BRITISH & EUROPEAN CHAMPS 1st & 2nd Oct 2011
Alongside the pier on Bournemouth sea front last weekend in glorious sunny conditions, IRB crews from across the UK & Europe battled for the British & European championships.
On Saturday the British event was held with crews competing in four race disciplines : the single rescue, mass rescue, team rescue & tube rescue.
For the first time this year, a Masters event (for competitors over 40 years of age) was included in the British event and the Masters title went to Saunton Sands. In the Open event the competition was hotly contested by the leading teams from Whitsand Bay, Bantham, Southbournne, Branksome Chine & Newquay with Saunton Sands making a clean sweep in the Men's and Ladies categories and also winning the overall British IRB title.
Sunday saw the European event, with all the UK teams competing again, joined by teams from Latvia, Poland, Germany, Holland and even a guest team from Burleigh Heads in Australia. Again, the four race disciplines were fiercely contested with some fast & furious racing. The overall Men's & Ladies European title went to Saunton Sands and with it, the coveted Arancia Trophy, presented by the New Zealand based IRB boat builders Arancia owners John & Chris Speight.
Saunton IRB team members:
Drivers & Crew - Paul, Jan, Rob & Jon Reid, James & Jacob Sharp, Richard Harrison, Ian Allen, Chris Gratton, Jeff & Sophie Priddis, Colin Leaper, Gary Poole, Andy & Ryan Bennett, Barry Charlesworth, Gill Hevingham, Daisy Freeman, Cara Deasy, Flic Elliot, Sam Cordery.
Rescue Patients - Toby Freeman, Kiera Tierney, Amy Harrison & Simon Harrington.
Team Manager : Karen Freeman. Support Crew : Tracey Leaper & Fiona Sharp.
Officials : Jan Reid, Dave Worms Allie Priddis & Charmaine Tierney.