National 12 events 2005

Silver National at Ranelagh SC

A south/south easterly force 2-3 gave the competitors for the beautiful Silver National a terrific race in glorious sunshine, which anywhere else in London was too hot to sit still.

A particularly strong tide at start-time meant that only Will and Arthur Henderson were the correct side of the line as the gun went, with Frances Gifford and Jessica Brown starting ten seconds later. These two match-raced their way round the course for an hour and a half, never more than four-five boat lengths apart with the lead alternating, although Gifford and Brown were never in the lead for too long and Will and Arthur Henderson were ahead at the all crucial finish line, two looped laps after the start.

The battle for third was no less closely fought with Mike Day and Anne Murch making the early running, closely followed by Mike and Alex Storey and latterly by Bim Daser and Jane Longman. The bell for the finish was almost continuous with Daser and Longman, pipping Day and Murch by less than a second, giving race officers Margaret and John Stokes a very tight call.

As ever, this summer race provided a fantastic spectator sport for the Fulham and Putney residents who were out in vocal force on the hottest day of the year so far.

Results

1st - 3418, New Isabelle, Will and Arthur Henderson
2nd - 3431, Zippy, Frances Gifford and Jessica Brown
3rd - 3410, Feeling Foolish, Bim Daser and Jane Longman