Allen Enterprise National Championships at Tenby Sailing Club - Runners and Riders
by Richard Pryke 15 Aug 2022 22:13 BST
21-26 August 2022
Allen, North Sails & Selden Enterprise Nationals at Mount's Bay day 4 © Lee Whitehead /
www.photolounge.co.uk
The 2022 Allen Enterprise Nationals will run 21st to 26th of August at Tenby Sailing Club. EA Commodore, Richard Pryke, gives us his view of the key runners and riders.
With Chimp Hobson, the current National Championship holder, choosing to stay in the bar for the week/act as pit crew for team Jackman/Wheatley, Tim Sadler cruising around in his yacht for the summer, the Birds having flown the nest for this event and many of the competitors only sailing their Ents a few times since Mounts Bay in 2019 due to Covid this event is really wide open this year. Here are a few favourites to take the title.
23421 Margaret - Dave Jackman and Craig Wheatley have teamed up this year due to Chris Jackman injuring his wrist (don't really want to dwell on the cause).
Strengths: Quick in a blow, a bit heavy in the light stuff and the forecast doesn't look to be to their benefit but that may change.
Weaknesses: Both over indulge on the beer, little time in the boat together.
23270 Kitty - Phil Ford and Jane Humpage, a well-rehearsed act always the bridesmaid but never the bride, could this be their year ?
Strengths: Great tactically and seriously quick, lighter conditions suit them well.
Weaknesses: None that I can think of.
23310 Fifty Shades of Blue - Steve Blackburn and Gabe Hill, Steve's been going well with an array of crews this year of all shapes and sizes, if the conditions suit him which I think they will he could go all the way.
Strengths - Plenty of boat speed - 50 Shades has always been quick, right amount of weight in the boat, rarely over indulges in the bar.
Weaknesses - Forgetting the course, can get quite cross in the boat and often needs to calm down.
22619 Riot Van - Martin Honnor and Isobel Hedley Fenn, this team has been very quick this year taking the Inlands and Scottish Nationals and really are in with a good shout.
Strengths - Riot Van no doubt has plenty of speed and Martin knows how to make her go fast. The forecast at the time of writing should really suit them. Isobel knows her way around the front of the van so they should be quick.
Weaknesses - The red mist and too much time in the bar.
22652 That's Entertainment - Jeremy and Becca Stephens, this father and daughter team have the correct recipe to win the champs if the forecast delivers medium/light winds.
Strengths - A well rehearsed team that have been here before having won the champs at Abersoch last time round. Great level of fitness and know what each other need to do to make the boat go quickly.
Weaknesses - Going for a 10km run before and after racing each day could cause injury, Becca can be made to go astray by her drinking partner Millie Pryke which inevitably leads to clubbing into the early hours.
The Ladies, Ann Jackson/Alan Skeens, Jane and Nick Scutt, Alice Allen/James Hobson
Despite current Ladies Champion Ann Jackson prevailing over the Scutts at both the Inland Champs and the Masters Champs she was roundly thrashed by them at Salcombe YC Regatta last week. Alice Allen, in the meantime was compromised by an injured James at the Masters Champs, and had stand in crews in challenging conditions and she remains an unknown quantity.
Iris's Bowl, presented by Mrs Jack Holt always goes to the wire; any one of this talented trio could grab the reward.
Event website: www.sailenterprise.co.uk/2022-national-championships-information