an hour to go the GP 14 of Adam and Timothy McGovern took the lead which soon became unassailable. Behind them it was the familiar front runners of Whitworth and Bremner in their Merlin Rocket who finished second and took the Overall Tiger Trophy win.

Another Merlin Rocket sailed by Mathew Winder and Chris Robinson took 2nd overall with a super performance from Mary and Alice Rook in their Albacore giving them 3rd place and the Lady Tiger for the first all girl crew. The GP14 of Adam and Timothy McGovern rounded out a top four overall made up entirely of non trapeze boats with a very commendable 5th place being taken by Nic Asher and Elliot Willis in their 470 – always a special prize at this event. Keith Escritt in his Laser Vortex in 32nd overall took home the Shere Khan Trophy for the oldest competitor.

Dennis Merricks and Tony Everard presented individual race prizes donated by Purple Marine, Rule 26 and SportWorks from Herbalife, as well as the perpetual trophies for what has really become a memorable event. This year’s event raised over £5000 for the John Merricks Sailing Trust to help support youth sailing. Make sure you don’t miss out on the Tiger Trophy in 2006.

For info on the John Merricks Sailing Trust please see www.jmst.org.uk

Links:

Purple Marine: www.purplemarine.com
Rule 26: www.rule26.co.uk
Ovington Boats: www.ovingtonboats.com
SportWorks: www.total-wellbeing.com
Rutland Sailing Club: www.rutlandsc.co.uk
Everards: www.everards.co.uk

Overall Results:

