Victory at Zhik Oxford Blue 2025 puts Snipe on the UK map
by Andy Rice 18 Feb 14:52 UTC
15 February 2025
Matthew Wolstenholme and Lloyd Roberts sailed their Snipe to victory at the front of an 83-boat handicap fleet at last Saturday's Zhik Oxford Blue.
Farmoor Reservoir and Oxford Sailing Club hosted the last of nine events in this season's Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series, which has been a predominantly light-airs circuit, apart from a very windy Sailing Chandlery Datchet Flyer back in December.
While the Snipe is a massive class worldwide, particularly in the USA and South America, it previously had only a small but dedicated following in the UK. Wolstenholme and Roberts have been chipping away at various events this winter and the team from Bough Beech has finally been rewarded with victory at the Zhik Oxford Blue.
There were 43 different classes represented in the 83 entries, ranging in speed and size from the Topper up to the Norfolk Punts. Megan Pascoe finished runner-up in her 2.4mR sit-in keelboat with Jasper Barnham and Graham Sexton coming third in their GP14.
Apart from the winning Snipe, the GP14 was the only other doublehander to make it into a top ten otherwise dominated by singlehanders. Best of the rest was Simon Hawkes's K1 keelboat in fourth, followed by Vince Horey's Solo and Olympic campaigner Ben Flower in his ILCA 7. Overall the doublehanders have had the better of the Series but this time it was the singlehanders who shone on Farmoor.
The breeze in Oxford started out at 8 knots for the first race but dropped throughout the afternoon, although still three races completed as scheduled.
Pascoe won the first race comfortably, the 2.4mR around 1 minute 30 seconds ahead on corrected time in front of Hawkes and the K1. However, Wolstenholme and Roberts hit their stride in the next two races, winning the second race by 20 seconds from the GP14 and winning the final race by just 7 seconds, again ahead of the GP14.
Zhik Old Boats
The Zhik Old Boats league has a cross-section of boats for those 20 years and older, from turn-of-the-century RS300s and 400s to the 66-year-old Norfolk Punt sailed by young racers Edward Clifford & Alex Standley. Zhik is providing more than £600 worth of high-performance apparel up for the top finishers in this fast-growing category. Top finishers at Oxford:
1. Enterprise, Paul Young & Igor Bakowski (26th)
2. Lark, Olly Saunders & Zara Frankton (30th)
3. ILCA 6 / Laser Radial John Cant (33th)
Fastest
The fastest boat as measured by SailRacer GPS trackers: Edward Clifford & Alex Standley, Norfolk Punt Hardchine (6.26 kts)
The fastest boat on corrected handicap, as measured by SailRacer GPS trackers: Paul North, RS Vareo (5.93 kts)
CFyLandL Top Youth
Winner of the youth prize at Oxford: ILCA 6 / Laser Radial, Max Guiguet-Belcher from Greig City Academy (37th)
Simon Horsfield Coaching sponsored by GJW Direct Insurance
On Tuesday evening GJW Direct coach Simon Horsfield, a three-time winner of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series, will be reviewing the Zhik Oxford Blue.
Join the call to get Simon's expert insights from the day - see facebook.com/SeldenSailJuiceWinterSeries
Tuesday 18 Feb 2025 · 20:30 - 21:30 (United Kingdom Time)
Cheer the Winners!
Now that the Series is complete, the 2024/25 Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series Prize Giving at the RYA Dinghy Show on 22 February at 10:15 will be a great opportunity to celebrate the winners and see over a hundred prizes awarded.
