Solo class 2006 Travellers round-up
by Claire Clark 23 Dec 2006 12:29 GMT
SCOTTISH AREA
A year after the excitement of the first UK Nationals to be held in Scotland – how did it go? Well, just a slightly lower average attendance, 15 compared to 18 in 2005, but by popular demand we ran one more fixture this year, made up by the Ben Ledi event being run as a one day freestanding event. This format of six travellers, plus the Ben Ledi, plus the Scottish National Championship is being repeated for 2007, returning to Largo Bay over 07-08 July 2007.
More new faces appeared through the year, notably Barrie McLean who sailed every event in an old, very flexible, glass boat, and yet achieved third overall in his rookie year, and Geoff Henstridge who sailed the last two events, winning them both. Nigel Orkney had a good year in his P3boats Solo, his results at Loch Earn moving him up to overall runner up. Kevan Gibb was the traveller champion, for the second year running, performing well in all conditions.
1st Kevan Gibb
2nd Nigel Orkney
3rd Barrie McLean
4th Derek Gibb
5th Graham Keir
NORTHERN AREA
The Northern Travellers Series, once again sponsored by Boon4Boats, has been one of the most exciting seasons for many years with new faces and many new or upgraded boats on the circuit along with new venues at Sheffield Viking S.C. and Hollingworth Lake S.C. Of the 14 meetings in the series and the first six having a different winner for each event, the series winner was only confirmed in the last race of the last open meeting.
The season started with Jim Hunt proving that older wooden boats could still go well with three straight wins at Colemere. The next five events being won by John Gledhill, Oliver Dumbleton, Chris Gillard, Paul Allen and Tony Wright leaving the title wide open.
Hunt won the Carsington S.C. Open in June, which was followed by wins for Steve Dennison and Jonathan Gledhill. Two thirds of the way through the season and there was no clear leader and it wasn’t until after the summer recess for Abersoch Dinghy Week (a favourite with the Northern Solo Sailors) and the Solo Nationals that the leaders emerged from the pack, Dumbleton, Dennison and Gillard were now in contention.
Going into the last event at Nantwich & Borders S.C. Dennison was leading and would win the series unless Dumbleton won the event on his home water. In the end the Nantwich results were Gillard, Dennison and then Dumbleton and so the Northern Area results were:
1st 4327 Steve Denison (Hollingworth Lake)
2nd 4662 Chris Gillard (Sheffield Viking)
3rd 4553 Oliver Dumbleton (Nantwich & Borders)
4th 4368 John Gledhill (West Riding)
5th 4615 Howard Frear (Sheffield Viking)
MIDLAND AREA
The final event of the Speed Sails sponsored series was held in October at Chase SC where the Championship was decided. Stuart Hydon needed to come first to be able to grasp the Trophy from last years winner Chris Brown. This was not to be; the club’s report of this event makes interesting reading, and Chris then, is the Midlands Area 2006 Champion, for the third consecutive year. A good year for Chris, who also won the Scottish and Welsh Championships and the Western Area series.
This year 170 helms competed in the 15 open meetings with 18 qualifiers, entries ranged from 12 to 35. A good turnout and I thank all the competitors who attended to make this such a well supported area.
As in previous years racing has been closely contested with 11 different helms winning open meetings.
1st Chris Brown (RYA)
2nd Richard Pye (Draycote Water)
3rd David Liddington (Rugby & Daventry)
4th Colin Newton (Staunton Harold)
5th Neil Wilkinson (Shustoke)
David Liddington is this years Grand Master and unless anyone else is owning up to be 50+ Andrew Liddington won the Veterans Trophy.
The participating clubs have again put on well organised events and we were greeted with great hospitality everywhere.
Speed Sails sponsored the series and we thank Richard Estaugh for his generous support.
WESTERN AREA
Thirteen clubs participated in the 2006 Western traveller’s series with 5 qualifying events for the series.
