isle of wight powerboat race 2023 results

Round the Island powerboat race a spectacle of hi-octane thrills and colour

A NEW boat in its first outing — Team 25 Good Boy Vodka, driven by Rob Lockyer and Scott Younger — won the UKOPRA Round the Island Powerboat Race.

The second round of this year’s UKOPRA Offshore Championship saw 26 teams start from a line off Gurnard, in The Western Solent.

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The H400 in action in the UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023. (Image: Malc Attrill)

UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 Class 3E winners, E28 Top Banana drivers Colin Gibson and Richard Jackson, with their team. (Image: Malc Attrill)

In a close-fought race, Rob and Scott beat last year's Offshore Championship winners Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings, in Silverline, by just four seconds.

The 'Big 2' crews completed the course in just under 42 minutes, at a respectable 87mph average speed.

Although the first leg to The Needles saw the leaders peak at around 120mph, thanks to the mill pond flat water, conditions changed to a moderate swell heading down to St Catherine's Lighthouse.

Class 1 had the biggest fleet of boats seen in British Powerboat Championship racing since the 1960s, with nine teams producing a combined power output of 16,000hp.

The fleet included a team from Sweden, who drove a 40ft canopied catamaran, which was forced to retire off Freshwater.

UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Good Boy Vodka, driven by Rob Lockyer and Scott Younger. (Image: Snap-Photography)

UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Silverline. (Image: Snap-Photography)

Class 2 saw the return of the 1998 Cowes Beaverbrook Trophy winner , Assagai, who took line honours in just under 55 minutes.

Some 14 teams competed in Class 3 — from historic Class E, to the smallest class, P750.

There were wins for Renegade 2, TeamworX, Mid-Life and Team Pickle across the Class 3 categories.

There was a strong local Island interest across all offshore classes, which included new teams AT Offshore Racing, Brut and KMO Racing.

It was in Class 3E which saw Isle of Wight teams fill the podium places.

UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Top Banana. (Image: Malc Attrill)

UKOPRA Round the Island Race 2023 — Mango Crazy. (Image: Malc Attrill)

Colin Gibson and Richard Jackson, in E28 Top Banana, won in 1hr 3mins, at an average speed of 56 mph, beating lovingly restored 1963 Bertram Hull of H400, Thunderstreak, which raced under the Royal Yacht Squadron flag with Hugo Peel, Adrian de Ferranti and Richard Jessel aboard.

Another classic race hull, formerly owned by Lady Arran, E8 Mango Crazy, driven by Terry Parsons and Bembridge man, Peter Hall.

The next round will be held in Lymington on Saturday, July 8.

The August bank holiday weekend will see powerboats return to The Solent for the annual Cowes Classic.

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Cowes Torquay Cowes & Cowes Poole Cowes Offshore Powerboat Races

2023 Official Programme

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Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Powerboat Race

Saturday 26 august - sunday 27 august 2023.

The Cowes - Torquay launched offshore powerboat racing as a sport in Britain in 1961 and is one of the most spectacular powerboat events in the British sporting calendar.

The Cowes - Torquay - Cowes race covers a distance of 182 nautical miles. The record of two hours, eighteen minutes and five seconds was set in 2008 by Fabio Buzzi, Simon Powell and Rafael Del Pino from Italy in the boat ‘Red FPT’ at an average speed of 91.1 mph.

Visit the event website for further details.

Royal Yacht Squadron

The Castle, Cowes, Isle of Wight, P031 7QT

Tel: +44 (0) 1983 292 191

Photography

​ Y​acht Charter

The salamander sailing adventure, ukopra round the isle of wight spectator boat, powerboat race, 3rd june 2023.

for on the water spectating

Yarmouth Speed Festival Organised by the United Kingdom Offshore Powerboat Racing Association

Get in Touch 2 Get on Board

SALAMANDER OF LYMINGTON

with The Salamander Sailing Adventure

THE SALAMANDER LUXURY SPECTATOR BOAT on the water spectating with close-up viewing for the UKOPRA ROUND THE ISLE OF WIGHT POWERBOAT RACE

When is the ukopra round the isle of wight powerboat race.

SATURDAY – June 3rd

Round the Isle of Wight Powerboat Race

Race organisers and programme 

ukopra.co.uk

All timings and events subject to change.

Salamander your #SpectatorBoat with great decks for viewing the Yarmouth Speed Festival, the Round the Isle of Wight Powerboat Race and the 1 Mile Speed Runs

Salamander your #SpectatorBoat finding the best location for spectating the Yarmouth Speed Festival, the Round the Isle of Wight Powerboat Race and the 1 Mile Speed Runs

Salamander is heated and perfectly suited for year round use, both sailing and cruising under motor. Feel free to wander around the extensive teak decks with their protective teak handrail as we look for the best location for you to see the event.

Salamander your #SpectatorBoat also has a warm saloon for great all weather spectating.

