John Merricks Tiger Trophy at Rutland Sailing Club
by Andy Rice 7 Feb 2011 13:10 GMT
5-6 February 2011
3 capsizes, 3 wins, 13 years and a 4-Figure Cheque: How the Tiger Trophy was Won
After 13 years of trying, the £1,000 cheque to the first team to win all races at the John Merricks Tiger Trophy has gone to Andy Smith and Tim Needham, who conquered some fierce conditions in their 505 this weekend.
Some competitors were surprised when race officer David Wilkins, an Olympic silver medallist, decided to send sailors out for the three handicap races on Saturday. “David reckons it’s only 20 knots,” muttered competitors grimly in the changing rooms, looking as though they were about to sent out to almost certain doom.
“It was averaging 18 knots, with some occasional gusts over 25,” said Wilkins afterwards, “although most competitors had it at about five knots stronger than that. It could have been the dense cold breeze that you tend to get in the winter, which can make the breeze feel stronger.”
While sailors were tipping in left, right and centre across the reservoir, keeping the tireless rescue teams working full bore all afternoon, Smith and Needham sailed majestically around the trapezoid course with seemingly little bother. That said, even Smith admitted to three capsizes during the course of the day. “There was one at the end of the second race near the leeward mark, ended up teabagging Tim and he fell off, another when the spinnaker sheets went under the bow, and another down the run. But I think everyone fell in at some point during the day.”
Some ended up beached on the lee shore by the concrete dam, having to leave their boats there until there was time to rescue the equipment later. All in all, a big day.
In the evening there was the customary dinner to celebrate the life of John Merricks, the Olympic silver medallist who learned his trade on Rutland Water and who would have loved the big breeze of this weekend.
The following day dawned even windier, and there was nervous chatter at the prospect of the pursuit race taking place in high wind, with the exception of a few gung-ho competitors such as former OK World Champion Nick Craig. In the end, the race officer decided to call off the racing, although Craig went out anyway and put on a masterclass of survival sailing in his OK while everyone else packed up to go home.
Meanwhile, Smith and Needham were celebrating winning the Tiger Trophy and picking up the £1,000 cheque at a prizegiving in the brand new John Merricks Training Centre. This is a high performance facility funded by Sport England, Rutland SC, the John Merricks Sailing Trust and Tony Everard at Everards Brewery. John’s father, Dennis Merricks, and Tony Everard were there to open the new building and to present the prizewinners with their hard-won trophies.
Smith said he’d find something to spend the money on. “There’s always something to spend money on with the Five-Oh. Twin poles, I reckon, to make the gybes a bit easier.” Not that it looked like they need any help gybing the boat in the strong winds of Saturday. Smith and Needham have also won the opportunity to sail with Team GAC Pindar at the Cowes Week Extreme 40 event as VIP guests.
Runner-up to the 505 was the 420 of Chris Taylor and Caroline Croft who also won the Junior Tiger Trophy, with last year’s overall winners, Merlin duo Matt Biggs and Ben Hollis in third. Biggs and Hollis also win the SailJuice Global Warm-Up 2011, the winter travellers series that encompassed four of the major multi-class handicap events and which concluded this weekend at Rutland.
Thanks to Rule 26 for event logistics and site branding, and Everards Brewery for all the prize glasswear and Tiger beer for every entrant.
