Norfolk Punt Championships at the Norfolk Punt Club
by Rachel Clayton 23 Aug 2010 18:28 BST
21-22 August 2010
There have been Norfolk Punts racing on Barton Broad for over 75 years and the Championships held last weekend was the usual mixture of old, new, hi-tech and traditional.
The racing on Saturday was held in testing conditions, gusting 20kts, with the brothers Jarvey (Harnser), Friend (Blackbird) and Daniels (Swallow II) filling the first three places of the three races after some close finishes. Alastair Drew (Grayling) and Mike Griffin (White Eagle) both had damage to their masts as the wind increased during the day, and Terry Vincent (Rainbow Trout) still managed to finish 6th in the last race despite sailing with a large tear in his mainsail.
Sunday brought a respite in the wind which allowed some fledgling swallows nesting on the Punt Club starting hut to try their first flights. On the water, in the lighter conditions, Jane Pye moved up the fleet, despite falling out of Wild Goose on a reach, and Richard Whitefoot in his new punt Comet showed good speed.
Swallow II and Robin Slatter in Cavender were closely matched to win the Broadshaven Trophy for traditional punts and the overall championships would be decided between Harnser and Blackbird on the last race. Andrew and Robert Friend had shown great skill in sailing Cormorant downwind with her large asymmetric spinnaker but in the deciding race James and Paul Jarvey played the windshifts cleverly to win the Championships.
Trophy winners:
Cuckoo Cup, first junior - Ben Girling
First lady helm - Jane Pye
Broadshaven Trophy, first traditional punt - William and Robert Daniels
Hardchine Trophy - James and Paul Jarvey
Progress Cup, first without handicap - James and Paul Jarvey
Norfolk Punt Championships:
1st James and Paul Jarvey
2nd Andrew and Robert Friend
3rd William and Robert Daniels