It started with a windy April day at Bristol Corinthian and ended with an even windier day at South Cerney SC at the beginning of October. The winner at Bristol was Chris Brown who went on to win at Corus (Port Talbot), Chew Valley, Frampton and finally to round off he won at South Cerney. Chris proved himself to be a master of all conditions and won the series empathically with five races sailed and five races won.
Whilst Chris dominated the races he sailed in, the fight for second place overall was keenly contested between Andy Miles (RYA), Simon Jones (Teign Corinthian), Colin Newton (Staunton Harold) and Clive Evans (Reading) and eventually depended on the results from the final open at South Cerney.
Most of the venues attracted more than 20 helms with a great range of conditions. There must be a moral in there somewhere. The largest turn out was at Corus, whose open also doubles as the Welsh Nationals, with 37 entries, whilst some of the smaller clubs on light wind days struggled to achieve attendance in double figures. A total of 145 helms entered the series, but only 10 qualified, a further six helms were one or two races short of qualification.
1st Chris Brown (RYA) 4672
2nd Andy Miles (RYA) 4598
3rd Simon Jones (Teign CYC) 4673
4th Colin Newton (Staunton Harold) 4336
5th Clive Evans (Reading SC) 4703
EASTERN AREA
The 2006 Solo Eastern Area Travellers Series was sponsored again by Rooster Sailing. There were twelve clubs holding events throughout the region with twelve competitors entering the minimum number of five events to qualify for a position in the area league table.
1st Steve Ede (Ardleigh SC)
2nd Godfrey Clark (Fishers Green SC)
3rd Mark Maskell (Fishers Green SC)
4th Keith Smith (King George SC)
The ladies prize went to Claire Clark from Fishers Green in 8th overall. 1st boat with a sail number under 4000 went to Andrew Belson from Lakeside S.C. sail number 3352.
THAMES VALLEY, SOUTHERN AND SEA AREA
In its 50th Anniversary year, the Open Series has proved as successful as ever, and whilst congratulations must go to Godfrey Clark of Fishers Green SC, having a clean sweep, winning all three Series, this does not tell the full story.
Three events hit plus 30 entries, with Broadwater at 32, won by Jim Hunt, Chichester at 33 won by Chris Brown, and Papercourt, complete with a real party atmosphere with champagne and balloons with 34, was won by Mike Ball.
The Southern Series with 10 meetings, had a total of 131 competitors, with Vanda Young of Littleton taking 2nd place and Ian Ayres of Kingsmead taking 3rd.
In the Thames Valley Guildford Marine Series with 9 Open meetings we had a total of 87 different helms, with Ian Ayres this time taking second place and in 3rd Daniel Goodman also from Kingsmead. This year we welcomed Reading Sailing Club back into the circuit, after an 11 year absence, and it was fitting that this Open was won by Ian Ayres on the anniversary of his father winning an Open at the club 25 years previously.
The Sea Series, with a different winner in each of the 6 opens rewarded consistency, as already mentioned Godfrey Clark took the honours in this series, without winning a single event, with Vanda Young second and Claire Clark from Fishers Green coming 3rd, an excellent result for Claire who by her own admission “does not do waves!” Barney Greenhill’s continuing beer sponsorship of the Salcombe Open over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, proved as popular as ever with a record attendance this year.
As always the weather this year has provided the complete range of conditions, from drifters to gale force but as fitting the continuing enthusiasm for the class, the boat and its sailors have proved capable of handling it all.
Southern Area
1st Godfrey Clark (Fishers Green)
2nd Vanda Young (Littleton SC)
3rd Ian Ayres (Kingsmead SC)
Thames Valley
1st Godfrey Clark (Fishers Green)
2nd Ian Ayres (Kingsmead SC)
3rd Daniel Goodman (Kingsmead)
Sea Series
1st Godfrey Clark (Fishers Green)
2nd Vanda Young (Littleton SC)
3rd Claire Clark (Fishers Green)
Full results are on the Solo class website