23rd March Racing on the River - start of the full 2025 season!

Published 22:13 on 23 Mar 2025 by Holly Hancock

It was another fantastic Spring day for Horning Sailing Clubs first racing of the full season in 2025. Whilst the last few weeks had acted as a pre-season warm up, the main racing began with a good turnout and was enjoyed by all. Despite the river looking like a mill pond on arrival, as racing began a gentle breeze picked up to provide pleasant conditions, if a little light on racing reach at times.

The keelboats saw a mix of Reedlings, Yeomans and Yare & Bures race. The morning Yeoman race was won by a considerable margin by Steve Middleditch and Maria Spreadbury, having broken away from the pack, with Toby Fields and Daniel Blackwell second in Tanskey, and Roger Pettit and Barbara Stevens third in Anaoh. The second race saw very light winds and a strong tide, causing challenges rounding the buoy at the Broad entrance. In this race it was Toby who pulled out a strong lead to achieve a similar feat, with Paul Clarke/Andy Tabiner (Two C Sons) second, and Roger third.

Amongst the dinghies, races were fiercely contested with Toppers and Optimists, all the young sailors showing great perseverance and determination. First in the Toppers was Chevy Bulldeath, with Devon Bulldeath second, and Karlina Bulldeath third, a pattern repeated in the second race. The morning Optimist races saw Indie Bulldeath and Rose Herring take a win and second place each, with Jenson Hardingham coming third.
The afternoon races took a new Allcomers format, with Paul Clarke winning the first race amongst the keelboats, Roger Pettit second, and Toby Fields third on handicap (all sailing Yeomans). The final race of the day saw Kevin Saunders/Shirley Needham in Reedling Cockatrice pull out an impressive lead over the rest of the fleet, enough to hold this on corrected times, with Paul Clarke second and Steve Middleditch third. The Allcomers dinghies saw another two wins for Chevy and Indie in their respective fleets.

Overall, it was a great start to the season, and racing continues next Sunday on the river at Horning.

Photographs thanks to Chris Mayo and Holly Hancock

Last updated 22:13 on 23 March 2025