Sunny skies and a light breeze greeted the competitors on the Saturday of the 2003 National 12 Naburn Paddle event at Yorkshire Ouse SC

Sunny skies and a light breeze greeted the competitors on the Saturday of the 2003 National 12 Naburn Paddle event at Yorkshire Ouse SC. In the first race Bernard Clark and Paul Walmsley (N2938, YOSC) got away at the start but were closely pursued by Vince Phillips and Jamie Kerslake (N2531, YOSC) throughout the race but Clark and Walmsley took line honours to claim the Jubilee Trophy. Philip and Helen David (N2545, YOSC) were 3rd. Neil and Katie McInnes (N3216, Yeadon SC) were the highest placed visitors in 4th. In the evening a raft race and the club’s summer barbecue were supported by over 60 members and guests.

Clark and Walmsley carried their winning streak over to the Sunday, claiming race two convincingly. Phillips and Kerslake were chased hard for second place by visitors John and Alison Cheetham (Yeadon SC), with David and David coming home 4th.

Fortified by lunch Clark and Walmsley showed their mastery of light weather sailing on the Ouse, despite an incident on the first start after being squeezed out on the line. Faced with a choice of obliterating the OOD and Committee boat or going gardening they opted for the bushes. They got away cleanly on the second start and finished six minutes ahead of the next boat. Phillips and Kerslake battled hard with the Cheethams throughout the race but the Cheethams came through to take 2nd place, the Davids finished 3rd and Phillips and Kerslake 4th.

Clark and Walmsley sat out the 4th race, and avoided the torrential rain, strong winds and thunder which made it the most exciting race of the weekend. Phillips and Kerslake revelled in the windy conditions finishing well ahead of the Cheethams to claim 2nd place overall and win the Transom Trophy for the first Vintage boat. David and David were 3rd, with Howard Chadwick and Helen Nicholson (Yeadon SC) 4th.

Overall Results

1st Bernard Clark/Paul Walmsley, YOSC, N2938, Cheshire Cat

2nd Vince Phillips/Jamie Kerslake, YOSC, N2531, Whisper

3rd John Cheetham/Alison Cheetham, YSC, N3209, Crusader

4th Philip David/Helen David, YOSC, N2545, China Doll