Topper Open Meeting at Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club
by Mike Jones & Jim Champ 7 Apr 2002 10:37 BST
Photo © Paul Fox |
It was a glorious spring day for everyone travelling to the Topper Nationwide Open at Island Barn. This was the first Topper event of the season and an opportunity for the aspirants of 2002 to try out the results of their intense winter training on their rivals. Word had got around that Derek Burchell's Youth Squad (mainly over 15s) was particularly strong this year and was out to give Dave Cockerill's elite National Squad a run for its money.
With rumours rife of a massive turn out the Race Officer was prepared to run the event with Flights, and had decided to do so if more than 60 Toppers arrived. By 9.30 75 Toppers had turned up.
However, so had a force 6 wind, with sudden gusts taking the speed rapidly to Force 8.
Parents were advised to restrain the youngest entrants from sailing, which reduced the field to 68. Seeking to keep events on the water as simple as possible the R.O. decided to race these remaining boats in a single fleet. In the event a 68 boat line posed no problem, mainly because an I flag was announced for every start.
A trapezium course was set with a long beat, a long run past the clubhouse under the noses of apprehensive parents, and two short, linking, reaches. 2 laps and a final beat to the finish were set.
It was unusual to see a few National Squad members with reefed boats, but you get no points (or rather lots of points!)for spending half the race upside down.
Race 1 got away cleanly. Jonathan White (National Squad ), from Pevensey Bay, rounded the windward mark first but lost out to Alex Good (Youth Squad star), from Ripon, on the testing downwind legs.Good held this lead to the end, White took 2nd and two Chew Valley members, Joe Crabb and Karen Smalley took 3rd and 4th.Karen, one of the lightest sailors on the water, amazed everyone by carrying a full sail in this, and all following races. The attrition rate was high, 13 boats retiring with fatigued equipment or spirit, most choosing to spectate from then on. First blood, then, to the Youth Squad.
An identical course was set for Race 2. Tom Wirskell (Youth Squad) from Stewartby, led at the first windward mark, but capsized in a fierce gust on the second reach. Campbell Davison (National Squad), from Largs, coped best in an increasing wind and led up both the next beats to take 1st. Wirskell pulled back 2 places on the final beat to take 2nd, Jonathan White added a 3rd to his 2nd to lead the regatta at lunch, and Harriette Trumble from Aberdeen & Stonehaven, 12th at the end of the first beat, carved her way through the fleet to take 4th. The National Squad bites back!
At lunchtime the R.O. rather wickedly offered the racers an additional 5th race for the afternoon, but the offer was turned down, along with another offer of longer courses. So it was same again for the next 2 races.
The wind had gone a little left during the lunch break, giving too much port end bias for Race 3. Campbell Davidson spotted this and executed a perfect pin end start and led from start to finish. Harriett Trimble was second at the first mark, but a capsize put her back to 9th on lap 2. Alex Good posted a second to move him into a points lead, shared with Davison. Local RS400 star Carl Mayhew raised his game considerably to take 3rd,and Stokes Bay's strong-wind-expert Alain Sign made a move up the charts with a 4th.
The predictions had come true. The final race was a shoot out between the National Squad's Campbell Davison and the Youth Squad's Alex Good. No-one else could beat these two.
Another port end biased line was again read expertly by Davison ,who led all the way to the first mark. Poor Alex Good had a dreadful first beat, rounding way back in 19th. Harriette Trumble was not going to let Davison triumph without a struggle. She rounded in 2nd, passed Davidson downwind, lost out to Davison on the beat , overtook him again downwind and started the final beat of the day in the lead. Trumble's slim frame could not provide the power required to maintain her lead and Davison brokethrough her cover half way up the beat and so confirmed his dominance by taking the final race, and after discarding his first race 6th, posted a perfect score of 3 1sts to win the event overall. Alex Good amazingly passed 13 boats to take 6th by the finish andtook 2nd overall. Harriette Trumble's spirited final race lifted her to 3rd overall. Lunchtime leader Jonathan White faded a little in the afternoon to finish 4th and Alain Sign, who had an excellent afternoon, moved up to 5th.
Harriette Trumble, of course, took the 1st Female prize with Karen Smalley 2nd Female, after finishing a very commendable (for one so light) 6th o/a.
Peter Cowell (14th o/a) took the Under 14 prize, Adam Fox (25th o/a)the Under 13, and Island Barn's Gareth Griffiths (15th o/a)took the over 30 prize.
Chew Valley S.C., who sent no less than 7 boats to the event deservedly took the team prize (Karen Smalley, 7th o/a, Joe Crabb, 10th o/a, Matthew Podger 19th o/a) with Great Moor S.C.'s team 2nd and Island Barn R.S.C. 3rd.
So first blood to the National Squad, but it's going to be a close season.