John Merricks Tiger Trophy 2011 winners:
Tiger Trophy - Andy Smith & Tim Needham (NCSC) 505
Junior Tiger Trophy - (Highest placed Junior team.) Chris Taylor and Caroline Croft (HISC) 420
Shere Khan Trophy - (Highest placed team with combined age of 75+) Roger Dean & Dave Turner (Rock SC) 505
Lady Tiger Trophy - Val Millward (RSC) Challenger
Overall Results:
Pos | Fleet | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | PY | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
1st | F | 505 | 9012 | Smith, Andy | Needham, Tim | NCSC | 895 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
2nd | S | 420 | 53232 | TAYLOR, Chris | CROFT, Caroline | Hisc | 1075 | 2 | -3 | 2 | 4 |
3rd | S | Merlin Rocket | 3705 | BIGGS, Matt | HOLLIS, Ben | Blithfield | 1006 | -5 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
4th | F | RS 600 | 962 | MAWSON, Jamie | | Pennine SC & Ulley SC | 920 | -13 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
5th | S | OK | 2134 | Craig, Nick | | Frensham Pond | 1109 | 3 | (OCS) | 8 | 11 |
6th | S | Laser Standard | 195318 | Wetherell, Jack | | Beaver SC | 1114 | 6 | 7 | -12 | 13 |
7th | F | 29er | 1509 | ELLIS, Callum | HARRIS, Will | Qmsc | 894 | -12 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
8th | F | 505 | 8881 | DEANE, Roger | TURNER, Dave | Rock SC | 895 | (DNC) | 11 | 5 | 16 |
9th | S | Scorpion | 2013 | Gray, Peter | Pepperdine, Rich | Staunton Harold | 1048 | 7 | -10 | 9 | 16 |
10th | F | 29er | 157 | PAYNE, Ian | BERRY, Chris | Draycote Water SC | 894 | -18 | 6 | 13 | 19 |
11th | S | Challenger | 257 | MILLWARD, Val | | Rutland Sailing Club | 1160 | 8 | -14 | 11 | 19 |
12th | F | RS 400 | 498 | Tylecote, Steve | Schooling, Ben | Rutland SC | 950 | 10 | 9 | -15 | 19 |
13th | S | Lark | 2495 | HYDON, Stuart | HYDON, Nick | Shustoke SC | 1073 | 9 | 13 | (DNF) | 22 |
14th | S | Merlin Rocket | 3670 | DOBSON, Ian | TUNNICLIFFE, Andy | | 1006 | 22 | 2 | (DNC) | 24 |
15th | F | 505 | 9039 | BIRD, Tim | NURSE, Richard | Burton SC | 895 | 21 | -28 | 7 | 28 |
16th | S | Challenger | 270 | HALL, Graham | | Rutland S.c. | 1160 | 11 | -19 | 18 | 29 |
17th | S | Phantom | 1359 | HAWKES, Simon | | Wimblebal S.c | 1017 | -26 | 12 | 17 | 29 |
18th | F | RS 600 | 702 | CHARLES, John | | Leigh-on-sea SC | 920 | 15 | 16 | -23 | 31 |
19th | S | Phantom | 1291 | WILDE, Andrew | | Carsington SC | 1017 | 14 | 18 | (DNC) | 32 |
20th | S | Laser 2000 | 22215 | Dring, Andy | Laken, Simon | Rutland SC | 1090 | (DNC) | 17 | 20 | 37 |
21st | S | FINN | 18 | HADDEN, James | | Swarkestone SC, Mountbatten SC | 1050 | 23 | 15 | (DNC) | 38 |
22nd | S | RS 200 | 1203 | STEWART, James | STEWART, Eluned | Weston | 1053 | 19 | -23 | 19 | 38 |
23rd | F | 29er | 342 | Smith, Aaron | Rodgers, Alec | Wilsonian SC | 894 | -33 | 25 | 14 | 39 |
24th | S | Merlin Rocket | 3563 | Hollis, Paul | Dawes, James | Blithfield | 1006 | 17 | -22 | 22 | 39 |
25th | S | Laser 4.7 | 136452 | LUPTON, Timothy | | | 1175 | -27 | 21 | 21 | 42 |
26th | S | Laser Radial | 196559 | MORGAN, Kerry | | Hill Head SC | 1135 | 25 | 20 | (DNC) | 45 |
27th | S | BLAZE | 678 | JONES, Rob | | Warsash | 1028 | 30 | -35 | 16 | 46 |
28th | F | Musto Skiff | 288 | Peake, Andrew | | Whitstable | 857 | 24 | 24 | -26 | 48 |
29th | F | RS 600 | 811 | Nuttall, James | | Bristol Corinthian YC | 920 | -31 | 26 | 24 | 50 |
30th | S | 420 | 50457 | LACHLAN-COPE, Lucia | HOULDER, Emma | Hunts SC | 1075 | -29 | 27 | 27 | 54 |
31st | S | Firefly | 2 | ELLIS, Tristan | SCRUBY, Isabel | Rutland SC / Oakham SChool | 1165 | -37 | 30 | 29 | 59 |
32nd | S | Firefly | 4 | HAPPEL, Jan | RANDALL, Richard | Rutland SC / Oakham SChool | 1165 | -35 | 32 | 28 | 60 |
33rd | F | RS 600 | 920 | NELSON, Peter | | Northampton SC | 920 | -42 | 29 | 31 | 60 |
34th | S | Firefly | 3 | NAGEL, Emily | KENT, Sarah | Rutland SC / Oakham SChool | 1165 | -36 | 31 | 30 | 61 |
35th | F | RS 400 | 1289 | HALMAN, Stuart | BRANNAM, Sue | Leigh And Lowton SC | 950 | 32 | 34 | (DNF) | 66 |
36th | S | Firefly | 1 | LEAR, Cathy | COUNSELL, Francine | Rutland SC / Oakham SChool | 1165 | 38 | 33 | (DNF) | 71 |
37th | F | Flying Dutchman | 369 | BARSLEY-DALE | RUSSELL, Gareth | Paxton Lakes SC | 880 | 4 | (DNF) | DNC | 123 |
38th | S | 420 | 53377 | Allen, Sarah | Mitchell, Hannah | Oxford SC | 1075 | (DNC) | DNC | 6 | 125 |
39th | S | 420 | 52907 | AIRLIE, Callum | AIRLIE, Drew | Elyc | 1075 | 16 | (DNF) | DNC | 135 |
40th | S | RS 100 | 159 | CHILDS, Paul | | Hisc | 1005 | 20 | (OCS) | DNC | 139 |
