International Canoe National Championship at Loch Lomond Sailing Club - Day 1
by Chris Hampe 27 Jul 2023 07:10 BST
26-29 July 2023
Fleet rigging during the International Canoe Nationals at Loch Lomond © Chris Hampe
Celebrating their 150th year, Loch Lomond Sailing Club welcomed the International Canoe fleet for their UK National Championships.
As the briefing was held in front of the clubhouse a light southerly wind was forming across the water, but this came to nothing as boats rigged on the slipway leading to a long postponement.
As all looked lost for the day the race committee spotted some wind filling up the loch and the fleet was sent afloat just before 4pm. Eventually two races were sailed with the wind building before the start of the second race. Both races were won by Robin Wood who snatched the lead in the first race from Mike Fenwick in the final approach to the finish. His win in the second race was far more commanding, clear ahead and away on his own. Mike Fenwick took another 2nd to place second overall.
The fighting in the pack is hard, mistakes cost multiple places and a there is currently a three way fight for 3rd place with Tony Robertshaw currently with a 6, 3, one point ahead of Chris Hampe (3, 7) and Anette Steimann (4, 6). The one design / slurp class is equally close with Stuart Dawson and Stephen Flemming both locked on 4 points each with a 3rd and a 1st. Peter Mclaren and the young gun Tony Marston each have a 2nd and 4th to keep the whole class close.
Results after Day 1:
IC
1st Robin Wood 2pts
2nd Mike Fenwick 4pts
3rd Tony Robertshaw 9pts
4th Chris Hampe 10pts
5th Anette Steimann 10pts
6th Emma Grigull 13pts
7th Alistair Warren 15pts
8th Steve Clarke 15pts
9th Simon Beers 16pts
10th Rob Bell 18pts
11th Alasdair Alston 24pts
12th John Ellis 24pts
13th Andy Gordan 27pts
14th Niklas Steimann 28pts
15th Marcus Wheel 28pts
16th Dan Skinner 36pts
ICOD
1st Stuart Dawson 4pts
2nd Stephen Fleming 4pts
3rd Peter McLaren 6pts
4th Tony Marston 6pts