www.rya.org.uk/events/dinghy-show
Overall Results:
| Pos | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | GL | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | Snipe | 28541 | Matthew WOLSTENHOLME | Lloyd ROBERTS | Bough Beech SC | 1110 | ‑3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2nd | MR | 163 | Megan PASCOE | | Frensham Pond SC | 1230 | 1 | 3 | ‑7 | 4 |
| 3rd | GP14 | 14125 | Jasper BARNHAM | Graham SEXTON | Snettisham Beach SC | 1138 | ‑9.5 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 4th | K1 | 185 | Simon HAWKES | | Castle Cove Sailing Club | 1060 | 2 | ‑12 | 4 | 6 |
| 5th | Solo | 6080 | Vincent HOREY | | King George V Sailing Club | 1152 | ‑8 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 6th | ILCA 7 | 217218 | Ben FLOWER | | Paignton SC | 1104 | 5 | ‑14 | 5 | 10 |
| 7th | Solo | 5903 | Nigel BIRD | | Papercourt S C | 1152 | 4 | 8 | (DNC) | 12 |
| 8th | Solo | 4927 | Tony THRESHER | | Oxford S.C. | 1152 | 6 | 7 | ‑12 | 13 |
| 9th | ILCA 7 | 216239 | Jamie BLAKE | | Great Moor Sailing Club | 1104 | ‑23 | 4 | 11 | 15 |
| 10th | Solo | 6067 | Chris BUNN | | LADY YACHT CLUB | 1152 | 7 | ‑13 | 10 | 17 |
| 11th | Solo | 5693 | Fraser HAYDEN | | Papercourt SC | 1152 | ‑31 | 9 | 8 | 17 |
| 12th | ILCA 7 | 215492 | Andrew HILL‑SMITH | | Papercourt | 1104 | ‑40 | 16 | 6 | 22 |
| 13th | K6 | 172 | Michael TRUEMAN | James BENNETT | Oxford SC | 915 | 12 | 11 | ‑14 | 23 |
| 14th | Phantom | 1467 | Ben HAWKES | | RAFSA | 1000 | 17 | ‑20 | 9 | 26 |
| 15th | Scorpion | 2054 | Thomas LONSDALE | Emily BATTERTON | West Oxfordshire SC | 1035 | 13 | ‑21 | 13 | 26 |
| 16th | Merlin Rocket | 3803 | Chris GOULD | Sophie MACKLEY | Shoreham | 983 | 9.5 | 22 | ‑28 | 31.5 |
| 17th | ILCA 7 | 200098 | Guy BARKER | | London Corinthian Sailing Club | 1104 | 15 | ‑23 | 17 | 32 |
| 18th | Enterprise | 22901 | Paul YOUNG | Igor BAKOWSKI | Midland Sailing Club | 1155 | ‑26 | 10 | 24 | 34 |
| 19th | Solo | 4706 | Laurence MEAD | | Gurnard SC | 1152 | 19 | 15 | ‑20 | 34 |
| 20th | RS200 | 909 | James HOBSON | Ross SOUTHWELL | Warsash/Looe | 1046 | (OCS) | 18 | 16 | 34 |
| 21st | Osprey | 1382 | Roger BLAKE | Iain BLAKE | Great Moor Sailing Club | 937 | 20 | ‑44 | 15 | 35 |
| 22nd | Norfolk Punt | 94 | Colin MURRAY | Oly MURRAY | Invergordon Boating Club | 844 | ‑22 | 17 | 19 | 36 |
| 23rd | ILCA 6 | 164918 | John CANT | | Erith Yacht Club | 1145 | 33 | 6 | ‑40 | 39 |
| 24th | Phantom | 1489 | Mark ADDISON | | Upper Thames | 1000 | 14 | 28 | (DNC) | 42 |
