Noble Marine Streaker National Championships at Stone Sailing Club

Noble Marine Streaker Nationwide Championships at Stone Crusing Membership – Preview

by Neil Firth 8 Jul 06:31 PDT
12-14 July 2024

The 2024 Noble Marine Streaker Nationwide Championships shall be held at Stone Crusing Membership on the Blackwater Estuary from 12 to 14 July. A formidable 65 boats have already entered what is bound to be a hotly contested championship throughout all three fleets; gold, silver and bronze.

Followers of the category shall be happy to listen to that defending champion Martin Penty (Beaver SC) and his arch-rival Tom Gillard (Sheffield Viking/Staunton Harold) will each be on the beginning line this 12 months.

Tom and Martin have competed towards one another at three of the final 4 Nationals, with Martin presently main this head-to-head battle two-one. Can Tom stage the rating and, on the identical time, take a record-equalling tenth Streaker Nationals win, or will Martin come out on prime for his fourth win?

In fact, there will be loads of others hoping to spoil the Tom & Martin Present! Steve Blackburn (WLYC/Leigh & Lowton SC) has been on the rostrum at three of the final 4 Nationals, together with twice as runner-up, so he definitely is aware of easy methods to put collectively sequence. He’d like to go one higher at Stone 2024.

Others able to a podium end embrace Peter Grey (Staunton Harold SC) who got here a detailed second to Martin on the latest Streaker Northern Championships, regardless of spending comparatively little time crusing Streakers. Then there’s Steve Hanby who continues to defy his ‘veteran’ age class, frequently racing competitively towards Martin at Beaver SC and on the open circuit.

Our evaluation would not be full and not using a point out of Streaker legend and ten instances Nationwide Champion, Alan Gillard (Sheffield Viking SC), who was third at Grafham final 12 months, proving that he is additionally nonetheless received it!

With such a big entry, it is no shock that there shall be a number of golf equipment in rivalry for the ‘Altogether Defend’ – the trophy awarded to the membership with the three best-placed sailors general. The Streaker Nationals is, after all, a person championship (no workforce racing please!) however that also leaves the chance for some wholesome rivalry within the pre and post-race banter, as every membership sizes up their opponents and cheers on their team-mates!

So here is our have a look at this 12 months’s main contenders for the Altogether Defend…

We start with Beaver Crusing Membership, final 12 months’s winners and residential to 2 of the aforementioned front-runners, Martin Penty and Steve Hanby. Beaver is the Northern Powerhouse of the Streaker fleet, with common double-digit turnouts for native membership racing. Six of their eight sailors this 12 months are within the gold fleet. That power in depth will make them powerful to beat, with any considered one of Richard Hanby, Giles Therkelsen-Smith, Dave Borrett or Jon Aldhous able to a prime ten end to assist safe the Altogether Defend for Workforce Beaver.

Staunton Harold Crusing Membership could lack the amount of prime sailors that Beaver are bringing to the occasion, however they definitely have the standard to mount a severe problem. Their ace card is, after all, Tom Gillard. With Peter Grey and Tom each probably on the rostrum, there is a good likelihood that super-crew Rachael Grey or Nigel Pepperdine will be capable to full a profitable three-boat rating for Workforce Staunton.

It might be honest to count on the Altogether Defend to be received by both Beaver or Staunton. Nevertheless, third place is large open between a number of different well-known Streaker golf equipment. All of them have 5 – 6 sailors on the occasion, together with a gold fleet contender or two to anchor the workforce rating. Veronica Falat and Adam Yorkston will lead the cost for Workforce WOBYC (Waveney & Oulton Broad YC), Dave Adams for Workforce Broadstairs, Simon Cory for Workforce Downs, Ian Bradley for Workforce OASC (Ouse Newbie SC) and Ian Gore for Workforce Up River.

All of those groups epitomise the revival in grass-roots Streaker crusing and they’re going to come to Stone to share their enthusiasm for the Streaker and their house golf equipment. Should you’re coming to Stone 2024 watch out; their enthusiasm is clearly contagious!

Should you’ve simply realised you are lacking out, it is not too late to enter: www.streaker-class.org.uk/2024-nationals. And, if you cannot make it, watch this house and we’ll convey you information of the drama because it unfolds.

The Streaker Nationals is generously sponsored by Noble Marine, Hartley Boats, Allen Brothers and Fernhurst Books.