Streaker End of Season Championship at Banbury Sailing Club

Streakers from all corners of the UK including the Scottish Borders, Pembrokeshire, Suffolk and Dorset congregated at Banbury Sailing Club on 29 October for their End of Season Championships. The day's winner would be taking home the coveted Freddy Bear Trophy! This was also to be the deciding event for the Midland Series, the North Sails Southern Paddle and the Rooster Super Series.

A gentle southerly of up to 12 knots allowed Race Officer, Stuart Allen, to make the best of the reduced sailing area. Stuart set a decent beat and took us around a few cans back to the leeward mark. In race one, local Banbury sailor Neil Firth set the early pace, chased by Dave Borrett (Beaver SC) and Veronica Falat (Waveney & Oulton Broad YC). Neil led for the first couple of laps - by a good margin at times - but Dave found a way past to take the race win, followed by Neil then Veronica.

Streaker End of Season Championship at Banbury - photo © Sue Firth

Spurred on by this result, Dave tried for a flyer at the start of race two. However, he and Ross Prytherch (Dale YC), both overcooked it and were recalled from a clear boats-length OCS! Meanwhile, Veronica and Howard Frear (Sutton Bingham SC) got away cleanly and made the best of the first beat to establish a comfortable lead over the chasing pack. These two exchanged first place several times, with Veronica ultimately sneaking the win. Katie Masterson (St Mary's Loch SC) had her best race of the event, holding off Neil and the fast-chasing Dave, to take third.

By lunchtime, the damp start to the day was replaced by glorious sunshine, allowing the competitors to enjoy the delicious home-cooked chili on the clubhouse balcony. Over lunch, the breeze shifted right and built to over 15 knots at times, allowing Stuart to put up a different course and keep us on our toes.

Close racing during the Streaker End of Season Championship at Banbury - photo © Sue Firth

Going into the final race, Veronica was looking favourite for the event, but Howard, Dave and Neil were still in the running. Howard was aiming to discard his worst morning score with a promising early lead that continued to build throughout the race. Veronica was chasing hard, passing Colin Staite (Bartley SC) on the second beat to move into second. However, that would still have seen Howard as the overall winner on countback. Four laps in, and the leading contenders were all doing the maths and accepting their fate... just as Howard tipped it in to windward following a momentary lapse of concentration! Veronica capitalised, as did James Dawes (Redditch SC) who had swapped hats and "had a word with himself' over lunch after a below par morning. Veronica went on to win, followed by James then Neil, with Howard recovering quickly to take fourth.

Veronica Falat and Neil Firth, 1st and 2nd overall in the Streaker End of Season Championship at Banbury - photo © Sue Firth

So, with that cruel twist of fate, Howard Frear finished the event in fourth overall, allowing Dave Borrett to take third and Neil Firth second. Veronica Falat finished with two bullets and was therefore comfortably End of Season Champion and winner of the Freddy Bear Trophy!

Upwind action during the Streaker End of Season Championship at Banbury - photo © Sue Firth

Veronica's two race wins also secured her the North Sails Southern Paddle trophy, ahead of Neil with Colin Staite in third. She is also the winner of the Rooster Super Series, which counts sailors' best three events from the six major Streaker events of the season. Congratulations all round to Veronica! Runners up in the Super Series were Neil then Dave. Neil took home the newly created Streaker Midland Series trophy, the "Balti Bowl", with runner up Matthew Whitfield (Tamworth SC) and Colin in third.

Veronica Falat wins the Streaker Freddy Bear Trophy in the Streaker End of Season Championship at Banbury - photo © Sue Firth

Thank you to Banbury Sailing Club and the willing and friendly volunteer duty team, including cooks and bakers, for a well-run and thoroughly enjoyable event. Complimentary tea and home-made cakes were especially welcome at the prize-giving, which also included prize draws for new sails from Class sponsors, North Sails and P&B.

Participants of either Paddle Series who missed out on the End of Season Championships can watch the video below to find out if they have won a new sail! Congratulations to the lucky winners and thank you to all our sponsors for their support during another great season for the Streaker Class!

Overall Results: