Eric Twiname Success

Great news from the Eric Twiname inter Zone and Home Countries Championships at Rutland last weekend.

Open to all Zone Squad (that's Scottish Topper Squad for us) level sailors who are not also in the GBR or GBR Intermediate Squad there was a good turnout from Scotland and the team finished second overall.

Racing was very close on the choppy and at times windy but always very cold orange fleet race course and the OOD, mindful of the forecast calm for Sunday made sure to complete four races on the Saturday making for some tired legs at the evening festivities. Always a feature of the Twiname, this year these included organised games and inter team competitions to keep all well entertained. Sure enough Sunday was a flat calm so the AP over A was wisely broken out at 12.30 allowing an early trip home. Especially welcome for those with a 500 mile trip home (eg Oban!) but Richard still took till 01.15 to get home.

Best Scot this time was again Jamie Noyes who has been on fire since winning at Annandale and pulled off a very impressive third place overall to gain the boys and overall bronze medal. Also in great form was Emily Robertson who in ninth overall was Bronze medallist in the girls fleet.
The team prize depends upon the best three results and it was Alexander "Chuckie" Still who did the honours with a solid 17 in the tricky conditions. Not good enough by his own standards but an impressive performance to the rest of us...

Most improved prize (not really a prize - just a mention here!) was Patrick Shellcock who after two races was well inside the top 20 and most embarrassing moment goes to Sammi who at the start of race three was mounted by another competitor right in front of the medic boat who promptly whisked her off to a waiting ambulance were she experienced that floating feeling of "gas and air" whilst they debated whether her leg was broken or just her cartilidge torn. As it was Sammi is made of tough stuff and after a good sleep was back up and ready to race the next day - if a little bruised.

Completing the ensemble were Joanna Barrie, Aaron Murray and Ian Symon who all put up a good fight in the middle order.

Well done everyone, you have done us proud. First place next year?

Click here for full results via sailracer.co.uk

G.