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Scorpion Junior Open 09
National Scorpion Junior Open
Notts County Sailing Club
Saturday 25th July 2009
Ideal conditions greeted the 12 teams that attended for the Scorpion Class Junior Open at Notts County Sailing club, with sunshine and a force 2-3 wind. The event was open to under 21 crews, under 21 helms and junior combos. It provided an excellent opportunity for several juniors who had never sailed a Scorpion before to try one out. The race results were dominated by Amy Clay crewing in Scorpion 1997 who set the pattern of the day by reaching the windward mark first in the first race and then going on to win not only that race but also the two subsequent races. The first junior combo of John and Thomas Rose (1995) also started the series well. Although not in the leading bunch on the first lap of the first race, they had pulled through to second place by the second lap and held on to it despite a close battle with another junior combo, (brother) Andy Rose and Anastasia Logan. Their 4th place in the second race and a win in the 4th gave them second place overall. Andy and Anastasia (1933) had an excellent 3rd race coming 3rd overall in a very close finish with junior helm Lizzie Hubbard (2007) - overtaking her just before the final mark. Lizzie Hubbard, who had previously crewed a Scorpion but had only rarely been at the helm, showed tremendous consistency with two 4ths and two 5ths, to come 5th overall and leading junior helm crewed by an adult. There was also a close battle for the runner-up junior crew in a boat helmed by an adult. Lawrence Logan, who is usually seen in a Topper, teamed up with a visiting helm from Chew, and showed he can crew as well as helm, by having two 2nds and a 3rd+, and came 3rd overall. Brother and sister, Mathew and Isobel Reynolds – both newcomers to racing – were also close in the final points tally with Isobel having 3rd place in both the first and second races, while Matthew (1902) improved with practice through the day to have a 4th in the final race and gained 7th place overall. Ella Hubbard, crewing in 2000, had several close battles with Rebecca Ogden, crewed by her elder sister Nicola (1985). Rebecca was helped by a bit of boat tuning by the Race Officer, John Henderson in the lunch break, and they became 3rd junior combo. They were little way ahead of rival junior helm from Notts County, Peter Anderson (2011). The other junior crews were Helen Coupland (1919) and Austin Hubbard (1966) and both had some exciting moments: Austin when he and his father caught up3 places in the second lap of Race 1 and Helen when she was well up in Race 3.
The day was a great success in terms of encouraging junior sailors to have a go in a Scorpion and the efforts of the adults, who helmed and crewed for them, were very much appreciated. The Rose family travelled all the way from Chew and sailed 3 boats, teaming up with the Logan family. The race team set excellent courses and were thanked by the Commodore and all of them were offered a free drink from the bar as a reward for their efforts.
Results
1st Junior Crew: Amy Clay
Runner up junior crew: Lawrence Logan
1st Junior helm: Lizzie Hubbard
Runner up junior helm: Peter Anderson
1st Junior Combo: John Rose and Thomas Rose
Runner up junior combo: Andy Rose and Anastasia Logan