RS300 Nationals runners & riders So you want to know who you’ll be racing against at the Nationals in 3 weeks’ time? Here, in no particular order, are the runners and riders of those who’ve entered so far. Who’s going to put in a top result and who’s in it for the beers and the whisky (and deep-fried Mars Bars ;-))? With thanks to Pete Ellis & Neil Beveridge for helping to dob people in. 480 - David ‘The Whistler’ Acres (Emsworth). 2013 champion, is to training what Brazil are to defending but will no doubt put up a stronger defence of the title than Spain managed. Fleet Training Rep whose multiple whistling instructions usually mean he’s hyperventilating. 411 - Steve Bolland (Bristol Corinthian). Previous champion, smarting from his off-wind frailties last year spies tell us hes been putting in loads of sea practice and is even rumoured to have carried out some boat maintenance recently. Probably explains why his rudder fell off during the Weymouth Regatta last weekend. Sporting a new black sail to blend in and avoid an OCS like last year (and 2010). 323 - Matt ‘Pin End‘ Jenkins (Sheffield Viking). Very quiet but very fast, especially when the line’s port-biased. 3rd last year and current Winter Champ. 417 - Dan Treloar (Aldenham). Not so quiet and not so fast - here to learn and always sails with a smile. 524 - Matt ‘The Major’ Sargent (Thorney Island). If you want a debate then Matts your man. Involved in the first protest in years at the Southerns - then went home!!! Will show good consistent form all week. 4th last year. 416 - Neil ‘Bevs’ Beveridge (Prestwick). Think of Mel Gibson in Braveheart and wonder why you have never seen Mel & Bevs in the same room. Strong in heart, strong in character, strong in enthusiasm. Likes to say the word pish at every opportunity. Will be a threat if the wind’s up. 328 - Tim ‘The Traveller’ Keen (Sheffield Viking). There is hardly an event that Tim hasn’t been to in the last decade. Despite his stature eats F4 and above for breakfast (normally) . youtube/watch?v=R5QMFbTSO3s Current Northerner Champ. Best to stay clear on the start line. youtube/watch?v=20iU7IeEykg 403 - Dave ‘Boy’ McCardel (Prestwick). Current Scottish Champion, showing great form as long as he can avoid a Sambucca head. 426 - Richard LeMare (Barnt Green). Now with a purple mast to match his purple hull, the fleet’s Mr Fix-it, praying for strong winds and a free bar, only one of which is likely to happen. 354 - Mark ‘Sparky’ Newton (Thorney Island). Another Mr Fix-it, but actually knows what hes doing. Now sporting the larger B rig and praying for lighter winds, although adept in any conditions. Will a veggie diet and B rig work together? 500 - ‘Two Pint’ Pete Ellis (Aldenham). Likely to be more successful in the pre-nationals golf competition than the sailing. May make the odd appearance near the front on the first beat but goes backwards faster than an Italian tank downwind. 503 - Dave ‘Desperate Dan’ Sinclair. Part of the fabled Prestwick mini fleet sponsored by Greggs. Goes in a breeze. 440 - Luke Pepper (Hykeham). New dad, new boat, new to waves. Sails downwind with all the stability of someone’s who’s consumed 10 pints of Stella. youtube/watch?v=QkUnneifdI4 360 - Peter Mackin (Bolton). Hot footing from a very successful debut 8th at the Supernova Nationals, larger than life character who is likely to make an impact somewhere at the champs. Purveyor of the foredeck continuous knitting system. 507 - Alasdair ‘Wireman’ Cattenach (Prestwick). The 300 is his first non- trapeze boat. Wears a harness for old time’s sake. Confused. 342 - Ian Hopkins (Southport). Bouncing back from having his boat destroyed by a bouncing ski ramp in the spring storms. Things can only get better. 410 - Tom ‘The Miner’ Moore. Taking the furthest travelled trophy to extremes. Living the dream and jetting in from Zambia to compete. Strange accent. 