Where is the best place to see the UKOPRA Round the Isle of Wight Powerboat Race and where to find the Salamander Spectator Boat?

The Salamander Spectator Boat is normally found in Berthon Lymington Marina, in the Georgian town of Lymington.

Our experience confirms that the normally sheltered waters by Hurst Castle and Hurst Lighthouse is the best place to see the start of the Round The Isle of Wight UKOPRA Powerboat Race from onboard the Salamander Spectator Boat.

Lymington is therefore the preferred departure point. 

Bespoke arrangements might be possible to meet guests in Lymington, Buckler's Hard on the Beaulieu River, Southampton, the Hamble, Portsmouth and Gosport in Hampshire, Cowes and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. 

Lymington, Yarmouth, Cowes, Hamble, Southampton and Portsmouth are well served by trains and ferries making overland connections for boarding and disembarking Salamander very easy.

Lymington, The New Forest and the Isle of Wight are unique destination venues for some amazing scenery, with luxurious boutique hotels and excellent fine dining providing the perfect backdrop to combine with some wonderful sailing on board Salamander, a traditional yacht with a classically designed teak interior .  

Transfers from hotels can be arranged.

#SpectatorBoat

What's included in the price for the UKOPRA Round the Isle of Wight Powerboat Race and the 1 Mile Speed Runs Salamander Spectator Boat?

Full-day on the water spectating on board Salamander for up to 12 guests.

A professional crew of 3, probably the highest crew to guest ratio on the south coast, usually including the round the world owner skipper with tales to tell, so you may relax or take part ... it's up to you.

Full dedicated steward service on board serving a champagne breakfast to include a glass of bucks fizz, a bacon roll, Danish bites and tea or coffee.

Daytime harbour drop off fees as necessary.

Lunch on board Salamander.

Soft drinks, tea and coffee are available throughout the day on board Salamander of Lymington

Parking, if departing from Lymington, adjacent to Salamander in Berthon Lymington Marina, Bath Road, Lymington, SO41 3YL

*Based upon a minimum of 4 guests

#GetInTouch2GetOnBoard

Let us check availability

TESTIMONIAL - WHAT DO THE SALAMANDER SAILING ADVENTURE GUESTS SAY ?

"Cowes Torquay Powerboat"

A fantastic day. It felt like a one day holiday.

A big thank you to the crew for a wonderful day out.

Formster - TripAdvisor Review

Racing – Charge, Victor, Charge!

All the action, thrills & spills of the   2023 Cowes–Torquay–Cowes powerboat race.

The annual powerboat event at Cowes once again hit the water over the August Bank Holiday weekend with some 35 boats taking to the water. Amid glorious sunshine, one half of the fleet assembled had their bows firmly aimed in the direction of Torquay, Devon, ready for their marathon 211-mile race west, while the remainder were lining up their horses for a race to Poole 15 minutes behind them. As you can imagine, the frantic pre-race muster points out in the blue waters of the Solent were quite a sight to behold.  

After a short but frustrating delay due to flotsam having to be cleared from the start chute, the boats got underway, thundering down past the Royal Yacht Squadron upon the cannon firing to announce the start of the race. The earlier weather briefing, which had raised expectations of light to moderate winds and settled seas, promised a fast and relatively comfortable ride. Nevertheless, reality hit when an unexpected easterly set in, causing a nasty wind-against-tide chop that quickly set about hammering the hulls of the mixed marathon fleet as they streamed out into open water for the first time. The conditions even reduced the formidable 120mph, 1400hp Outerlimits race boat Silverline, crewed by Drew Langdon and Miles Jennings, to a 67.72mph saunter!  

Langdon and Jennings later described this year’s race as ‘a race of tactics, coupled to unusually testing seas that made the business of balancing the boat a testing affair’. Langdon added: ‘The course proved a lot harder than in previous years. For example, when we broke the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes record in 2021, averaging 94mph and completing the course in just 2 hours, 21 minutes and 5 seconds, the going was in our favour. This year’s race was far more complex, though, as it involved having to adjust our fuel payload fore and aft in order to keep the boat level and performing at its optimum speed in the head-throwing seas. Normally, the forward tank would be used first for increased bow lift, but this just wasn’t an option in the confused seas we were having to negotiate this year.’

2nd place CTC TEAM 25 © Graham Stevens

Regardless of her trials, Silverline roared home to victory in 3 hours 7 minutes, taking the Beaverbrook Trophy for the fourth time in a row in what’s regarded as the world’s most famous marathon powerboat race.

In second place, Team 25 Dragon, with Rob Lockyer and Scott Younger at the controls, romped home unhindered. Then following them came the iconic race boat Dry Martini, with its team comprising Nigel Hopcroft, Mike Bontoft and Michael Peet. New team owner/driver Nigel Hopcroft took up the challenge after many years successfully racing motor cars. ‘Whenever I’ve had the opportunity to do so, I’ve really enjoyed offshore racing,’ Hopcroft told PBR. ‘I did a short run of it back in the 1980s, and though most of my time has been spent on the track, I confess that I’m delighted to be back out on the water competing again.’

3rd place CTC Dry Martini © Tim Tapping

Dry Martini’s throttleman, Mike Bontoft, added: ‘It’s great to be racing with Nigel. With Michael in the frame too, the three of us make a strong team. But I confess, it’s been quite a busy year for me, not only looking after Dry Martini, but also rebuilding the engines for our fellow challenger, Uno Embassy, crewed by my friends Phil Morris and Gordon McGrath.’  

Uno Embassy, one of the most famous and historic boats in the fleet, finished in fourth place, Bontoff and the Uno Embassy team’s hard work having evidently paid off as she ran without a hitch in the demanding conditions to clear the line a mere length or so behind her old rival, Dry Martini.  

Bad fortune can strike anyone at any time in the world of offshore racing, and the Italian team, Tommy One, whom many had tipped to win this year’s historic race, sadly broke down and had to limp back to Southampton for repairs. But with 2000hp on her tail and at over 6.5 tonnes in weight, she’s quite a beast, and when not dogged by an unfortunate mechanical issue, this boat is known for delivering one of the most level and consistent rides of all the race craft on the circuit.  

Retired BLASTOFF © Graham Stevens

In Class 3, the smaller boats, which raced to Poole and back, likewise had a battle on their hands. Isle of Wight islanders Colin Gibson and Richard Jackson in Top Banana, much to the delight of their local supporters, came storming home in first place, having averaged a very respectable 56.91mph. Taking second position were Andy Foster and Charles Morris in their own Renegade 2. Then, in a fine display of vintage flare, who should come rumbling over the line but Hugo Peel, Adrian de Ferranti and Richard Jessel aboard their classic powerboat Thunderstreak. And what a sight to see she was too, playing her valuable part among this diverse and historic display of high-octane craft.  

The organising team, headed by Martin and Laura Levi, worked tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly. Martin Raby served as OOD, overseeing the event, with Dale Williams supporting him as safety officer, who in turn was ably assisted by Orry Crews. Race control was run by Shirley Nelthorpe, a position held last year by Sarah Donohue, who this year moved into the role of media and communication officer. The all-important job of scrutineering was headed up by former racer and 4-litre champion Geoff Purves.

4th place CTC UNOEMBASSY

Like many motor sport events, Cowes–Torquay–Cowes relies on its volunteers, people who are passionate about the sport. They number about 150 folk in all and include many former racers and their families. But it’s primarily the job of the event directors to ensure nothing’s left to chance when it comes to the matter of safety. This means organising rescue divers and other trained personnel out on the water, ready to extract casualties from their canopies in the event of an accident. In fact, medics aboard a small fleet of marshalling boats are scattered all the way down the course, ready to render aid if so required.  

At the conclusion of this year’s event, headline sponsor Richard Carr, himself a former championship racer, stated: ‘I have competed in this classic race many times over the years, but Cowes remains one of my very favourite race venues in all the world. It possesses such a special history, and I think I can speak on behalf of everyone when I say how much we all appreciate the warm welcome afforded us by the island’s people. They make it a pleasure being here. From the standpoint of my company, Fortitudo, we count it an absolute honour to be involved – to give this great event the sponsorship support it so richly deserves.’

For further information visit www.cowestorquaycowes.co.uk .

Lambs to the slaughter.

Following a full restoration in 2021 of the historic Cougar-built racing catamaran Unipart Lambs, its owner Robin Ward, along with throttleman Jeff Hall and navigator Rose Lores, thrilled fans of the boat by entering two key races in the offshore race calendar.

In the 60th-anniversary Cowes–Torquay–Cowes (CTC) race, the boat finished sixth overall and was the fastest boat outside of Class 1 to complete the course. Later in the year, Unipart Lambs performed brilliantly again in the Round the Island (Isle of Wight) race, finishing fourth overall.

Having proved the boat in the 2021 CTC race, the Unipart Lambs team decided to enter the Cowes-Poole-Cowes race this year with sights set on the top step of the podium. But sadly, things really did not go well. Navigator Rose Lores takes up the story:

‘Race day dawned mild and dry, but with a slight wind and a fair chop out in the open waters of the Solent. After the mandatory weather briefing and final preparations, we left Cowes Yacht Haven to wait in the muster area for the start boat. After a short delay involving the clearing of some flotsam by the safety marshals, we were on the move behind the start boat, and then, upon the Green Flag being raised, we forged ahead to the very front of the pack. The boat was absolutely singing, but even so, the going was proving hard for everyone that morning.  

