A Trip Down Memory Lane - Stories from the N12 Fleet
by George Finch 13 May 2020 16:10 BST
Peter White won the Corrigan Cup in 1965 and still has this spoon © Peter White
One of the advantages in sailing a dinghy class that is just shy of approaching its 85th birthday is the amount of prizes that are spread throughout the fleet at Burton Week, the class' national championships.
We asked a few familiar faces if they could remember when and what their first Burton Week prize or glass was for. The results are below, with a range of 52 years!
Peter White - 1965 - N2210 (crewing for Phil Morrison) - Corrigan Cup
David Wilkins - 1978 - N2825 - Tubs Trophy (crewed by Alison Tomkins) and his other prize from that event was getting to know Frances Wilkins (nee Kelly)!
Alayne Seymour - 1979 - N2924 - Joe Yorke Trophy (crewed for Steve Sallis)
Graham Ireland - 1982 - seventh Place Finish in the Sir William Burton Cup (crewed by Will Patten)
Susie Sallis - 1982 - N3123 (crewing for David Sallis) - third in the Canter Trophy
Tom Stewart - 1985 - N3208 (crewing for Patrick Elcombe) - second in the Canter Trophy
Stuart Walsh - 1986 - (crewing for Sue Pelling) - second in the Money Cup
Ed Williet - 1989 - N3205 - Tubs Trophy (crewed by Will Willet)
George Finch - 2017 - N3513 - Joe Yorke Trophy (crewed by Lucy Homer)
The Cups and Trophies mentioned
Corrigan Cup - This has been awarded since 1948. Initially it was for 'Team Racing' during Burton Week, then in 1953 it became the Cup for the first helm under 21 years of age. In 1955 the age limit was lowered to under 19 years of age (when the cup had been won three times by the winner of the Nationals and once by the helm who came 2nd). In 1981 it changed again, back to helms under 21 years of age.
Tubs Trophy - This has been awarded since 1969. Initially, it was awarded to the first helm and crew with a combined weight exceeding 21 stone, but later increased to 22 stone in 1971. A further change came in 1981 when the requirement to be weighed in sailing kit was replaced with the requirement to be weighed in swimwear and without shoes. In 1985, the combined weight changed back to 21 stone.
Joe Yorke Trophy - This has been awarded since 1965 for the first helm at Burton Week who has not previously won a Burton Week trophy and has attended the previous two Burton Weeks.
Sir William Burton Cup - This has been awarded since 1936. It is awarded to the first helm in the 'Burton Cup' Race, which historically has been 4 laps of a triangle, with each leg a mile long and recently has finished at the top of the 5th beat. For 2020, the plan is to modify the race, removing the distance requirement whilst still ensuring it is longer than the other championship races.
Canter Trophy - This has been awarded since 1953 to the first helm at Burton Week who is over 40 years of age - until 2019 when due to demographics, it is now awarded to the first helm at Burton week aged between 22-39.
Money Cup - This has been awarded since 1953. Initially for the first female crew to cross the finish line first in one of the Burton Week races, but as of 1954 it has been awarded to the first female helm at Burton Week.