News / 2008 Fireball Inland Championship Report

Bright sunshine a friendly welcome coupled with 8-10 knots of breeze greeted the 70 competitors who made the trip to Pitsford Reservoir. Current National Champions Dave Wade and Ben McGrane were absent at the Endeavour Trophy at Dave's home club. Who would take this years title?

Race 1 got away on time with Matt Findlay and Richard Anderton fighting hard to keep in front of Andy Smith and Jonny Mildred who held off club mates Kevin Hope and James Cooper and Martin Lewis and Richard Byne. There was much place changing throughout the rest of the fleet all weekend with the racing being very tight.

After lunch race 2 got away at the second attempt, this time it was Matt Mee and Richard Wagstaff who got away and they built a big lead. Hope and Cooper took second ahead of Smith/Mildred with Richard Estaugh and Sam Thompson 3rd.

The wind had dropped for the final race of the day and the race officer clearly was far to excited about the prospect of England vs Kazakhstan and hoisted the black flag. This time Russ and Ali Cormack lead from the windward mark and held this to the finish. Mee/Wagstaff holding off Estaugh/Thompson. Smith/Mildred moved through to 4th by the end of the race just ahead of Hope/Cooper.

The fleet retired to the bar and enjoyed mountains of excellent food and beverages. Morning brought fog and not a drop of wind. with only small improvement during the morning racing was abandoned meaning Andy Smith and Jonny Mildred added a second Inlands title to their collection winning by 1 point from Hope/Cooper.

Four different British teams now hold the World, European, National and Inland titles. The final Fireball event of the season is on the 1/2 November at Draycote Water with a very big turnout expected at this popular open meeting.

Overall Results