British Moth Boat Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

RACING RESULTS

 

Evesham Open - 19th April 2008
The "Clarke Cup"


 

 by John Pickford, Evesham SC
Evesham Sailing Club had a particularly busy weekend On SATURDAY 19TH, with travelling British Moth sailors joining up at Evesham for the Open meeting, competing for the Clarke Cup. A cold, blustery easterly wind greeted them, and the race officer, Simon Styles, used the river to give a selection of trying courses for the three races.

In the first heat Ian Edwards showed his liking for the conditions and took an immediate lead over the rest who all came together at the windward mark resulting in a fight for survival in an effort to clear the mark. John Pickford came out of it best before being closed down by Ian Haywood and Jeremy Higson. David Taylor (Upton Warren) came into the race and swept past Pickford and Higson, a catastrophic double capsize put Haywood out of the race, and the final placings were 1st Edwards, 2nd Taylor, 3rd Higson.

After a lunch break the second heat again saw Edwards take a good lead, with the chasing pack of Higson, Pickford and Haywood battling it out for the other places. Haywood again capsized, putting him way back from the duo of Higson and Pickford who were having a battle royal with their positions changing on every lap. Haywood managed to close up enough so that on rounding the final gybe mark a mistake by Higson allowed Haywood through to challenge Pickford on the beat to the line. The placings ending as 1st Edwards, 2nd Haywood, 3rd Pickford.

Having the cup in the bag, Edwards could have sat the last race out, but he was enjoying it so much he went for the hat trick. He didn't have it all his own way this time as Higson got away off the line, into a good lead with Haywood, Mark Wiltshire (Frampton), Edwards and Taylor all vying for the other placings. Again, a capsize by Haywood (giving him his own hat trick) put him out of contention. Edwards persevered and closed down Higson, but it took him some time before he was able to pass, Higson almost regaining his position on the beat to the line. The race ending with Edwards 1st, Higson 2nd, and Taylor 3rd.

After counting the points Edwards was declared the outright winner, taking the Clarke Cup, a first time for an Evesham sailor for several years, Higson 2nd, and Taylor 3rd. As demonstrated with some of the visitors coming from as far afield as Norfolk and Wiltshire, the conditions and tight competition on the river ensure that the popularity of the Evesham Club remains high.