Event Photos: (© Paul Fox, click thumbnail for full image)
Overall Results:
| Pos |
Sail No |
Crew |
Club |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
R4 |
Pts |
Age |
|
1st
|
43842
|
Campbell Davidson
|
Largs SC
|
6 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3.0
|
15
|
|
2nd
|
42676
|
Alex Good
|
Ripon
|
1 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
8.0
|
17
|
|
3rd
|
[none]
|
Harriette Trumble
|
Aberdeen & Stonehaven YC
|
11 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11.0
|
14
|
|
4th
|
43313
|
Jonathon White
|
Pevensey Bay
|
2 |
3 |
15 |
10 |
15.0
|
15
|
|
5th
|
44241
|
Alain Sign
|
Stokes Bay SC
|
10 |
11 |
4 |
3 |
17.0
|
16
|
|
6th
|
44004
|
Karen Smalley
|
Chew Valley Lake SC
|
4 |
8 |
8 |
15 |
20.0
|
16
|
|
7th
|
43011
|
Tom Wirskell
|
Stewartby
|
15 |
2 |
16 |
5 |
22.0
|
15
|
|
8th
|
43693
|
Steve Jackson
|
Hardway SC
|
9 |
16 |
7 |
9 |
25.0
|
16
|
|
9th
|
44035
|
Kyle Paternoster
|
Grafham Water SC
|
16 |
23 |
6 |
4 |
26.0
|
15
|
|
10th
|
43606
|
Joe Crabb
|
Chew Valley Lake SC
|
3 |
15 |
10 |
DNF |
28.0
|
15
|
|
11th
|
34304
|
Alison Young
|
Trimpley
|
8 |
6 |
31 |
17 |
31.0
|
14
|
|
12th
|
44237
|
Richard Valentine
|
Great Moor
|
27 |
9 |
12 |
11 |
32.0
|
15
|
|
13th
|
44209
|
William Espiner
|
Great Moor
|
12 |
7 |
14 |
DNC |
33.0
|
15
|
|
14th
|
43811
|
Peter Cowell
|
Chelmarsh SC
|
32 |
14 |
20 |
7 |
41.0
|
13
|
|
15th
|
27427
|
Gareth Griffiths
|
Island Barn Reservoir SC
|
23 |
DNF |
11 |
8 |
42.0
|
47
|
|
16th
|
42804
|
Lucy Heather
|
Wilsonian
|
26 |
21 |
13 |
12 |
46.0
|
14
|
|
17th
|
41914
|
Tunnicliffe Andrew
|
Burwain
|
13 |
13 |
24 |
DNC |
50.0
|
15
|
|
18th
|
43068
|
Louis McVeigh
|
Wimbledon Park
|
48 |
18 |
18 |
18 |
54.0
|
16
|
|
19th
|
42838
|
Matthew Podger
|
Chew Valley Lake SC
|
7 |
37 |
26 |
23 |
56.0
|
14
|
|
20th
|
44208
|
James Clark
|
Chew Valley Lake SC
|
38 |
34 |
9 |
13 |
56.0
|
14
|
|
21st
|
43510
|
Roge Phillips
|
Great Moor
|
14 |
28 |
21 |
24 |
59.0
|
15
|
|
22nd
|
37533
|
Carl Mayhew
|
Island Barn Reservoir SC
|
41 |
35 |
3 |
22 |
60.0
|
32
|
|
23rd
|
43232
|
Alex Cruttenden
|
Crawley Mariners
|
19 |
22 |
19 |
DNC |
60.0
|
15
|
|
24th
|
44018
|
Alistair Nichol
|
Emsworth Slipper
|
17 |
30 |
29 |
16 |
62.0
|
14
|
|
25th
|
44192
|
Adam Fox
|
Stewartby
|
35 |
10 |
DNC |
20 |
65.0
|
12
|
|
26th
|
44304
|
Doug Horner
|
Wilsonian
|
21 |
29 |
17 |
DNC |
67.0
|
15
|
|
27th
|
43720
|
Evan Scott
|
Grafham Water
|
30 |
20 |
DNC |
19 |
69.0
|
12
|
|
28th
|
44131
|
Guy Fillmore
|
Draycote Water
|
18 |
32 |
32 |
21 |
71.0
|
14
|
|
29th
|
43229
|
Andy Fielder
|
Broadwater
|
28 |
26 |
22 |
25 |
73.0
|
14
|
|
30th
|
43746
|
Mitch Webb
|
Downs SC
|
34 |
25 |
25 |
DNC |
84.0
|
14
|
|
31st
|
44286
|
Felicity Minns
|
AYNC
|
44 |
40 |
34 |
14 |
88.0
|
16
|
|
32nd
|
18190
|
Sam Coombs
|
Clevedon SC
|
36 |
DNC |
23 |
30 |
89.0
|
12
|
|
33rd
|
42029
|
Peter Lytton
|
Papercourt SC
|
24 |
19 |
DNF |
DNC |
90.0
|
46
|
|
34th
|
44040
|
Stuart Adams
|
Burghfield
|
5 |
12 |
DNC |
DNC |
93.0
|
13
|
|
35th
|
43150
|
Katie Black
|
Clevedon SC
|
31 |
45 |
38 |
29 |
98.0
|
|
|
36th
|
42446
|
Ben McVeigh
|
Wimbledon Park
|
42 |
43 |
33 |
31 |
106.0
|
14
|
|
37th
|
21416
|
Emma Porteous
|
Papercourt SC
|
52 |
44 |
36 |
28 |
108.0
|
14
|
|
38th
|
44104
|
Sophie Jones
|
Island Barn Reservoir SC
|
46 |
17 |
DNF |
DNC |
110.0
|
16
|
|
39th
|
40405
|
Grey Baker
|
Newhaven & Seaford SC
|
40 |
41 |
30 |
DNC |
111.0
|
16
|
|
40th
|
34668
|
Preston Taylor
|
Newhaven & Seaford SC
|
33 |
33 |
DNF |
DNC |
113.0
|
13
|
|
41st
|
43686
|
Lizzie Chellew
|
Papercourt SC
|
DNF |
DNC |
28 |
26 |
120.0
