TVSC open meeting

 

first of this season’s Midland Area National Twelve Open Meetings, at Trent Valley S.C. on May 10, was supported by no less than 19 boats. This is believed to be highest non-Gill, non-‘Week’ attendance in Class for a number of season’s. This fleet comprised 4 ‘double-bottom’ boats and 15 Admiral’s Cup boats, latter no doubt attracted by award of a new trophy for AC boats, Trease Tankard.

 

 

Despite very strong winds of previous week, Sunday morning started completely windless. After a half-hour delay, Race Officer Ken Goddard gambled on a sustainable breeze picking up and got fleet away on a short course in lower reaches of river. fleet was split into 4 flights and two heats per race. wind direction led to a downstream start and a bit of a pile-up at downstream mark. First to extricate herself in Heat 1 was Sue Jones in N.3263, followed by John Sears (N.2957) and David Peacock (N.3518). However Sue was unable to hold her lead and finishing order was above three in reverse order. In Heat 2, one of oldest boats, N.2765 (Tom White), and N.3217 (Philip David) got away well and finished in that order. N.3411 (Gerald Copsey) was third.

In Race 2, with Heats containing different flights, leader of Heat 1 throughout was Gerald Copsey, with John Sears creeping ahead of Chris Day (N.3377) in final lap. In Heat 2, David Peacock held lead throughout, with Philip David pulling up to second and Andy Prior (N.3465) in third place.

 

 

In final race, with wind still very slight and in same direction, Race Officer changed to an upstream, running start. This might have worked well but a large double-width barge also decided to go for mark as well. Some boats extricated mselves from this situation rar better than ors, one of m being David Peacock, who scored anor win in Heat 1. Second in this Heat was Gerald Copsey and third, Tom White. In Heat 2, John Sears won this comfortably from Philip David and Chris Day.

 

Overall results

 
1st + Trent Valley Challenge Trophy – David Peacock & Kai Loudon, N.3518  (Paradigm 2)
2nd  and Trease Tankard for Admirals Cup Boats – Gerald & Tanya Copsey, N.3411 (Baggy Trousers)                                                                                                
3rd and runner-up for Tankard – John & Mark Sears, N.2957 (Pipedream)
4th Tom White & Maria Gidley, N.2765 (China Doll)

5th Philip David & Anthony Copsey, N.3217 (Baggy Trousers)