‘Suddenly, just as we were getting into our stride and daring to feel confident, we tore to a stop within a few boat lengths, decelerating dramatically amid an absolute tsunami of water that enveloped the vessel’s entire cockpit canopy. Without a moment’s hesitation, Jeff, our throttleman, instinctively pulled back the throttles, thereby sparing us from further disaster as seawater rushed in with tremendous force through a gaping hole in the tunnel-constructed section of the boat’s hull. The water pressure was striking a bulkhead at the transom, whereupon it was being forced upwards to blow out of the top deck and over our heads. The deluge seemed to go on forever and continued until we had finally lost all forward momentum. Robin, Unipart Lambs’ driver and owner, immediately leapt out of his seat to see what had happened, only to be confronted by the awful sight of the boat’s broken deck and his precious engine bays filling with water. All hands were scrambled to rescue the stowed tools while I raised Race Control to alert them to our plight. To their credit, the latter had two safety boats standing by within minutes. Having grabbed essentials only, we stood on the front portion of the deck watching the rear end of the vessel slowly sink lower and lower into the water. It was clear we had no option but to “abandon ship”.  

Unipart Lambs sadly sinking in the background whilst Robin Ward & Jeff Hall are safely onboard the rescue craft.

‘Amid the heaving seas, by the time we’d clambered over the high guard rail and onto the safety vessel, an entire fleet of safety boats had surrounded us, the Cowes RNLI Lifeboat among them! While glad to be safe, we watched in dismay as our beloved Unipart Lambs slowly sank deeper and deeper, until only the very tips of her catamaran prow were visible above the waterline. Robin’s great concern was to somehow achieve a recovery that would allow a saving of not only the boat itself but also its engines, whereupon the latter could be flushed through and filled with oil to save them.

‘The weight of the boat plus all the water she had taken on meant that none of the boats that had so nobly rushed to assist were powerful enough to either right her or even tow her to harbour. In fact, we had to wait some time before a suitable boat arrived, whereupon she could be towed back to Southampton to be craned out and set on her trailer. A very sad and frustrating day indeed. After two hours of being submerged, all the electrical equipment and wiring were ruined, but with rapid action the engines were miraculously saved and are now, at the time of writing, stripped down and cleaned ready for rebuilding.

‘In addition to the flotsam that delayed the race start, we later learned that a second piece of timber had been spotted in the water, which we think may have been the offending article responsible for running Unipart Lambs through.  

‘As you can imagine, in addition to the engine rebuilds, the hull is in need of considerable repair, and, of course, all the electrics will require fully replacing too.

We fully intend to restore this wonderful boat and have her back racing again for the 2023 season. It will take a lot of time and private money, but any help via sponsorship, etc. would be truly appreciated – especially in terms of replacement electronics.

‘We will be documenting the restoration of our beloved Unipart Lambs and publishing the results right here in Powerboat & RIB magazine, likely this spring. So watch this space and wish us well.’  

Get involved

If you would like to get involved in this world-famous event in 2023, please contact [email protected] at the British Powerboat Racing Club communications department for further details. She and the team would be delighted to hear from you.  

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Home » Events » Round the Island Race 2023 – Countdown to the race for all

Round the Island Race 2023 - Countdown to the race for all

The excitement is building for the iconic and much-loved Round the Island Race on Saturday 1st July 2023. It’s both a prestigious and a challenging race, and regularly attracts a diverse range of sailors from around the world – from professional racing teams, keen amateur racers and families ready for an enjoyable day out on the water.

All fleets follow the same 50 nautical miles course which circumnavigates the Isle of Wight in an anti-clockwise direction with the start and finish off Cowes. The Island Sailing Club (ISC), who have run the race for over 90 years, are delighted to announce that local resident, presenter and writer Alan Titchmarsh will be firing the cannons at The Royal Yacht Squadron to start the race at 08:00.

Alan said: “I’m delighted to have been asked to start one of the highlights in the Isle of Wight calendar. The Round the Island Race is very special and I wish every participant fair winds and a calm sea. Bon voyage!”

David Atkinson, Race Director said:  “We are delighted to welcome such a hugely varied fleet this year, both returning and new competitors. It’s such a great opportunity for race crews to test their sailing skills, teamwork, and strategy as well as having a great day on the water. There’s going to be a real battle for line honours this year and we can’t wait to see who will lift the hugely coveted Gold Roman Bowl. Then there’s over one hundred other prizes on offer, not forgetting the many personal races happening between our competitors. The long-range forecast is looking favourable and we’re hoping everyone will enjoy this spectacular race.”

Behind the scenes the race relies on the well-practised Race Management Team at the ISC and the support and dedication of over 150 volunteers who play essential roles in ensuring the smooth operation of the event. It can be a long day for some of the volunteers, especially those stationed on the Finish Line committee boat. The team need to accurately record the sail number and time of every boat as they cross the finish line, and transmit this info to the results team based in Regatta House to enable an almost live feed of results online.

