Gill Graduate Nationals 2022: Runners & Riders
by Bob Murrell 5 Jul 2022 05:23 PDT
9-10 July 2022
Graduate Nationals during the Notts County SC Spring Regatta © David Eberlin / Notts County SC
With 13 boats entered to this year's Graduate Nationals this coming weekend 9th & 10th July, sponsored by Gill, the fleet is small but perfectly formed, with plenty of quality to be found throughout the sailors.
Some of those likely to be battling it out for the championship title this year are:
- John Clementson & Mel Titmus - these two need no introduction, 5 time national champ John Clem is always tough to beat, and having won the Southern Championships at Chipstead earlier this year, they have all the momentum going into this year's nationals!
- Fresh Abendstern & Isaac Marsh - After two nationals trying to take the title off John Clem, Fresh paired up with Isaac Marsh and got the job done at Rutland in 2021. However, in the forecasted lighter airs at Grafham, can the pair repeat their success this year?
- Tim Hand & Dave Moore - Tim is pretty handy in a Grad, having won the nationals four times, from 1998-2000, and in 2002. After getting back into the fleet last year, and coming home 4th, he'll be raring to go and fight for his fifth championship title.
- Brynster Abendstern & Ruby Barber - a relatively untested pairing, but with the results to back them up, Brynster is returning to the "stick-waggling position" after crewing his way to 5th in the 2019 nationals. Ruby will be looking to improve on her 3rd place finish at last year's nationals. Both sailors crewed for the same helm, but will they gel together at Grafham?
Elsewhere, there will be sailors vying for other trophies, or to improve on previous years' results. Jimmy Webber & Helen Recardo will be pushing to place in the top half of the fleet after being mid-fleet champions in 2021, and the Hill twins are hoping to convert their success on the local youth scene into success at adult national level.
Late entries are still open and word on the grapevine is that we will be joined by notable top Grad helms from previous Nationals, just to whet your appetite to come along to try your hand!
Why don't you join us this weekend at Grafham? All event details can be found on the Graduate Dinghy Class Website.