| 25th | Scorpion | 2001 | Malcolm JAMES | Will HANCOCK | South Cerney SC | 1035 | 21 | ‑34 | 21 | 42 |
| 26th | RS Aero 7 | 4396 | Peter BARTON | | Lymington Town SC | 1069 | 16 | ‑37.5 | 29 | 45 |
| 27th | National 12 | 3527 | Kevin ILES | Naomi RICHARDSON | West Oxfordshire SC | 1070 | 29 | ‑49 | 18 | 47 |
| 28th | RS Vareo | 621 | Luke FISHER | | Emberton Park SC | 1083 | 25 | ‑27 | 22.5 | 47.5 |
| 29th | Lark | 2468 | Olly SAUNDERS | Zara FRANKTON | Shustoke SC | 1070 | ‑30 | 26 | 22.5 | 48.5 |
| 30th | K1 | 181 | Chris SWALLOW | | Burton SC | 1060 | 11 | 39 | (DNC) | 50 |
| 31st | Merlin Rocket | 3751 | Mary HENDERSON‑WHITE | Pete NICHOLSON | Brightlingsea SC | 983 | 18 | ‑35 | 32 | 50 |
| 32nd | RS Aero 7 | 1222 | Clive JACKSON | | Dorchester on Thames | 1069 | 24 | ‑46 | 27 | 51 |
| 33rd | AltO | 122 | Grant BLAKE | Andrew JARVIS | Oxford Sailing Club | 921 | 28 | ‑40 | 25 | 53 |
| 34th | RS Aero 7 | 3000 | Steve NORBURY | | Warsash | 1069 | 27 | ‑30 | 26 | 53 |
| 35th | RS Aero 6 | 2572 | Andy HILL | | Warsash SC | 1105 | 32 | 25 | ‑36 | 57 |
| 36th | Norfolk Punt | 50 | Edward CLIFFORD | Alex STANDLEY | Norfolk Broads Yacht Club | 884 | 35 | 24 | ‑55 | 59 |
| 37th | ILCA 6 | 221586 | Max GUIGUET‑BELCHER | | Greig City Academy | 1145 | ‑52 | 19 | 42 | 61 |
| 38th | National 18 | 424 | Oliver HOUSEMAN | Jeremy VINES | Chew Valley Lake | 906 | 34 | ‑51 | 31 | 65 |
| 39th | RS Vareo | 443 | Paul NORTH | | Milton Keynes SC | 1083 | 36 | ‑52.5 | 30 | 66 |
| 40th | ILCA 7 | 182597 | Nick RYLES | | Wimbleball SC | 1104 | ‑42 | 29 | 38 | 67 |
| 41st | ILCA 7 | 161577 | Hugh LEACH | | Reading Sailing Club | 1104 | ‑55 | 31 | 37 | 68 |
| 42nd | Comet Trio | 435 | Jamie GRIGOR | Tim FARMER | Whitefriars SC | 1096 | 37 | ‑45 | 34 | 71 |
| 43rd | Firefly | 8 | Andrew HOMEWOOD | Heather HOMEWOOD | Oxford Sailing Club | 1190 | ‑58 | 32 | 43 | 75 |
| 44th | Merlin Rocket | 3793 | James GOODFELLOW | Rebecca VIDELO | Ardleigh SC | 983 | 39 | 37.5 | ‑45 | 76.5 |
| 45th | ILCA 7 | 203527 | Felipe GARCIA | | Greig City Academy | 1104 | 41 | 36 | (DNC) | 77 |
| 46th | RS200 | 1452 | Alistair HODGSON | Ella SPAIN | Draycote Water | 1046 | (OCS) | 47 | 33 | 80 |
| 47th | Merlin Rocket | 3727 | Mark STOCKBRIDGE | Charlie COTTER | Upper Thames SC | 983 | ‑46 | 42 | 41 | 83 |
| 48th | Topper | 49272 | Henry CRUSE | | Draycote | 1369 | 43 | 41 | ‑50 | 84 |
| 49th | ISO | 2502 | Bob LADELL | Patrick VON MORGEN | King George SC | 940 | 50.5 | ‑62 | 35 | 85.5 |
| 50th | RS Aero 5 | 2286 | Evelyn TINKER | | Papercourt Sailing Club | 1145 | ‑71 | 33 | 54 | 87 |