PosBoat TypeSail NoHelmCrewPYR1R2R3R4Pts
1Merlin3637Richard WhitworthElena Bremmer101931124
2Merlin3611Matthew WinderChris Robinson1019382101224
3Albacore6853Mary RookAlice Rook106639681428
4GP1413855Adam McGovernTimothy McGovern112790430135
5470OlympicNic AsherElliot Willis973630131736
6Phantom2Brett Cokayne 1048317162447
7RS 2001026Paul WilliamsonCraig Williamson105953473353
849er2Chris DraperSimon Hiscock74729174354
9RS 300424Gary Fryer 10011073282354
1049er30John PinkAlex Hopson747721173256
11Merlin3442Chris MartinRob Kennaugh1019375DNC2264
12RS 4001030Matt MeePippa Taylor9522616522567
13RS 200769Patrick AltoftDeborah Greenland1059934915468
1429er6Ed ChapmanTom Peel924294693169
15Laser179103Shean Evans 10783417472879
1649er672David EvansRick Peacock7476110175986
1742051410Claire WalshClare Best10875948241890
18Musto Skiff163Richard Stenhouse 875436147391
2042051369Sophie WeguelinLucy Cripps10876012562692
2142051741Ed PowysWill Morgan1087408604492
1949er653Tom SmedlyJames McIntosh747526746192
23470804Luke PatienceChris Grobe9731529405498
2242051975Thomas MallindineJames Clark10871146822898
2442051799Matt BurgeChris Evans10877912051599
25Fireball14803Andy FoskettLesley Foskett98217636520100
26RS 8001058Steve IrishMartin Gotrel790217192758104
27470812Callum McDonaldStuart Bithell97312382469105
2842051428Tom TaylorJoe Williams108721121183106
2947086Jonny McGovernIan Dobson97315573755107
30405347Tom GillardSaun Vernon108911939646109
3142051974Hannah MillsPeggy Webster108719135878110
3342051870Tom MakeyJames Wade108780513438123
32Laser Vortex1177Keith Escritt 93010994109123
3442051604Niki BirrellChristian Birrell1087761344110127
3542051164Ali MartinMillie Parsons108741144384139
36National 123490Nigel MaySusie May109311223DNC5140
37Flying Dutchman382Toby DaleJame Cole87914454989148
3829er5Justin VisserGuy Filmore924DSQ693942150
3929er777David HallJessica Smith92426337592151
4029er703Sophie JonesBen McViegh92454716137152
4142051738Joanna McDonaldLaurie Marsden108750946339152
42470805John GimsonDavid Steed97334635564153
4442051838Robert ClaridgeJasmine Husband108787526640158
4342051318Sophie ParkinsonRachel Jarvis108724435491158
4542051444Katie MackenzieHolly Scott1087113427145158
46Europe385Katie Mapplebeck 113910383707160
4742051426Dave BrewerOwen Richards10873244DSQ85161
48RS 4001141Dan SandersJodie Slater95275626934165
50Laser174458Richard Valentine 10787366DSQ27166
49RS 2001020Andrew HartleyEve Hartley105992229652166
51Musto Skiff161Graeme Oliver 87592623135167
5249er747Josh WilceOlly Wilce74765196288169
53470808Guy TiptonChris Tattersall973117912951171
54Laser176812David Summerville 107871976733171
5529er10Dylan FletcherNick Hollis92429729271172
5629er619James StewardsonTom Morris92484544970173
5742051440Peter GrayRickard Mills108769794267178
58Europe357Ross Harvey 113991828611179
59RS 800943Laurie Fitzjohn-SykesJohnathon Frazer790747410835183
6029er174Hannah TattersallJohn Mather92445639777185
6149er797Toby HeppellRichard Herbert74763318595189
62RS 200617Sam LittlejohnTim Littlejohn1059882412380192
6329er605Sarah MartinNicola Groves92425889987200
64470807David EdwardsPaul Tedder9736781DNC53201
65Musto Skiff63Kit Stenhouse 8752814212164204
6642052003James MurdockEdd Whitehouse10871213513348204
67National 123493Roger PhillipsMike Douglas10931277611421211
6929er736Emma PorteousChris Fisher92452788182212
6842051175Maria StanleyCatherine Alton108796907250212
70Laser Vortex1045Phil Whitehead 930209944149213
714708Pippa WilsonSheena Craig9735591DNC68214
7242051765Richard MasonDaniel Scheiber1087116985760215
7329er55Dicken MacleanAndrew Fielder9247210810146219
74RS 600893Charles Roome 9205170155108229
75RS 8001010Ollie PageTom Odell7901005079101230
7729er167Phillip WalkerMatt Gotrel92466121DNC47234
765058206Mark WadeJohn Davies9024412911575234
7842051773James EllisDan Ellis10878153121100234
7942052066Andrew ShawGeorge Yeoman10871201598036236
80Europe339Stacey Vials 113914011411213239
8149er706Ed StevensonPete Nicholson747DSQ5559133247
8242051605Rachael WigmoreIan Millard10871051035196250
83470818Tristan JaquesAlain sign973899111374254
8529er337Sam CollingwoodJames Foskett9245710113297255
