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Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Enthusiastic Contender entry for Inlands

by Martin Frary on 30 Oct 2008
Contender Ben Holden Fotoboat.com http://www.fotoboat.com

The International Contender class made their annual journey to Rutland for the final Boat Bits Travellers Trophy event of the year, which also comprised the Inland Championships.

The Olympic class that-never-was, continues to attract significant numbers of competitors both in Britain and on the international circuit. Originally designed for an Olympic selection competition in 1967, the class failed in selection but became a successful International class, the biggest single hander trapeze class and another missed chance to move the Games forward, a mistake that the entrenched forces of the ISAF continue to repeat with their refusal to widen the selection process for the events classes.

But, back to the weekends event at Rutland. Forty competitors arrived and racing went right to the final race, with the championship victory going to John Browett on count-back after a three-way tie with Ben Holden and Stuart Jones. Martin Frary finished fourth and collected the Boat Bits National Travellers trophy for 2008.

Race 1 started in a healthy 25+ Knots and was led away by Stuart Jones closely followed by Ben Holden, Stacey Bray and John Browett. Excitement occurred throughout the fleet as what could be described as strong gusts took their toll, many imaginative capsizes were completed further down the fleet, final positions being Jones then Bray followed by Holden.

Race 2 continued with the no let up in the conditions. Competitors had now tuned to the conditions, with extremely close racing throughout the fleet. Ben Holden took the win with a dramatic top batten clearing dive at the finish, followed by a consistent Stuart Jones, and a rapid Paul Ross in third, finally competing in an event in his preferred strong wind conditions.

Race 3 and the excitement continued, John Browett led off the line and extended his lead throughout, the minor placing's were fought out to the end with Jones taking second and Ross again in third.

Sunday arrived with a much lighter breeze, could the big-uns hang on, or would the little-uns make a move?

Race 4 and David Gautier stormed up the 1st beat, unfortunately he relinquished his lead with a slight navigational error. John Browett continued his move up the leader board with Martin Frary taking second and Mike Murley third. Holden and Jones both took their discards, meaning going into the last race the overall winner could be taken from Holden, Browett or Jones.

Race 5 and the breeze had strengthened. Holden returned to the fore taking the win, with Browett in 2nd and Matt Aston in third finally appearing in his normal front of the fleet position. Had Holden done enough to take the win?

Showing the competiveness of the fleet this left the front 3 all tied on 9 points, with John Browett taking the overall win on count back with Holden in Second and Jones in third, a consistent Martin Frary took fourth overall and with this 1st place in the Boat Bits National Travellers for 2008.

Many thanks go to Rutland Sailing Club especially the race and rescue crews who had a lot to do with four classes to after on the water.

Contender Inland Championship - Final overall results

Sailed:5, Discards:1, To count:4, Entries:37, Scoring system:My scoring
Rank SailNo Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Total Nett
1st 713 John Browett Datchet Water SC (5) 5 1 1 2 14 9
2nd 2315 Ben Holdon Halifax 3 1 4 (20) 1 29 9
3rd 701 Stuart Jones Datchet Water SC 1 2 2 (12) 4 21 9
4th 646 Martin Frary Weston SC (7) 4 5 2 5 23 16
5th 2405 Stacey Bray Porthpean 2 6 7 (8) 6 29 21
6th 231 Paul Ross Shotley SC 6 3 3 (18) 14 44 26
7th 2376 Nick Noble Portshead Y & SC 4 8 6 (9) 9 36 27
8th 700 Nick Grace Castle Cove SC 10 7 8 (24) 7 56 32
9th 2373 Mike Murley Weston SC (16) 13 13 3 8 53 37
10th 714 Martin Jones Wilsonian SC 8 9 11 (19) 16 63 44
11th 718 Duncan Ellis Hunstanton SC 9 11 14 (15) 12 61 46
12th 694 Chris Boshier Thorpe Bay YC (21) 15 18 5 10 69 48
13th 2422 Neil Ferguson Yorkshire Dales SC 12 (18) 10 13 13 66 48
14th 2383 David Davies RYA 11 10 12 16 (DNC) 87 49
15th 673 Robert Angus Weston SC 14 12 16 10 (17) 69 52
16th 2423 Sandy Clapham Yorkshire Dales SC 13 14 (DNC) 21 15 101 63
17th 702 Matt Aston Datchet Water SC (38 DNF) DNC 9 14 3 102 64
18th 615 Stuart Backhouse Burton SC (20) 19 15 11 19 84 64
19th 707 Peter Dives East Bourne Soveign 15 17 17 (22) 18 89 67
20th 634 Marcus Scrace Castle Cove SC 19 16 19 (30) 25 109 79
21st 2407 Richard Buttner Royal Cinque Port YC 18 20 20 (29) 24 111 82
22nd 675 David Gauther Lymington Town 17 (DNC) DNC 7 22 122 84
23rd 2314 Rodger White King George SC (DNC) DNC DNC 4 11 129 91
24th 559 Bernard Shapley King George SC (DNC) DNC DNC 6 29 149 111
25th 654 Tom Hooton Burton SC (DNC) DNC DNC 17 26 157 119
26th 678 Bill Hooton Burton SC (DNC) DNC DNC 23 21 158 120
27th 692 Colin Gates East Bourne Soveign (DNC) DNC DNC 27 20 161 123
28th 682 P Lincoln R.N.S.A (DNC) DNC DNC 28 23 165 127
29th 2359 Tony Cook Downs SC (DNC) DNC DNC 26 27 167 129
30th 2427 Mark Johnson Lancing SC (DNC) DNC DNC 32 28 174 136
31st 476 Daniel Taylor Mengeham Rythe (DNC) DNC DNC 25 38 DNF 177 139
32nd 604 Phil Alison GYGSC (DNC) DNC DNC 31 38 DNF 183 145
33rd 368 Alan Harris Restronguet SC (DNC) DNC DNC DNC DNC 190 152
33rd 577 K Atrasziewicz Yorkshire Dales SC (DNC) DNC DNC DNC DNC 190 152
33rd 659 Martin Metcalf Killington SA (DNC) DNC DNC DNC DNC 190 152
33rd 625 Malcolm Hall Carsington (DNC) DNC DNC DNC DNC 190 152
33rd 2 Simon Mussell Highcliffe (DNC) DNC DNC DNC DNC 190 152



Sponsors Boat Bits and North Sails provided the excellent prizes.
Maritimo M600Barton Marine Pipe GlandsExcess Catamarans

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