Follow the Round the Island Race 2023

To help you choose a great vantage point to watch the race in person take a look at the Spectator Guide on the event website. The most popular Island vantage points are in front of the Royal Yacht Squadron and Cowes Green; The Needles; St Catherine’s Point; Culver Down and Ryde Pier. The guide gives likely times the fleet will pass the different places during the 50 nautical mile course. Follow the social media channels and the live Race Blog on the event website which will provide a running commentary on the progress of the race – along with pictures and video clips – from the first start at 08:00 through to the finish. Meanwhile, the Race Viewer tracking system will be monitoring the position of all 1,100 boats taking part, so you can see exactly where your favourite boats are on the racetrack.

Official Round the Island Race 2023 Village will be open to all

Nothing beats a chilled beer and a jovial debrief after completing the race! The Official Race Village hosted by the Island Sailing Club at Cowes Yacht Haven will be the place to be. It is free to enter and will welcome all competitors, supporters, spectators and visitors to enjoy drinks and food from 17:00 on Friday 30th June and throughout race day and evening until midnight.

Enjoy live bands on Saturday from 18:00 and soak up the atmospere. The Race Partners (Helly Hansen and B&G), Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, Project Q and the Island Sailing Club will have stands offering race support, discounts, games and giveaways.

B&G in partnership with Hudson Marine will be at the Race Village with their B&G Technical Support Vehicle, kitted out with all the latest electronics. The team will be on hand to offer support and have some cool giveaways.

Helly Hansen in partnership with the RNLI will hold a Lifejacket Clinic outside the Helly Hansen Cowes store (121 High St, Cowes, PO31 7AY) on Friday 30 th June, between 15:00 and 19:00. Visit their stand in the Race Village to take part in their ‘Ready Steady Crew’ challenge to race the clock and get dressed head-to-toe in an RNLI rescue outfit.

The Official 2023 Race Collection by Helly Hansen is available to order online (via the event website  roundtheisland.org.uk  and then pay/collect in the Helly Hansen Cowes store) or visit the store and enjoy shopping the wide range of branded kit.

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust celebrates it’s 20th birthday on race day

Dame Ellen MacArthur is taking on the Round the Island Race 2023 in celebration of her charity’s 20th birthday. She will take the helm of the Trust’s flagship boat Solent Hero and will be accompanied by 24 young people following their cancer treatment aboard four yachts. Visit the Trust’s stand on Saturday 1st July in the Race Village for some fun family games.

This year, the charity is launching its #200for20 Birthday Challenge on the day of the Round the Island Race, with Dame Ellen encouraging entrants to raise £200 or £20 for the Trust’s 20th anniversary. Donations of £20 can be made by texting RACEFORALL to 70460* or visit their JustGiving page ‘2023 Round the Island Race’.

*Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you will be opting into hearing more from the Trust (if you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more, please text RACEFORALLNOINFO instead). 

The race is also supporting the new charity Project Q Foundation which raises funds and awareness to advance Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery locally, nationally and internationally. Visit their stand to talk to their passionate team about why this innovation is so important to support.

The official Weather Briefing, hosted by Penny Tranter, will take place at the Island Sailing Club on Friday 30th June at 18:00, all skippers are welcome and it will be available online from 20:00.

Still time to enter!

Late ENTRIES close at  12:00 on Wednesday 28th June, so if your boat isn’t already entered for the race, visit the event website for all the information you need and the online entry form.

Event Website: roundtheisland.org.uk Spectator Guide: Visit the event website ‘The Race’ section Social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and #RoundtheIsland #RaceForAll

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BEACH GUIDE

The GES Cup :

New Barn Farm

Report by Viki Taylor.

Round 5 of the Winter Championship took place in balmy, springlike conditions at Newbarn Farm, Calbourne on Sunday March 10 th . Many thanks to Chris Spence for the use of the venue and to the team of course setters - Andy Ryall, Rob Payne and Dave Elford.

Much appreciation also goes to the day’s Observers - Richard Crickmore, Nick Symes, Kev Smith, Geoff Taylor, Andy Ryall and Wayne Brodie.

The duel for the Expert crown continues with Tom Richards coming out on top over Adam Morgan, losing only 2 to Adam’s 37. The new GasGas is obviously agreeing with Tom! Jim West took top spot in the Intermediate class on 20 with just a single point separating Harrison Crickmore (29) and Rory Stephens (30) in 2nd and 3rd places. Shaun Harris came in 6 marks behind Rory.

In the Over 50s, Jon Death took the victory over John Coombes with 43 whilst Paul Kent was the sole finisher in the Novice class, taking 10 championship points.

Four riders competed for the win in the Adult Easy, with Damian Rajasingam coming in first on 5, the second lowest score of the day. Dave Elford and John Gustar took 2nd and 3rd spots with respective scores of 14 and 23. Tristan Osborne took the win in the Clubman group with 41, beating Alan Gosden on 56 and Mike True on 66.

Three Youth riders competed today with Riley Baker finding it tough going at times in the Youth Novice to finish on 113, whilst Leo Death was victorious in the Youth Easy class on a very credible 13. Blake Buggy came in runner-up on 20.

