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OK Inland National Championship at Northampton Sailing Club

by Tony Woods 10 Jun 2019 21:10 BST 8-9 June 2019
Ed Bradburn wins the OK Dinghy Inlands at Northampton © Karen Robertson

The OK Inland National Championship was hosted by Northampton Sailing Club sponsored by Harken and part of the HD Sails Inland Series.

Despite the atrocious forecast a healthy turnout of 22 turned up to do battle at Northampton S.C, a club that is always in the Champions league as far as event organisation is concerned.

John Wayling (friend of the class) was our P.R.O. and his intentions were made clear with an early briefing and a get on with it attitude.

Conditions on the Saturday were attritional with gusts reaching 28 knots at times from various directions. The windward mark rounding was made difficult with 20 degree shifts in that area meaning no rest around the course.

The reaches were often exhilarating and the runs proved to be the undoing of many competitors.

John ran the Races back to back with a short break for calorie intake before two more back to back races after lunch.

By the end of close on Saturday Ed Bradburn and Richard Burton were tied for the lead. Fergus Barnham trailed in 3rd after a bad swim in Race 4. Simon Cowood, Tony Woods, and Alex Scoles weren't far behind with Racing at close quarters the order of the day.

One of the Pre Event favourites Dave Bourne (usually assured in the breeze) retired to the club for an exhaustive and extensive debrief with his coach Captain Morgan.

Sunday morning brought lighter and warmer conditions with a programme of 3 races back to back. With the wind running right down the lake John was able to keep us away from the shoreline however the wind was shifty and patchy throughout the course. It wasn't easy.

Ed Bradburn sailed impeccably throughout the day and managed the shifting conditions better than the rest of the fleet and deservedly took the Championship with some authority. Fergus Barnham took second overall and now in his third season in the boat looks a proper OK sailor. There's surely more to come from him. Tony Woods took the last podium result in 3rd overall.

Richard Burton never quite mastered the lighter conditions of Sunday after a great Saturday performance slipping to 4th. The new slimline Simon Cowood took 5th overall and looks to be capturing some of his 2014 form.

Paul Scullion sailing the class demo boat achieved a very respectable 11th place. If you too would like to sail the demo boat please make contact with the OK association.

Thanks again to Northampton Sailing Club for being superb hosts and of course thank you to Harken for their support in helping underpin an excellent weekend.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7Pts
1st2185 Ed BradburnSouth Staffs SC‑33111118
2nd2134 Fergus BarnhamSnettisham Beach SC222(DNF)33820
3rd2179FrankieTony WoodsConiston SC56622‑9526
4th8ErnieRichard BurtonRYA11338(DNF)1127
5th3 Simon CowoodRutland SC4(DNF)4478330
6th13 Alex ScolesOvery Staithe‑655665633
7th2132Nearly ThereGavin PoulloinWeymouth SC‑1249DNF56440
8th212Grounds For DivorceDoug PowellBurghfield SC138(DNF)DNF44243
9th2176In For A PennyKeith ByersMorecambe SC87871010‑1350
10th28 Anthony OsmanParkstone YC7(DNF)1051111751
11th2197DemoPaul ScullionRestronguet SC10DNF78157(DNF)62
12th14 Karen RobertsonAberdoon & Storeham YC9(DNC)DNCDNC921480
13th2177 Simon TurnerOvery Staithe SC11DNF(DNC)DNC16121289
14th71EricBen FalatWaveney & Oulton Broad SC(DNC)DNFDNFDNC1714992
15th2135Going For BrokeBill BradburnSouth Staffs SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNC121610107
16th58QM3Mary ReddyhoffParkstone YC(DNC)DNCDNCDNC141317113
17th2080Last Tango OKPaul PikeCovenham SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNC181715119
18th1966WindbreakerTim O'LearyFelixstowe Ferry SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNF1516121
19th17 Dave BourneRYADNFDNF(DNC)DNCDNCDNCDNC122
20th2062 Ian WhiteEmberton Park SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNC191818124
21st2213 Russell WardHayling Island SC(DNC)DNCDNCDNC13DNFDNC126
22nd2045 Paul DuttonSouth Staffs SC(DNC)DNCDNFDNCDNCDNCDNC129

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