41st | F | RS 600 | 676 | Rickard, J | | BCYC | 920 | (DNC) | DNC | 25 | 144 |
42nd | S | Laser Standard | 166427 | Swain, Jonathan | | Carsington SC | 1114 | 28 | (DNC) | DNC | 147 |
43rd | S | RS Feva | 3746 | Radionouskiy, Mikhail | Hunter, Goerge | Rutland SC | 1175 | 34 | (DNF) | DNC | 153 |
44th | F | RS 400 | 824 | HART, Chris | PEAK, Mark | Alton Water SC | 950 | 39 | (DNC) | DNC | 158 |
45th | S | Laser Radial | 182444 | Guttridge, Peter | | Rutland SC | 1135 | 40 | (DNF) | DNC | 159 |
46th | F | Laser 4000 | 4271 | WARBURTON, John | CLAPHAM, James | Cardiff Bay Yacht Club | 908 | 41 | (DNC) | DNC | 160 |
47th | S | OK | 10 IRL | Goodbody, Tim | | RIYC | 1109 | 43 | (OCS) | DNC | 162 |
48th | F | Musto Skiff | 262 | RICE, Andy | | Stokes Bay SC | 857 | 44 | (DNF) | DNC | 163 |
49th | F | Musto Skiff | 16 | Chapman, Tim | | Rutland SC | 857 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 54 | LEONARD, Alex | STOREY, Olivia | Bassenthwaite SC | 894 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | AltO | 108 | LOVE, Oliver | LINCOLN, Gareth | Bury Lake | 920 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Musto Skiff | 186 | SAINSBURY, James | | Grafham SC | 857 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Musto Skiff | 281 | HILTON, Jamie | | Datchet Water | 857 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Musto Skiff | 284 | Samus, Sergei | | Whitstable | 857 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 311 | FURNESS, Joan | CARLISE, Will | Draycote Water | 894 | (OCS) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 312 | BURROWS, Glen | FORD, Patrick | Northampton | 894 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Musto Skiff | 351 | MARTIN, Ian | | Datchet Water SC | 857 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Musto Skiff | 369 | STENHOUSE, Kit | | Rutland S.c. | 857 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 600 | 684 | MURRELL, Ben | | Yorkshire Dales SC | 920 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 900 | VENABLES, Matt | ALLOWAY, Will | Rutland SC | 894 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Musto skiff | 393 | OLIN, Jonathan | | Rutland Sailing Club | 857 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 300 | 401 | RUDDIMAN, James | | Draycote Water SC | 989 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 300 | 426 | LE MARE, Richard | | Draycote | 989 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 500 | 525 | TANNER, James | CHILDS, Sam | Burghfield | 972 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 500 | 545 | NICHOLLS, Sam | HERBERT, Alice | Datchet Water SC | 972 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 613 | HILTON, Bradley | KNAPTON, Noah | Rutland SC | 894 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 500 | 616 | Room, Scott | Preedy, Ian | Broxbourne SC | 972 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Laser 4000 | 4425 | ALLEN, Brian | ALLEN, Claire | Brightlingsea | 908 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Laser 4000 | 4546 | Litt, Tim | Litt, Harry | Rutland SC | 908 | (DNC) | DNF | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Laser 4000 | 4616 | BILTON, Chris | WATTS, Alex | Datchet Water Sailing Club | 908 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 505 | 8526 | HOPKINS, Russ | HOPKINS, Olly | Tewkesbury SC | 895 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 505 | 8935 | SHORT, Russell | SHORT, Andrew | Carsington S.c. | 895 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Firefly | 5 | MCCORMACK, Anna | PADDOCK, Tom | Rutland SC / Oakham SChool | 1165 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 800 | 1013 | CHAPMAN, Ant | LANGFORD, Edward | Rutland SC | 806 | (DNC) | DNF | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 400 | 1077 | KNEALE, Mike | SIMPSON, Kath | Chester | 950 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 1122 | GRAY, Philippa | GLOVER, Will | Draycote SC | 894 | (OCS) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 1276 | KENT, Alice | CHILDS, Lucy | Rutland / Dabchicks | 894 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | RS 400 | 1376 | BOTTOMS, James | HULBERT, Anne | Hisc | 950 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 1782 | MEREDITH, George | GREENALL, Ashley | Grafham Water | 894 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29er | 1784 | GRAY, Sam | BATCHELOR, Nathan | Clevedon SC | 894 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Cherub | 2698 | TINNER, Stu | PRATT, Nick | Queen Mary Sailing Club | 914 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Int Moth | 3755 | Lambert, Thomas | | Draycote Water | 645 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Int Moth | 3760 | COOKE, Mike | | Bcyc | 645 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Laser 4000 | 4033 | STUART, Hadfield | KNEALE, Lewis | Chester | 908 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | Laser 4000 | 4094 | HEATH, Adrian | MORHAN, Carolyn | Rsc | 908 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser Standard | 188781 | MORGAN, Ian | | Hill Head | 1114 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | F | 29ER | 605 | Smith, Graham | Smith, Nicola | Wilsonian SC | 894 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Enterprise | 21889 | VICK, Tim | MARKS, Rebecca | Ulley SC | 1125 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | 420 | 53703 | KENNEDY, Will | INGALL, Max | Fishers Green Sailing Club | 1075 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser 4.7 | 136536 | OGDEN, Rebecca | | Ncsc | 1175 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser Radial | 164935 | Westwood, Damon | | Rutland SC | 1135 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Merlin Rocket | 3616 | HORN, Peter | LAPSLEY, Niki | Grafham Water SC | 1006 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Solo | 4736 | Wilson, Graham | | Northampton | 1164 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Solo | 5138 | OVERS, Patrick | | Paxton Lakes Sailing Club | 1164 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Albacore | 6956 | METCALFE-SMITH, Matthew | METCALFE-SMITH, Paul | Ogston | 1065 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser 2 | 10100 | Law, Rebecca | Jones, Eieanor | Datchet Water SC | 1035 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser Radial | 20304 | TOMPKINS, Gary | | St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Associ | 1135 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser 2000 | 21772 | CARVER, Stephen | WEEDON-JONES | Hunts SC | 1090 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | 420 | 51051 | THOMAS, James | BRETT, Marianne | Tbsc | 1075 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | 420 | 51357 | MULVEHILL-WILSON, Oliver | BURROWS, Max | Northampton | 1075 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Firefly | 6 | Rankin, Jamie | CRAWSHAW, Lydia | Rutland SC / Oakham SChool | 1165 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser Vago XD | 164 | DEACON, Ed | | Sesca | 1066 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser Vago XD | 358 | BAXTER, Dave | | West Riding Sailing Club | 1066 | (DNC) | DNF | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | British Moth | 783 | FREELEY, Abby | | St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Associ | 1168 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | British Moth | 856 | HALL, Colin | | Hunts SC | 1168 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Phantom | 903 | BELSON, Andrew | | Lakeside SC Peterborough | 1017 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser Vago XD | 1067 | DAVIES, John | DAVIES, Jack | West Kirby | 1066 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser Vago XD | 1078 | WEETMAN, Nick | | Stewartby | 1066 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Phantom | 1149 | MILTON, Laurence | | Rollesby Broad Sailing Club | 1017 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Splash | 2243 | HAYNES, Benjamin | | Trent Valley SC | 1175 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Lark | 249 | ROSE, Kevin | EVANS, Lucy | Shustoke | 1073 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Laser 2000 | 2992 | BARNHAM, Fergus | MORRIS, Harriet | Snettisham Beach | 1090 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | National 12 | 3411 | COPSEY, Nick | BILTON, Naomi | Ely SC | 1089 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Phantom | 1288 | CONWAY, Doug | | | 1017 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Phantom | 1325 | TUSTIN, Mike | | Bowmoor | 1017 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Phantom | 1375 | ANDREWS, Tim | | Brancaster Staithe Sailing Club | 1017 | (DNF) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | Phantom | 1378 | WESTON, Mark | | Yorkshire Dales | 1017 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |
49th | S | RS Tera | 1769 | ROBINSON, Will | | Rutland | 1175 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 238 |