The next round of the winter championship is the Downend Cup, which takes place on March 24th.

The Jeffries Cup :

Shorwell Chalk Pit

Results of todays trial. Many thanks to Ralph Cook for the use of the venue today. Also thank you to Nick Symes, Kev Smith, Leighanne Baker, Dave Elford and Steve Kent for observing on a wet and windy day! Full report to follow.

The Novice and Expert Cup - Amended results 7/2/24:

Knighton Sand Pit

Round 3 of the Winter series saw a return to Knighton sandpit in overcast conditions. The club extends its thanks to landowner Roger Morgan once again for the use of this popular venue. We are also very appreciative of the efforts of our observers – Leighanne Baker, Richard Crickmore, Adrian Daish, Steve Kent and Kev Smith.

Six riders took on the challenge of the Expert route with the welcome return of Jim West rejoining brother Will in the top class. Current champion Tom Richards should be pleased with his score of 34 after tackling the excellent but sometimes tricky sections set by Adam and Ben Morgan and Darryl Biles. Adam just got the better of Darryl coming in second on 60.

Top spot in the Intermediates was a closely fought battle with just one mark separating Freddie Death in first on 68 from runner-up Ajay Shaw. Harrison Crickmore also rode well to take third with 77. Simon Strickland returned from an injury break to take the win in the Open C class with 26, the second lowest score of the day. Last week’s victor, Geoff Taylor had to settle for second place on 64.

Andy Scott-Jackson was the sole finisher in the Over 50s, whilst Connor Shaw took maximum championship points in the Novice class. Over in Adult Easy Guy Beeson had an impressive ride taking the win with 24, the lowest score of the day whilst just ten points separated Dave Elford in second from Damien Rajasingam in third. Alan Gosden was the only Clubman competing today finishing on 105, whilst Tristan Osborne was the lone Sportsman to complete this challenging trial.

In the Youth Novice class, Riley Baker earned himself another ten championship points whilst Leo Death continues to impress with his gaining confidence, dropping only 45 in the Youth Easy.

The next round is the Jeffries Cup which takes place at Shorwell Chalkpit on Sunday 18th February.

The Mercury Cup :

Haslett Sandpit

The second round of the 2024 Winter series took place at Haslett sandpit on January 21st courtesy of landowner Glenn Draper. Incoming Storm Isha didn’t deter the 31 riders who braved the rather more blustery than usual conditions at this challenging sandy venue. Many thanks to the course setters Rob Baker, Sam Jurich and Mike True and to our observers Kate Baker, Leighanne Baker, Alfie Haydon, Steve Kent and Kev Smith.

The club was delighted to see the return of Will West, a former Expert champion and Two Day winner after a break of almost 5 years. Will rode magnificently to tie for first place with current Expert champion Tom Richards, with neither rider dropping a mark. Adam Morgan came a close second losing only 5. Rory Stephens once again took the top spot in the Intermediates with an impressive score of 4. Only six marks behind was Ajay Shaw on 10, whilst Harrison Crickmore was hot on AJ’s heels losing 12 in third.

In the Open C, after bike issues at Sweetwater, Geoff Taylor also made his return to trials after a prolonged summer break, taking the win from Phil Chase and dropping just 11 marks. Andy Scott-Jackson rode solo in the Over 50 class, taking another 10 championship points with a score of 18, whilst Paul Kent had a very consistent trial to take the Novice win over Luke Jacobs who just pipped Derek Farndell to second place by a single mark.

Competition in the Adult Easy was very closely fought with just three marks separating the top three riders. Dave Elford came in first on 20 from Damien Rajasingam in third place on 23. Steve Jacobs will be pleased to have just taken second from Damien losing 22. It was Alan Gosden’s turn to emerge victorious in the Clubman class dropping a measly 3 on his Fantic with Ben Ashcroft not far behind in second with 10. Sam Jurich was tied on 20 with father-in-law Mike True, but Sam took third spot with an extra clean over Mike. The club’s most senior competitor, octogenarian John Townsend was the sole Sportsman class rider on his veteran Triumph.

Four youth members competed , with Riley Baker riding alone in the Youth Novice with a loss of 93, whilst Blake Buggy took the win in the Youth Easy class over the increasingly confident Leo Death but only by 2 marks.

The 3rd round of the Winter Series, the Novice and Expert Cup takes place at Knighton Sandpit on Sunday 4th February.

The New Year Shield :

Sweetwater Brook

The first Sunday of the new year saw 26 riders compete on a bright, dry and noticeably chilly day in the opening round of the 2024 Winter Championship at Sweetwater Brook, Calbourne. Many thanks to Trevor Strickland for the use of this popular venue which always gifts a variety of challenging sections in and around its namesake stream. Thankfully, despite the deluges of recent days the water wasn’t deep enough to cause any major issues (unless you fell off into it of course!) Thanks also to the course setters – John Coombes, Tristan Osborne and Ben Ashcroft and to our Observers; Kev Smith, John Coombes, Mike Morris, Richard Crickmore and Nick Symes.

