Silver Scorpion and Inland Championships 2026 at Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club
by Steve Graham 23 Apr 14:48 BST
18-19 April 2026
Scorpion Inland Championships at Bristol © Steve Graham
The second round of the 2026 Silver Scorpion was held at Bristol Corinthian. Visitors arrived in bright sunshine with a building breeze and the promise of some great racing.
The briefing conducted by OD Johnny Allen was friendly and informal, with Johnny impressing on the fleet how poor the forecast was for the following day and suggesting a change of format. The fleet were in agreement and quickly rigged, changed and headed to the start line.
With a trapezoid course set in the freshening breeze the first of eight sprint races got under way. Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray set the pace and the trend for the day, taking their first bullet chased hard by Steve Hall and Steve Graham. Mike Lennon and Dave Orrell took third having not sailed together for 30 years and showing class never fades.
With a very brief pause to re-anchor the drifting committee boat, four anchors required, the race team cracked on with their task.
As the racing continued Tom & Rachael showed why they're the team to beat, scoring 8 straight wins. Chris Martin and John Tailby joined the fight for the podium with a string of P2s in the later races.
Behind the leading pack the racing was just as tight. Steve McCarthy and Delyth Hopkins came out on top in a three-way fight for fifth place over Richard Gatehouse & Lauren Wills and Martin Denchfield & Claire Allen.
With eight races complete and the fleet exhausted Johnny called time and the crews headed to the club for hot showers and cold beer.
The evenings social took advantage of the local hostelry despite John Tailby's best efforts to book a pub 25 miles away.
Sunday dawned to bacon sandwiches and a smug looking OD. As predicted the wind failed to appear. Despite a brief zephyr raising the hopes of the competitors that there'd be some racing, the day was abandoned and boats were packed ready for the journey home.
At the prize-giving Tom thanked all the volunteers and the club for a great weekend.
Prize winners were:
1st - Tom Gillard and Rachael Gray
2nd - Chris Martin and John Tailby
3rd - Steve Hall and Steve Graham
1st Silver fleet - Steve McCarthy and Delyth Hopkins
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Sailing Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | The Essence of wetness | 2057 | Tom Gillard | Rach Gray | Staunton Harold | ‑1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 2nd | Sneaky ninja | 2026 | Chris Martin | John Tailby | Bartley | (OCS) | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17 |
| 3rd | Quackers! | 2022 | Stevie Hall | Stevie Graham | Staunton Harold | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ‑4 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| 4th | | 2063 | Michael Lennon | Dave Orrell | Hayling Island | 3 | (OCS) | 2 | 4 | OCS | 3 | 4 | 4 | 32 |
| 5th | FOEN | 1984 | Steven McCarthy | Delyth Hopkins | The Chase SC | 4 | 4 | 5 | ‑6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 33 |
| 6th | Predator | 1925 | Martyn Denchfield | Claire Allen | Grafham | ‑6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 39 |
| 7th | Polycrooz | 1919 | Richard Gatehouse | Lauren wills | Sidmouth | 5 | 6 | ‑7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
| 8th | It's me or the boat | 1991 | David Bennett | Sarah Bancroft | Chew Valley | 7 | 7 | (DNS) | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 74 |
| 9th | Shandy | 1052 | Liz Hill‑Smith | Alison Sheldrick | Hertford County | 8 | (DNS) | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | 80 |
| 10th | Sidewinder | 1951 | Fiona Taylor | Gordon Taylor | Lymington Town | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 84 |
| 10th | Fac51 | 1988 | Barny croft | Louise Corfield | Sidmouth | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | DNC | 84 |