8442051740Oliver DixSam Maxfield10879828DSQ129255
86Musto Skiff178Will Crocker 8753310868155256
88Laser 40004192Liam PikeJohn Ellingham908947311890257
87470809Melissa HeppellRebecca Marriott9736261122134257
8942051754James GossElliot Parsons10876413313863260
91Canoe International295Colin Newman 9084713655159261
9049er831Ben McGraneJonathan Clegg747111034DNC261
92Fireball14809Daniel HareJamie Hare9821331248457265
94Laser181060Chris Smith 107886117DNC65268
9329er933Huw HumphriesMax Todd92443111135114268
95Javelin510Olav SchluterDavid Marchant92636256DNC271
9649er748Stevie WilsonTom Dawson747211517DNC272
97Musto Skiff168Ian Trotter 87573426DNC273
9849er908Lester NobleLee Noble747581817DNC275
99Laser 40004682John ReynoldsFran Howell9084288106145275
101Fireball14807Tom FoskettTim Needham9821251228872282
10042051358Christopher SandersPoppy Husband10875675DSQ151282
10342049838Stephen VideloKatrina Hughes10871421318966286
102RS 200880Sarah AllenMalcolm Perry105913DNC33DNC286
10442051283Sophie AinsworthJane Turner108711560165117292
10529er316Matthew KimberHugo Bull92415613712729293
108RS 4001213Paul LewisSam Parker9528410799112295
107Merlin3580Natalie FullerAlan Fuller10191631787656295
106Musto Skiff152Richard Smith 875233232DNC295
10942051434Kate MacGregorNicky MacGregor108711110490104298
11042051987Robin StewartMatthew Forrester108710086154118304
111Laser Radial172144Louis McVeigh 111016217410241305
112RS 200872Lucy HeatherLaura Alldis105910910694119319
11329er691Paul TurnillPreston Taylor92414913710479320
11449er789Richard BoneChris Rodway747479634DNC321
115RS 6007Alex Knight 920824045DNC325
11642051988Fynn SherrittMatthew Day1087474145DNC326
11742051425Jonathan MossSam Brearey1087123154103102328
11829er401Graham RomeJames Wright92416416813530329
119RS 200743Andi RileyJulie Marsden10591711973DNC330
12042051263William KalderonSimon Kitchen108710715814186334
121Scorpion1903T Groves 105615510293139334
122Laser 40004444Jody WarnerEmma Warner90817311081146337
123RS 800964Ian MArtinChris Martin790468552DNC338
124RS 800961Philip KingChristina King79015313918349341
12542051971Juliet LongNicola Brook1087122165109110341
126Fireball14882Rob WatsonSimon Kelsall98214611513494343
127RS 800882Jonathan WhiteAlex Cruttenden79099148120130349
128RS 4001201Neil PeacockRoger Evans952168123111120354
129Laser Radial?Christopher Witty 1110135140107116358
130405360William TwemlowSophie Tuckwood108917018517019359
131Merlin3609Michael LomaxCharles Ainsworth1019206DNC7776359
13242051409Charlotte LawrenceJoe Crabbe108777145DNC138360
133Boss777Andy DringSimon Laken847958438DNC362
13442049792Alistair NorrisHannah Marsden108715918495111365
13542051107Josh RumbolTom Davidson1087143116150107366
136Laser179803Richard Langford 10781508048DNC368
13740553Hannah BurywoodKaty Jones10891792029198368
138405287Nick WardTom Wright1089124192145103372
13929er342Sophie WightOliver Spensley-Corfield924146125135115375
141Laser Vortex1007Ray Cook 93083161DNF132376
14042051422Henry MaxfieldGareth Evans108768DNC156152376
14229er773Gemma McIntyreSophie Anderson924218111161106378
143Laser 20002153Chris CoulcherAlice Strickland108913918715981379
144RS 800878Sam NealMandy Bretherton79010637151DNC383
145Musto Skiff141P Clements 8757866DNCDNC384
146Contender711Nick Noble 994138135129124388
147Laser 4.7164739David Ashworth 117514518218262389
14942051073Alice BrotchieLesley Bannister1087131198105154390
148Europe338Kerrie Forster 1139174200DNC16390
150Buzz508Justin LinnellCharlotte Banks10051151DNCDNC392
153RS 600815Mark Heather 9207087110DNC397
15142051435Thomas Herbert-EvansDaniel Herbert-Evans108712612831DNC397
15242051423Amelia HughesJodie Green10871005998DNC397
15429er611Hannah StodelSteve Hall924DSQ7781DNC398
155RS 800954Charlie OdellJono Ratnage79017813217793402
15642051635Magnus PopplewellHenry Calvert1087133157174113403
157Laser Vortex1132Clive Harries 930208130124150404
158RS 4001248Laurie DengateKev O'Brian952128150140141409
159RS 700760Steve Marshall 857109147186156412
16042049956Matthew RawsonEmma Norris1087183188128105416
1614205Anna MackenzieAndrew Tunnicliffe1087DNC56DNC121417
162Laser 40004094Adrian HeathCarolyn Morgan908189118181123422