Tom Richards began the defence of his Experts title with a win over Daryl Biles, on his first foray into the A route class. Tom dropped only 10 on the sticky, slippery sections whilst Daryl had a very commendable ride losing 45 with only 4 other riders over all classes scoring lower.

Despite a dunking on Section 6 (no photographic evidence unfortunately), Rory Stephens took top spot in the Intermediates on his Vertigo, his first club ride since the Wight Two Day Trial, back in September. Freddie Death rode well to come in second with 45 whilst Ajay Shaw was only 4 marks behind Freddie in third.

The Open C class saw a very close contest between the 3 entrants with Stuart Gummer just pipping Phil Chase to first by a single mark. Sam Jurich had a consistent ride to come in third 10 marks behind Phil. Andy Scott-Jackson rode to victory in the Over 50’s whilst Riley True was the top Novice today, just 3 marks ahead of Derek Farndell. Both riders finding their weakest spot was section 3 with several fives between them.

Top of the Adult Easy class with the third lowest adult score of the day was Damien Rajasingam on 20 with Steve Jacobs coming in second on 37. The Clubman class saw friendly rivals Ben Ashcroft and Tristan Osborne battling for the win with Ben emerging victorious, dropping 61 to Tris’s 67. Alan Gosden brought up the rear in 3 rd with 78, having swapped his usual Open C route for the Clubman. John Townsend was the lone Sportsman rider. He took an early bath (literally) on section 4 and unsurprisingly retired from the trial.

Three youth riders got their Winter Series off to a pleasing start – Riley Baker rode solo in the Youth Novice picking up 10 championship points whilst Blake Buggy had an excellent trial on his Oset, dropping just 20 with the ever improving Leo Death behind him in second on 49.

The second round of the Winter Series, The Mercury Cup, takes place on January 21 st . The venue is to be confirmed

The Boxing Day (Father and Son) Cup :

Thankfully the Christmas Day grey skies and rain cleared away for the annual Boxing Day Father and Son cup trial held at its traditional venue of Shorwell Chalkpit courtesy of landowner Ralph Cook. Many thanks to our observers Kate Baker, Leighanne Baker, John Coombes and Adrian Daish for turning out today and to our last minute course setter Mark Coombes who plotted 8 sections for the 28 entrants that were just the right level of difficulty for those post-Christmas bellies.

Six pairings were in competition for the Father and Son cup with Sam Jurich and Riley True putting on extremely solid performances to take the title with a combined score of just 5, with Steve and Luke Jacobs coming in second on 21 and Dave and Joe Elford taking third place from Dave and his other competing son Jason.

Sam also came away with the Boxing Day Novice cup after losing just a single mark. It was a family clean sweep of the top three in the class as Sam’s father-in-law Mike True and stepson Riley tied on 4 marks each with an identical number of cleans, ones and twos! Mike triumphed in 2nd spot from his grandson as he travelled furthest with least marks lost.

There were no riders in the Expert class today, Tom Richards instead competing in the Open B on his dad’s TLR and losing a very credible 10 marks leaving his sole competitor Joe Elford trailing in second with a loss of 28. Darryl Biles took top spot in the Intermediates dropping just 11 with Sonny Gaskin losing 20 to come in second with Freddie Death putting in a confident performance on his Beta to finish in 3 rd place with 27.

Low scores were the order of the day in the Open C class, with Alan Gosden taking pole position dropping just 4. Stuart Gummer was close behind with 8 and Phil Chase lost 10 to come in third. The final rider of the group, Nick Symes had an unfortunate off on section 5 on his first lap resulting in his retirement from the trial. Keith Thomas was the only entrant in the Twin Shock and had a consistent ride with a score of just 14, whilst the lone Over 50 competitor was Andy Scott-Jackson who rode around for 31.

The Adult Easy class was soundly won by Luke Jacobs with a blistering score of just 4 beating dad Steve who got round for 17. Dave Elford followed just behind Steve with a score of 19. Only two youth riders participated in the trial – Riley Baker was the sole Youth Novice rider, dropping 60 and looking the business in his new personalised trials gear and Leo Death continues to show improvement with an impressive ride to lose just 13 marks in the Youth Easy group.

Sunday 7 th January sees the first round of the 2024 Winter championship – the New Year Shield, at its regular venue of Sweetwater Brook.

The Duver Cup:

The IOWMCC Winter championship came to a very soggy and windswept conclusion at Haslett Sandpit near Shorwell on December 10th. Our thanks as ever go to Glenn Draper for the use of this venue, to Richard Crickmore the sole observer and of course to Kate Baker for keeping us all warm on the inside at least with copious amounts of hot drinks.

