Three races for the National 12 Challenge Cup were sailed on Sunday 16 September at Henley Sailing Club in Wargrave. There were seventeen boats on the water, including visitors from other Thames based clubs and from as far afield as Redesmere in Cheshire, and Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

With a gusty breeze blowing, the prudent decision to split the fleet into four flights was made so as to halve the number of boats on the starting line at any time and thereby reduce congestion on the narrow river. Accordingly, each flight sailed a single race against each other flight.

In the first set of races, (Red v Green), John & Katy Meadowcroft built up an early lead over a pack of boats initially led by Dave & Josie Greening, and then Steve Gent and Viv Roberts. The Meadowcrofts extended their lead to win comfortably whilst behind there was much place changing throughout the entire race, with Dave & Rose Croft emerging to take second place at the finish. The Blue v Black race was initially led by Frances Gifford and Neil Ravenscroft, but then developed into a four way tussle for the lead. One by one Mike Cooke and Kate Edwards, followed by John & Mandy Thornton, and then Will & Robert Henderson fell behind the blistering pace being set by Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne. Camm and Ballantyne eventually won comfortably from the Hendersons.

After a hearty lunch it was back to battle. First race off was Red v Blue. The Meadowcrofts were the early leaders but were then overtaken by the Hendersons. With Camm and Ballantyne snapping around on the transom of these two boats, it was always going to be a tight and fiercely contested finish, and shortly before the end of the race the Meadowcrofts were able to break through to win just ahead of the Hendersons and then Camm and Ballantyne. In the Green v Black race; the Crofts continued to show good form, recording a win ahead of the chasing Thorntons.

The wind was dropping off as the final races started. In Blue v Green, the Hendersons, Crofts and Camm and Ballantyne clashed. As the wind died, the Hendersons took the lead ahead of Gent and Roberts, a lead that they held to the finish. In Red v Black the Greenings got back to form to win ahead of the Thorntons and the Meadowcrofts.

Overall, their performances in the first two races were enough for the Meadowcrofts to win the Challenge Cup ahead of the Hendersons and the Crofts. For the aficionados there were five different designs featured in the first five places.

Overall Results

1st, 3429, Fools Gold, Feeling Foolish, John & Katy Meadowcroft, Henley
2nd, 3418, New Isabelle, Baggy Trousers, Will & Robert Henderson, Tamesis
3rd, 2935, Close To The Edge, Pipedream, Dave & Rose Croft, Henley
4th, 3469, So Long & Thanks For All The Fish, Numinous, Graham Camm & Zoe Ballantyne, Burghfield
5th, 3461, Annie Apple, Annie Apple, Dave & Josie Greening, Salcombe
6th, 3468, Pillow Fight, Numinous, John & Mandy Thornton, Henley
7th, 3221, Runaway, Crusader, Steve Gent & Viv Roberts, Henley
8th, 3362, Queen of Puddings, Final Chapter, Chris & Anthony & Kate Edwards, Ranelagh
9th, 3431, Zippy, Feeling Foolish, Frances Gifford & Neil Ravenscroft, Aldeburgh
10th, 1673, Lets Go, Mark 4, Brian Herring & Ros Stevenson, Winsford Flash
11th, 2802, Dubious, ??, Alan & Karen Cadwaller, Henley
12th, 3345, Fearsome Fly By Night, Final Chapter, Dave & Frances Wilkins, Spinnaker
13th, 3143, Catatonic, Tigress, Ben Deverson & The Mrs, Twickenham
14th, 2812, Eric, Paper Dart, Garth Thompson & Helen Hilditch, Henley
15th, 3148, Pillow Talk, Tigress, Chris Gent & Charlotte Rothery, Henley
16th, 2700, Artic Tern, Pip Deverson & ?, Twickenham
17th, 3419, Foolish Aardvark, Feeling Foolish, Mike Cooke & Kate Edwards, Notts County.