163Laser 40004584Gordon YoungIain Macleod908DSQ151147131429
16442050457Antonia BullPip Holloway1087160149117167433
16542048868Philippa GirlingLucy Foulds1087167195151122440
166Laser172009Barrie Watson 107814458143DNC441
167Laser175677Richard Pratt 107896105DNCDNC441
168Laser173289Rob Cook 1078148160130165443
169Laser172785Dee Fleming 1078161143149153445
170Musto Skiff170Lewis Woodland 875209155125166446
17142051737Becky HydeKaty Stewardson1087157173166128451
172Cherub2637W LeeL Turnball98013614478DNC454
17342051282Tom SandersonJack Burton1087166164180125455
174Laser 40004401Alison DavisChris Miller908DSQ169167127463
175ISO641Eamon O'KellyKate O'Kelly926203162158148468
17642052061Rob StruckettTom Hodkinson1087132113116DNC469
17742051407Eloise HansenKayleigh Hansen1087151170162160473
178Laser 40004038Gareth SmithRichard Warden908202166172137475
179RS 800827Andrew BlundellJames Moreland79019319718899480
180Laser 40004120Christopher BlakePaul Kudlinski908176176147158481
18149er781Roger GilbertOliver Vidal747DSQDSQ2DNC482
182RS 600653Wayne Hancox 920175127119DNC486
183Laser Radial174628Joseph Wellerd 1110177DNC163147487
184405344D RobbsSally Weston1089187163153172488
186International 141405Steve DouthwaiteAli Gibson850211206126157489
185EuropeIRLGreg Pitt 1139DNCDNCDNC9489
18729er621Rici MarshallEmily Penn924171171164161496
18842050816Joe HenryIan Heyward1087104153DNCDNC497
18942051173Jack CalvertSam Rupar1087153177168178499
190Laser Radial178754Harry Cooper 1110129208DNC169506
191Laser140112Mark Fuller 1078194199168144506
19242050661Chris CardenJames Whitehead1087DNC18087DNC507
193Phantom896Chris Wright 1048158DSQ176174508
194Solo4461Andrew Martin 1155130172139DNC509
195Laser Radial179618Rob Stenhouse 1110171190177162510
19642050974Robyn StockJess Savin1087140209131DNC511
197405341Edward JonesSimon Foskett1089191212160163514
198Laser 40004600Adam BallardPaul Mander908205191183142516
199Laser157507Lawrence Cavill 1078198215193126517
200405297Andy WoodAli McInnes1089181214171173525
20142051049Phillip SpicerAndrew Lewis1087200194195140529
202Fireball14625Steve GreenhalghJames Terry982169156142DNC538
203Cherub2682Simon GoodwinGavin Sims980152146DNCDNC538
204Laser Radial179554Will Espiner 1110118181185DNC539
20529er939David HopperDaniel Henderson924190175DNC179544
207Musto Skiff169Tim Chapman 875197205DNC143545
206RS 200738Rob HardwickEmily Boyce1059164141DNCDNC545
208Laser Radial178221Tessa Cooper 1110136DNCDNC170546
209Laser Vortex1123David Hotten 930210201173175549
21042051174Robert HydeAlex Norman1087188203191171550
212RS 4001232Nick BurtonKevin Needham952180167144DNC551
213Laser 40004497Sarah GoodacreMark Goodacre908207183187181551
211RS 600887Matthew Smith 92021695DNFDNC551
214RS Feva845Laura SandersBruce Spratt1195219210DNC136565
21542050189Matt UndrellRichard Crocker1087196213196176568
216Laser Radial179728Adam Richards 1110182179157DNC576
217Merlin3316Brain CobbRoz Nickols1019195DSQ146DNC581
218RS 8001042Peter CraggsRonnie Carter790214217189180583
219Laser Vortex1088Michael Etherington 930212186175DNC601
220Solo4275Gary Ungless 1155184DSQ179DNC603
221Buzz492Richard UnderwoodRichard Gould1005DNCDNC197168605
222B 14690Chris HollimanAli Holliman880185189DNCDNC614
223405282/352Rebecca KilburnMatthew Bath1089201193190DNC623
22442050956Rachael StevensonEmma Stevenson1087204196192DNC628
225405351Stuart SellyTom Humphrys1089199207194DNC633
226Laser Radial173507Jess Barker 1110192211DNCDNC643
227Laser 40004187Simon BathRob Buglass908DNCDNCDNC177657
228Laser 50005287Craig JohnsonHolly Pelling846215204DNCDNC659
22949er859Steve HopperGordon Sanders747DNFDNCDNC182662
230Finn4Russell Ward 1070186DNCDNCDNC666
231Moth4062Sam Pascoe 860213218DNCDNC671
232RS 600745M Meldon 920DNC216DNCDNC696
233RS 600852Ollie Needham 920DNCDNCDNCDNC720
23342051874Selena KnightPaul Froy1087DNCDNCDNCDNC720
233RS 2001015Wayne FletcherDebra Fletcher1059DNCDNCDNCDNC720
23349er708J Clegg 747DNCDNCDNCDNC720
233Laser Radial151104Tom Castle 1110DNCDNCDNCDNC720
233Laser Radial171897Micky Boughton 1110DNCDNCDNCDNC720
23329er780Ed WilkesJames Harris924DNCDNCDNCDNC720

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