Event 2
Venue: Croft Farm Leisure, Bredons Hardwick
Date: 30 June 2007

Water water everywhere

Having been at Croft farm for a week and watched the water of the River Avon creep ever closer, I wondered whether we would be able to lay a course through the streets of Tewkesbury. What a sight that would have been. However, to the relief of everyone living in the area, the flood water stopped rising by about Thursday.

Saturday dawned to the sound of rain, but a light breeze from the south west fluttered the RYA centre flags and rippled the water. Annie and Ady set up registration while I blew up the marks, hammered in spikes and hoisted the new T15 flags. I get all the fun jobs.

Now we awaited the teams. Bob Shillito arrived with his small pack of Animals (only 5 this time) while Annie and her assistant Chris searched for the Croft Farm Fliers. The SCOEC Maxi Bus pulled into the car park trailing its mobile board store and workshop. Wimbleball had a reduced team owing to many Wombles being needed to clear up the litter from the Glastonbury Festival last week.

Getting going

After the formalities came the fun. Boards were assembled in the bay and the warm up paddle race started. Just two marks to round then a dash to the finish and stand in line while I took bib numbers on a soggy piece of paper (I lost my wet note pad)!Chris Cooper from SCOEC Screamers (Tushingham) was first over the line followed closely by Zack Page from the Croft Farm Flyers (Neilson) and Joel Cresser- Brown (SCOEC) in third place.

A triangle course was laid in the main part of the lake for the competent windsurfers and a out and back reaching course for three clubbers who only started windsurfing a few weeks ago. Race Two was held next with only minor chaos at the start - a shallow lake and a long anchor rope caused the start line to shorten, trapping some clubbers behind the jetty. Harry Clark, sailing in the 6.8 Techno Class (SCOEC), set the pace in the steady force 2, followed in by Seb Cooper in the 4.5 fleet and Chris Cooper, giving SCOEC the top 3 places overall and a win in three classes. Things were shaping up to be a close battle for the winning club.

Race 3 got underway and got more competitive with every one working out the start line and getting around the course. Harry Clark was being chased this time by Tom Stevens of the Animals (Bic)and Tom Cooper (SCOEC) Seb Cooper was showing the way home in the 4.5 fleet with Fynn Page leading the 3.5 fleet. Once again standards were improving and more people were negotiating the start line with ease and enjoying the conditions.

The hour’s lunch break provided ample opportunity for hungry athletes to gorge on chips from Harpoon Louie’s All Day Diner; added ballast to hold down those big rigs.

Improving standards

With the start line situation sorted and minor adjustments to the course, we had another four races in the afternoon. The standard of starts and general sailing were getting better through the day with the help of some handy hints and top tips from coaches between races.

Due to Croft Farm being quite busy, a course change was needed to keep the sailors clear of the other activities so the first leg was a quite a challenge. Harry Clark, once again, was dominant in this race, developing a healthy lead with Chris Cooper fighting to stay in the front of the pack. Chris was being pressured all the way by Seb Cooper and Tom Stevens but managed to hold off the challenge. Tom just beat Seb to the line.

Race 5 was a repeat performance of the 4th race with all the top places staying in the same order but Fynn Page showed a few 4.5 and 5.5 sailors that a well sailed 3 meter sail can bring rewards. He managed to overtake a few of them as he pumped his way down the last leg in a valiant battle to take 5th place overall. Another two exciting races were held on the same course.

Croft Farm fly home

Final scores saw Croft Farm Fliers take the team trophy with 13 place points; two wins, two seconds a third and a fourth place. In spite of their three wins, SCOEC lost out by one point. Merit awards went to Elliot Cash and Harriet Salisbury. Elliot, who is diabetic, competed even though he felt rough that morning. His 4th place helped secure the team win for the fliers. Harriet learnt to windsurf two weeks ago and at the end of the day had made tremendous progress and improvement.

At the presentation, Tom Lawrence, Croft Farm Watersports Manager, thanked the sponsors Tushingham, Nielson and Bic, club coaches, parents, and all those who made the event possible. Alan Newell and his wife Agnita, owners of Croft Farm, donated the money raised by entry fees to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Team winners - Croft Farm Fliers 
 

Report written by: Geoff Pook
T15 CO - North Zone

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

Congratulations!

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For information
(previous courses in 2008)

Mount Batten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 27/28 September 2008
Closing date: 5 September
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Lakes Leisure - Windermere
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Fully booked

James Hamilton Heritage Park - Glasgow
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Gwent Adventures - Wales
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 9/10 August 2008
Closing date: 25 July
5 candidates on course


Grafham Water Centre - Cambridgeshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 5/6 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
Spaces available
6 candidates on course

Wimbleball Lake - Somerset
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek course: 3/4 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
4 candidates on course


Roadford Lake - Okehampton
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 4/5 June 2008
Organised by South West Lakes Trust
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Freestyle
Weekend Course: 3/4 May 2008
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 1/2 May 2008
6 candidates on course


Mountbatten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend Course: 12/13 April 2008
Cancelled: lack of candidates

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