|
16
|
|
42nd
|
33428
|
Emma Clarke
|
Dovey YC
|
DNF |
DNC |
27 |
27 |
120.0
|
15
|
|
43rd
|
43729
|
Sam Rowe
|
Downs SC
|
49 |
39 |
37 |
DNC |
125.0
|
14
|
|
44th
|
42113
|
Fiona Stevens
|
Lancing SC
|
29 |
27 |
DNC |
DNC |
132.0
|
14
|
|
45th
|
43170
|
Katie Restall
|
Downs SC
|
45 |
DNF |
35 |
DNC |
135.0
|
13
|
|
46th
|
43772
|
Bradley Field
|
Benfleet
|
DNF |
DNC |
39 |
32 |
137.0
|
13
|
|
47th
|
43770
|
Tim Ellis
|
Broadstairs
|
39 |
24 |
DNC |
DNC |
139.0
|
14
|
|
48th
|
44272
|
Tessa Cooper
|
Lancing SC
|
37 |
36 |
DNC |
DNC |
149.0
|
15
|
|
49th
|
40727
|
Tony Adams
|
Burghfield
|
20 |
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
151.0
|
16
|
|
50th
|
44051
|
Paul Turrill
|
Bewl Valley
|
22 |
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
153.0
|
13
|
|
51st
|
43328
|
Nathan Batchelor
|
Chew Valley Lake SC
|
25 |
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
156.0
|
15
|
|
52nd
|
22955
|
Luke Patching
|
Papercourt SC
|
49 |
31 |
DNC |
DNC |
156.0
|
15
|
|
53rd
|
22957
|
Laura Jones
|
Locks
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNF |
DNF |
158.0
|
13
|
|
54th
|
42993
|
James Upton-Prowse
|
Papercourt SC
|
DNF |
DNF |
DNF |
DNC |
168.0
|
13
|
|
55th
|
43153
|
Natasha Meik
|
Lancing SC
|
47 |
46 |
DNC |
DNC |
169.0
|
15
|
|
56th
|
42317
|
Heidi Smith
|
Dale YC
|
43 |
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
174.0
|
13
|
|
57th
|
43685
|
Chris Fisher
|
Papercourt SC
|
DNF |
38 |
DNC |
DNC |
180.0
|
15
|
|
58th
|
43634
|
Joseph Wellard
|
Crawley Mariners
|
51 |
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
182.0
|
13
|
|
59th
|
31968
|
Jay Barth
|
Papercourt SC
|
DNF |
DNC |
DNF |
DNC |
189.0
|
13
|
|
60th
|
40635
|
Holly Turner
|
Chelmarsh SC
|
DNC |
42 |
DNC |
DNC |
194.0
|
16
|
|
61st
|
28507
|
Alex Selby
|
Locks
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNF |
DNC |
199.0
|
14
|
|
62nd
|
43851
|
Annabel Minns
|
AYNC
|
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
218.0
|
12
|
|
62nd
|
18279
|
Emma Smith
|
Island Barn Reservoir SC
|
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
218.0
|
15
|
|
62nd
|
12337
|
Adam Smith
|
Island Barn Reservoir SC
|
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
218.0
|
14
|
|
62nd
|
25625
|
Sam Eversfield
|
Island Barn Reservoir SC
|
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
218.0
|
11
|
|
62nd
|
36683
|
Sam Littlejohn
|
Lancing SC
|
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
218.0
|
14
|
|
62nd
|
9477
|
Kirsty Lytton
|
Papercourt SC
|
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
218.0
|
15
|
|
62nd
|
43087
|
Helen Matthews
|
Papercourt SC
|
DNF |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
218.0
|
15
|
|
69th
|
32053
|
Adam Hilton
|
Calshot
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
228.0
|
10
|
|
69th
|
28867
|
Kimberley Gordhandas
|
Beaver
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
228.0
|
14
|
|
69th
|
43183
|
Emma Hardcastle
|
Grafham Water
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
228.0
|
13
|
|
69th
|
44102
|
Dan Belben
|
Stokes Bay SC
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
228.0
|
13
|
|
69th
|
44079
|
Rory Cooper
|
Chew Valley Lake SC
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
228.0
|
12
|
|
69th
|
42551
|
Pili Trumble
|
Aberdeen & Stonehaven YC
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
228.0
|
13
|
|
69th
|
42946
|
Hannah Podger
|
Chew Valley Lake SC
|
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
DNC |
228.0
|
12
|
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