Hornsea SC - Northern Championships

At Hornsea’s first Streaker Open in 2006 thirty boats took part – a record turnout at the time, which was equalled a month later by the same number for the Northerns at Welton. This year thirty-two boats lined up for the first race, including ten from the home club. It was soon apparent that most of the Streaker Class’s ‘A’ team were there, including Northerns winner for the last three years Ian Jones, and ten times Streaker Nationals winner Alan Gillard.

The wind was blowing a good south-westerly force 3 to 4 as the sailors prepared their boats for the day’s racing, but by the start of Race 1 had dropped to a steady 3. The race got away cleanly with Alan Gillard streaking into an immediate and significant lead. He was followed at some distance by Ian Jones, Ian Whitfield, and Dan Rimmer and Ian Bradley, who were both sailing brand new Butler wooden boats for the first time. Ian Jones soon ran into trouble on the second beat when he sailed through the shallows, but he was kindly told of his error by the following boats, which allowed him to retrace his steps and continue, albeit in fifth place rather than second. By the end of the race Ian Jones had moved back up to second place, with Rimmer and Bradley following.

There was a course change for the second race, as the second leg of the original course, a run back along the starboard lay line of the first beat, was considered too traumatic for Hornsea Commodore and PRO Stephen Sharp, who was worried that his heart and blood pressure wouldn’t stand it. Once again it was Alan Gillard who broke away, followed initially by Ian Bradley and Hornsea sailor Stuart Hood. Ian Jones completed the first lap in fourth place, but again by the end of the race had moved up to second. Finishing order was Gillard, Jones, Bradley and John Tate. Stuart Hood dropped to fifth, and another notable finish came from Hornsea sailor Tony Ridley, who, though only sailing for four years, and in a Streaker for less than a year, finished in eighth place.

Although Alan Gillard had now won the Championship, he went out for Race 3. Having been OCS at the start, he subsequently retired, leaving Ian Jones to dazzle the rest of us with his skills. He led the race from start to finish. John Tate showed good form to finish second, with the ever-consistent Ian Bradley grinning his delighted way around the course in third place in his shiny new craft. Dave Metcalfe, who had accidentally won the previous week’s Open at Welton, at last showed some form when, after sailing most of the race in fourth place, was just pipped on the line by Nick Lovell to finish in fifth.

The club gave engraved glassware as prizes down to fifth place, and also gave away a free entry to this year’s National Championships in a draw done by the winner, Alan Gillard. New Streaker sailor and Hornsea Sailing Club member Brian Joyce had his name drawn from the Commodore’s woollen cap, so we shall expect to see him brave the waves of Filey in June.

The club thanks all the visitors for coming and also for their gentlemanly conduct on and off the water.

Results Overall: 1st Alan Gillard (Sheffield Viking SC) 2 pts, 2nd Ian Jones (Dovestone SC) 3pts, 3rd John Tate (Scaling Dam SC) 6 pts, 4th Ian Bradley (Ouse Amateur SC) 6pts, 5th Nick Lovell (Ouse Amateur SC) 9 pts, 6th Dan Rimmer (Hykeham SC) 11 pts, 7th Stuart Hood (Hornsea SC) 12 pts, 8th Dave Smith (Welton SC) 15 pts, 9th Dave Metcalfe (Hornsea SC) 18 pts, 10th John Burgoine (Tamworth SC) 19 pts, 11th Ian Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 19 pts, 12th Peter Cogill (Rotherham SC) 20 pts, 13th Jonathan Chappel (Ripon SC) 21 pts, 14th Matthew Whitfield (Tamworth SC) 21 pts, 15th Tony Ridley (Hornsea SC) 24 pts, 16th Peter Tyerman (Pennine SC) 24 pts, 17th Mark Hill (Welton SC) 24 pts, 18th Graham Nelson (Ouse Amateur SC) 26 pts, 19th Dave Butler (Welton SC) 29 pts, 20th Ray Brooks (Hornsea SC) 34 pts, 21st Chris Wright (Ripon SC) 34 pts, 22nd Mike Mooney (Hornsea SC) 37 pts, 23rd Ernie Linguard (Hornsea SC) 39 pts, 24th Roger Wallac (South Yorkshire SC) 44 pts, 25th Ian McIntyre (Hornsea SC) 45 pts, 26th Steve Abbott (Welton SC) 46 pts, 27th Brian Joyce (Hornsea SC) 49 pts, 28th Hannah Hood (Hornsea SC) 50 pts, 29th Alan Beck (Hornsea SC) 50 pts, 30th Leanne Thirkelson (Welton SC) 58 pts, 31st Stan Lubner (North Lincs SC) 61 pts, 32nd Tony Legg (Hornsea SC) 66 pts.