Over the second week in August, thirty two International Canoes visited Loch Lomond Sailing Club for the National Championships combined with the Europeans. The magnificent hospitality of the host club and superb race management of PRO Fergus Duncanson and his team more than compensated for the largely ‘dreich’, cold weather and a fickle, frequently reluctant wind which resulted in no sailing on the penultimate day of the series. The results list shows who was at the front of the action but fails to capture some of the highlights such as the long distance race on day two round several of the islands on the Loch which had to be shortened slightly when the wind reached 26 knots. These conditions suited John Robson who won the Murphy Howard Cup in the Asymmetric Canoe and Simon Allen who just held off the challenge from John Ellis in the standard International Canoe to win the Sailing Challenge Cup dating from 1875, the oldest trophy in any class of dinghy.
On the Asymmetric Canoe windward/leeward course Robin Wood was dominant with four firsts and two seconds, but should the Welshman falter his son, Ben was ready to take over with father and son first and second in race two. By finishing sixth overall and one place ahead of the first visiting European, Tobias Knuz from Germany, Ben Wood’s novitiate in the class is clearly over. Along with John Robson, Class Chairman, Gareth Caldwell was the only other sailor to beat Robin in two races. Class Secretary Andy Bidden had his moment of glory, all but leading the fleet for much of race six, before ending up 13 th overall! Most consistent was Registrations Secretary, Phil Allen whilst Chief Measurer, Colin Brown was a reluctant winner of the AC ‘Old Man’s Trophy’ as the best of the over 55s. The equivalent Vintage Trophy in the International Canoes went to Colin Newman; it gets easier to accept when your name is on the walking stick six times already!
In the standard International Canoe fleet which sailed a triangle/sausage course only the Swede, Johan Elfstrom from among the visitors from continental Europe and Colin Newman briefly interrupted the two-man match racing for first and second place in which if it had not been for a capsize when leading in the final race would have been won by John Ellis. However, honours went to the upright, an outcome even Simon Allen thought was unfortunate, as he won the Europa Cup for his third time and retained his UK National Champion title, leaving John Ellis with the Veterans Bowl as a consolation prize for the older man. Local man, Paddy Adler won the UK Novices Trophy and Mike Shreeve the first Classic boat trophy. Only one Development Canoe, that of Alistair Warren, raced with the ICs, it was faster in the light stuff but after a windy race it had to continue its development one evening aided by some mahogany from the club’s skip. It is not the winning but the taking apart that matters.
Overall Results for the Europeans with UK Nationals position in brackets.
Asymmetric Canoes:
1 st (1 st UK) Robin Wood, GBR 309,
2 nd (2 nd UK) Gareth Caldwell, GBR 294,
3 rd (3 rd UK) Phil Allen, GBR 296,
4 th (4 th UK) John Robson, GBR 283,
5 th (5 th UK) Colin Brown, GBR 299,
6 th (6 th UK) Ben Wood, GBR 284,
7 th Tobias Kunz, GER 73,
8 th (7 th UK) Dave Timson, GBR 303,
9 th (8 th UK) Peter McLaren, GBR 280,
10 th (9 th UK) Steven Clarke GBR 300
International Canoes:
1 st (1 st UK) Simon Allen, GBR 278,
2 nd (2 nd UK) John Ellis, GBR 292,
3 rd Johan Elfstrom, SWE 101,
4 th (3 rd UK) Colin Newman, GBR, 295,
5 th (4 th UK) Paddy Adler, GBR 258,
6 th (6 th UK) Mike Schreeve, GBR 233,
7 th Jan Gillen, GER 50,
8 th (5 th UK), Craig Robinson, GBR 238,
9 th David Andre, SWE 112,
10 th Jan-Christopher Stahl, GER 75