26 riders (and a few hardy spectators) braved the rain and blustery conditions to tackle the 8 sections set by Rob Baker, Keith Thomas and co.

Tom Richards sealed the 2023 Expert Championship with a resounding class win over Alfie Haydon who scored a couple of uncharacteristic fives. Once again, Adam Morgan reigned supreme in the Intermediate’s and also took the championship win with a loss of only 28 marks over Harrison Crickmore who rode well in the challenging conditions to take a well deserved 3rd place in the overall championship standings. Jason Elford took third spot at Haslett only 10 marks behind Harrison – the heavy, sandy course took its toll on the rest of the class who all came in with treble figures and a bulk order of replacement brake pads!

In the Open C group, Alan Gosden took top spot in both the trial and the overall championship whilst the sole competitor in the Over 50s, Simon Newnham is also the newly crowned class Champion. Recently returned rider Simon Watmough was forced to retire in the Twin Shock class with bike issues whilst the Novice group had consistent rides with only 11 marks between Mike True in first and Derek Farndell in third place. Congratulations must go to Sam Jurich on the Championship win.

Rob Payne rode confidently to another great result in the Adult Easy class, coming top and taking the title in addition, despite taking a rather unexpected tumble and ending up sitting in the water at one point on section 5! The rest of the group weren’t far behind him with 9 marks separating Steve Jacobs in second spot and Guy Beeson in fourth place. It was great to see our newest rider Kyla Dyer persevering with getting the hang of the bike in very unfriendly conditions to a seasoned competitor let alone a newbie! Ben Ashcroft rode a blistering trial as the lone Clubman to drop only 29, the second lowest score of the day.

The weather coupled with the sandy venue proved too challenging for our youth riders with Riley Baker retiring shortly after the start and cementing Blake Buggy as the 2023 Youth Easy Champion.

Our next event is the Boxing Day Cup incorporating the Father & Son Trial at Shorwell Chalkpit on December 26th.

Current winter standings :

The Ted Phillips Cup :

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin….

The 11th and penultimate round of the IOWMCC Winter Championship took place at a grey, damp and chilly Knighton Sandpit. Our thanks go to the Morgan family for the use of this land.

A popular venue with many club riders, course setters Adam and Ben Morgan and Daryl Biles certainly tested the abilities of the 38 entrants in all classes with 8 challenging and inventive sections that were already slippery and didn’t get any easier thanks to the recurring misty drizzle. This undoubtedly contributed to the 9 riders who failed to finish the trial and the inordinate number of ‘5s’ scored on sections 6, 7 and 8 in the woods!

Thanks as always go to our observers Richard Crickmore, John Coombes, Leighanne Baker, Steve Kent and to Wayne Brodie for the administration of the event. Extra credit must go to Richard for successfully climbing that huge loose pile that was section 1!!

High scores were the order of the day across all classes with all bar two of the Intermediates getting into three figures. Tom Richards was the sole entrant in the Expert class, his overall score of 60 included a very uncharacteristic four ‘5s’ on section 7, showing just how tricky some of the course was proving to be. On the B route, the course setters took the top three spots with a combined score of 237! Adam Morgan took the class honours with Daryl Biles sandwiched in 2nd place between Adam and his twin brother Ben.

The increasingly popular Open C class produced the lowest score of the day (albeit a non-championship scoring ride) from Simon Morgan dropping just 35 marks. Alan Gosden took 2nd with Ben Ashcroft & Stuart Gummer tied in 3rd spot. Ben was awarded the 3rd place under the tiebreak rule - although their results were more than double Simon’s, with the remaining riders Phil Chase and Simon Strickland (competing on his birthday) retiring from the event. Andy Scott-Jackson had a steady ride claiming victory in the Over-50s class scoring 121 with the conditions getting the better of his sole competition today Simon Newnham, who also succumbed to retirement.

In the Novice group, Sam Jurich came out on top with the only double figure score in the class of 95. Paul Kent on his Electric Motion was runner-up on 104 but there were only 6 marks between Paul and fourth placed Derek Farndell (110) with Mike True slipping into 3rd position with 109.

Most impressive performance of the day must surely go to Rob Payne with the second lowest score of the day. Most of us can empathise with newborns and their sleep (or no sleep) patterns so to drop only 40 and take top spot in the Adult Easy class was no mean feat after a somewhat disturbed night!

Kev Smith took the win in the Sportsman class with 77 and the lone Twinshock competitor Simon Watmough finished on a healthy 42. Three youngsters rode for the honours in the Youth Easy group, with the ever improving Blake Buggy on his Oset grabbing the 10 championship points from Riley Baker. Leo Death made a valiant effort but ended up retiring.

The end of the Winter Championship is looming and the final round (Duver Cup) takes place on Sunday 10th December with the venue to be confirmed.

Guy Fawkes Cup 11th November 2023 :

Little Apes Down Farm

Thank you to Mike Morris for the use of the land today. Thank you to the course setters and observers for their time in todays trial.

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