| UK. Percy wins round one of the JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge Series |
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| Monday, 13 November 2006 | |
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Myrrh Walker: The JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge Match racing Series kicked off this weekend (11-12 November) at Queen Mary Sailing Club, Staines. Some of Britain’s top match racers were showing off their match racing skills, including +39 Americas Cup helmsman and Olympic gold medallist Iain Percy. The series run by the Royal Yachting Association also tempted veteran match racer and commentator Andy Green back to the match racing circuit, alongside British National Match Racing Champions both past and present in the form of Mark Campbell-James and Nick Cherry. Also competing from overseas was Orkun Soyer from Turkey and Jelle Roos from Holland. It was Campbell James who came out on top in the round robin with Percy and Green finishing second and third. Cherry, Christian Hamilton (GBR) and Jelle Roos (NED) were all in with chance of securing the final slots in the semi-finals. A particularly fierce battle was fought between Cherry and Hamilton that saw Cherry the eventual victor and claim the last spot in the semi finals. Hamilton and Roos went to the 5th/6th place sail off. The semis and finals were best of three, first to two. Campbell-James won his first match against Cherry but the second one was a virtual dead heat with Cherry given the victory by Race Officer Alistair Shaw. However, Campbell-James proved too strong and won the third match to gain his place in the final. In the battle of the Americas Cup sailors Percy and Green brought a new dimension to the scene. Their semi final matches were close, hard fought and enthralling but it was current Americas Cup helmsman Percy who won two straight matches to reach the final. The final was a real dog fight. Campbell-James was sailing with Dave Mason, Andy Clark and Andy Yates. Percy’s +39 Americas Cup team comprised of Britain’s Andrew (Bart) Simpson, Ganga Bruni (ITA) and Michele Bella (ITA). Both teams were determined to win. After an active pre-start, the teams reached the windward mark neck and neck. Smart match racing was taking place, they sailed above the mark and past it the wrong side, with both were given penalties during the action. Percy just took the advantage round the first windward mark and managed to hold off Campbell-James, to take the first race. Percy again took the lead in the second match, but a problem with the last spinnaker hoist saw Campbell-James take full advantage to force the final into a third and deciding match. Percy was not to be beaten and he went on to win the final battle to take the overall victory for the weekend and a place in the grand final on 9-11 March 2007. Andy Green won the sail off against Nick Cherry for third place and was full of praise for the event saying “The JPMorgan Asset Management Challenge has gained in reputation since its conception and having competed this weekend I fully appreciate why it continues to attract some of the best match racers in the world”. The RYA fleet of J80’s in which the competition is sailed are all equally matched and really help to raise the calibre of the event. The location of the event at Queen Mary Sailing Club, with its close proximity to London’s airports, has allowed foreign competitors from all over the world to compete. Anyone interested, with a world match race ranking in the top 60, should contact event organiser David Campbell-James at campbelljames@btinternet.com for a entry. The next stage of the Challenge is in two weeks time on 25 and 26 November. Overall results 1.Iain Percy (GBR), Gabrielle Bruni, Andrew Simpson, Michelle Bella 2.Mark Campbell-James (GBR), Dave Mason, Andrew Yates, Andy Clark 3.Andy Green (GBR), Graham Sunderland, Tris Nelson, Andy Oliver 4.Nick Cherry (GBR), Connor Myant, Nick Houchin, Oscar Helmstrom 5.Christian Hamilton (GBR), Sam Carter, Steph Dawson, Mark Capps, Ed Hill 6.Jelle Roos (NED), Frans Hin, Maarte Innemee, Kelly Clarjs, Maricke Poulis 7.Dave Tabb (GBR), Ben, Scroggie, Jason Foster, Stewart Bowen 8.Orkun Soyer (TUR), Gagatay Soyer, Onursal Soyer, Ismail Inan 9.Rob Grieg-Gran (GBR), Rob Grieg-Gran, Ed Walker, Tudor Owen, Gareth Round Robin results: 1 Mark Campbell-James 7 points 2 Andy Green 6 points 3 Iain Percy 5.5 point 4 Nick Cherry 5 points 5 Jelle Roos NED 4 points 6 Christian Hamilton 4 points 7 Dave Tabb 2 8 Orkun Soyer TUR 1 ppoint 9 Rob Grieg Gran 1 www.rya.org.uk |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 13 November 2006 ) |
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