Chernikeeff RYA National Match Racing Finals - Day Three
by Nigel Cherrie 28 Oct 2000 11:46 BST
FAVOURITES ASSERT THEMSELVES AT CHERNIKEEFF RYA MATCH RACING FINALS
Photos ©: Mark Pepper/MarinePics
Whilst the qualification process has seen upsets in form and victories for the young pretenders, today the favorites for the title of Chernikeeff National Match Racing Champion reasserted themselves in gusty conditions ranging from six to seventeen knots.
Andy Beadsworth, Richard Sydenham and Ian Williams all guaranteed themselves a place in the Gold group round robin with near perfect performances.
The shifty conditions in the built up area of Royal Victoria Dock provoked memories of Sydney, the home of Britain's recent yachting successes. Olympic Gold Medallist Shirley Robertson was quick to draw parallels. "You have to adopt similar strategies as in Sydney, maintaining flexible tactics
in the unpredictable conditions and always looking for the opportunities and never giving up. It's hard sailing," explained Robertson, who needs to win the final two matches in her round robin to guarantee a slot in the final eight, which will provide her team with valuable practice for next
months Women's World Match Racing Championships.
Ian Williams, who most expect to make up one half of the final pairing on Sunday, was content with his team's performance that assures them a place in the quarterfinal round robin. However, he acknowledged that they need to improve to pull of their second victory in four years, having won in '97 at Bewl Valley. "It was a satisfactory day as we've done enough to proceed but we've got lots of sharpening up to do. Some of the younger guys have had plenty of practice so there are no easy matches. We're starting to shake off the cobwebs though and are improving with each match."
Williams, a member of Richard Sydenham's youth world match racing championship crew in 94 and 95, has been a constant adversary to Sydenham in the RYA Match Racing finals. Williams normally gets the upperhand although when the two Exmouth based helms met today, Sydenham won the friendly grudge match. "We controlled the start and then let him off the hook with 20 seconds to go. He picked up some breeze and we couldn't get back at him,"explained Williams.
Meanwhile, Sydenham with Olympic team mates Hugh Styles trimming the main and Adam May on the bow plus John Tremlett in the cockpit, won every match. "The qualification regatta helped, as we had more time in the boat and more practice. As a team that had never sailed together before, that had been a disadvantage thus the practice that we've had has paid off, our boat handling is improving with each race which enables us to look out of the boat more and focus on the tactical situations of the match racing," reflected Styles, who finished six at the Games in Sydney in the Tornado
class.
Tomorrow will see the conclusion of the round robin group stage, with five teams joining Williams, Beadsworth and Sydenham in the Gold Group. From there, four will earn a place in the semi finals.
ROYAL VICTORIA DOCK: London: Chernikeeff RYA National Match Racing Finals:
League A (skippers) One flight left to sail:
1, Andy Beadsworth 5 wins, 1 loss 5 pts
2, Simon Shaw 4 wins, 2 losses 4 pts
2, Ian Budgen 4 wins, 2 losses 4 pts
4, Dom Johnson 3 wins, 1 tie, 2 losses 3.5 pts
5, Andrew Cornah 3 wins, 3 losses 3 pts
6, Graham Sunderland 2 wins, 4 losses 2 pts
7, Paul Campbell-James 2 wins, 4 losses 2 pts
8, Jamie Boag 1 win, 5 losses 1 pt
League B (skippers) One flight left to sail
1, Richard Sydenham 5 wins, 0 losses 5 pts
2, Ian Williams 4 wins, 1 loss 4 pts
2, Jo Llewellyn 4 wins, 1 loss 4 pts
4, Mark Campbell-James 3 wins, 2 losses 3 pts
5, Shirley Robertson 2 wins, 3 losses 2 pts
6, John Greenland 1 win, 4 losses 1 pt
7, Hywell Roberts 1 win, 4 losses 1 pt
8, Leo Dixon 5 losses 0 pts
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