336 - Mark Taylor (Prestwick). From the host club but with severe emotional problems that will need to be overcome. Racing from a Scottish club but with Welsh and Malaysian mainsail flags. Is he Welsh? Is he Scottish? Nobody knows, nobody cares, but the mystery man has more boats of different classes than the Portsmouth Yardstick. 374 - Tom ‘Team Racer’ Whitehead (Prestwick). Watch out for this man on the start line - no prisoners will be taken. Goes like a rocket in the light stuff, so we’re praying for wind. 527 - Alan ‘Snaps’ Henderson (Prestwick). Another man for the lighter conditions, so we’re praying for wind. Huge amount of Prestwick experience so if you want to know how to beat the tide, follow this man. 490 - Alistair ‘Storky’ McClaughlin (Prestwick). Super fast in the light stuff, so we’re praying for wind. Some say that double denim is out of fashion, but not to our Storky! 450 - Mark Henman (Sunderland). Loads of experience, an old head on old shoulders. Based in Sunderland so almost a local. Will be one of the quickest lightweights. 454 - Duncan Jenkins. Third element of the defending Aldenham top team from 2013. Has the potential to ping in a few top results if he turns up and his boat stays in one piece. 476 - Steve Sallis. Part of the new fleet at Hykenham - experienced dinghy sailor who will be getting to grips with the 300. 321 - Andy Bayliss. Part of the new fleet at Hykenham - experienced dinghy sailor who will be getting to grips with the 300 - Part 2. 437 - Malcolm Downie (Prestwick). Never Shaken or Stirred our very own 007 will be cool, suave and sophisticated at all times. 452 - Ian ‘Reservoir Dog’ Ross (Prestwick). Our very own Mr Red. Hes smokin. E Cigs, of course! 508 - Alan ‘The Don’ Sinclair (Prestwick). Veteran of these parts, looking to regain his silverware. 523 - Harry McVicar (Aldenham). Like a good wine, is improving with age. Likely to bring the largest entourage to the event - possibly 4 generations of McVs. 521 - Eamonn ‘45 Degrees’ Rankin (Prestwick). Some say that flat is fast. Some say that hiking is good for the soul. But we say Go Eamonn. 445 - Paul Rigg (East Lothian). Newcomer to the Nationals scene but in a boat with a championship winning pedigree. Will be watched with interest. 502 - John Wilson (Largo Bay). Bit of a team racer in his spare time so knows the rules – beware. But always sails with a smile so you may get away with it. 536 - Richard Cumming (Weir Wood). Unknown quantity - but brings the newest boat to the Nationals so bound to be cautious at the starts. 379 - Dan Skinner (Aldenham). One day Skins will actually bring an instrument to an event and show us his real talent. Has go fast potential sprinkled with the odd cataclysmic capsize. 361 - Joe Watkins (Bassenthwaite). Another newcomer to the Nationals scene and one of the youngest competitors. Will be watched with interest. And what of the top team trophy won in the past by Draycote, Prestwick, Sheffield Viking, Thorney Island and Aldenham? Likely to be 8 teams competing this year from 4 different clubs. Defending club is Aldenham with the second highest number of boats entered. Will be trying to be the first club to score back-to-back wins but have failed to appreciate that Aldenham is based on a small lake in Hertfordshire while Prestwick is on the sea with big waves so we are likely to be royally entertained. Host club Prestwick has 4 teams entered. Likely to do well as have been training under the watchful eye of Neil Beveridge for the past 2 months. Looking forward to seeing a whole fleet of Bev clones. Hykeham enters a team for the first time, but with none having done a 300 champs before a year too early? Again, we are likely to be royally entertained. Sheffield Viking will be sporting a top team with all members likely to be in the top 10 if they can get Bish to enter. Another top team will be from Down South SC (Emsworth/Thorney Island) but only if they all remember to enter from the same club. Probably why they failed to win the team trophy last year. Will they learn?
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:28:52 +0000
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