| 51st | 470 | 891 | Joseph WARWICKER | Adam AZIZ | Bough Beech Sailing Club | 973 | 44 | 43 | ‑58 | 87 |
| 52nd | RS400 | 979 | Charlie SANSOM | Esther HEATHCOTE | Bowmoor SC | 948 | 53 | ‑54 | 39 | 92 |
| 53rd | ILCA 6 | 218940 | Christopher KILSHAW | | Reading Sailing Club | 1145 | 38 | ‑79 | 56 | 94 |
| 54th | Topper | 45772 | Sophie FORBES | | Bartley | 1369 | 48 | ‑55.5 | 48 | 96 |
| 55th | RS600 | 654 | Ian MARSHALL | | Oxford SC | 920 | 50.5 | ‑66 | 46 | 96.5 |
| 56th | RS Aero 7 | 3130 | Rory COHEN | | DWSC | 1069 | 45 | ‑55.5 | 52 | 97 |
| 57th | RS Vareo | 444 | Michelle COLLIER‑BROOKS | | Oxford | 1083 | 47 | 50 | ‑51 | 97 |
| 58th | Blaze | 862 | Richard BOTTING | | Draycote Water Sailing Club | 1040 | ‑57 | 57 | 44 | 101 |
| 59th | RS400 | 1340 | Stuart HARRIS | Beccy GOOCH‑KELSALL | Banbury Sailing Club | 948 | ‑54 | 48 | 53 | 101 |
| 60th | Topper | 42919 | Susan LEWIS | | Papercourt Sailing Club | 1369 | ‑60 | 60 | 47 | 107 |
| 61st | Challenger | 304 | Alex HOVDEN | | Papercourt SC | 1166 | ‑67 | 58 | 49 | 107 |
| 62nd | Supernova | 1083 | Serena STEWARDSON | | Emberton Park SC | 1080 | ‑66 | 52.5 | 57 | 109.5 |
| 63rd | RS Vareo | 436 | Russell HOWARTH | | Oxford Sailing Club | 1083 | 49 | 61 | (DNC) | 110 |
| 64th | ISO | 1191 | Rob HOWLETT | Henry COLLINGS | Poole YC | 940 | 61 | ‑64 | 59 | 120 |
| 65th | ISO | 1204 | John BANBROOK | Andy SHARP | Bowmoor SC | 940 | ‑62 | 59 | 62 | 121 |
| 66th | RS600 | 910 | Sam FEWINGS | | Bowmoor | 920 | 63 | ‑67 | 61 | 124 |
| 67th | RS Aero 5 | 1398 | Elizabeth HILL‑SMITH | | Papercourt | 1145 | ‑73 | 65 | 60 | 125 |
| 68th | RS200 | 1173 | Emily DAVIS | James WALTERS | Draycote water SC | 1046 | 64 | 63 | ‑72 | 127 |
| 69th | 2000 | 22619 | Michael MCEWING | Alex WILBY | Rutland SC | 1085 | 59 | 68.5 | (DNC) | 127.5 |
| 70th | Vortex | 2018 | Jonathan CARTER | | rickmansworth sailing club | 942 | 65 | ‑75 | 67 | 132 |
| 71st | RS600 | 848 | David NUNN | | Bowmoor SC | 920 | 68 | ‑68.5 | 64.5 | 132.5 |
| 72nd | RS600 | 1011 | Will RUSSELL | | Grafham Water Sailing Club | 920 | 70 | ‑74 | 63 | 133 |
| 73rd | RS400 | 1236 | Alex PEGG | Chris HARGREAVES | Whitefriars SC | 948 | 69 | ‑71 | 64.5 | 133.5 |
| 74th | RS300 | 540 | Cheryl WOOD | | Pennine Sc | 989 | ‑72 | 72 | 66 | 138 |
| 75th | 2000 | 22730 | Dirk MEYER | Leif MEYER | Hunts SC | 1085 | ‑74 | 70 | 68 | 138 |
| 76th | ILCA 6 | 212144 | Oli ROGERS | | South Staffs Sailing Club | 1145 | 56 | (DNC) | DNC | 140 |
| 77th | 420 | 53380 | Jonathan SHIELDS | Stuart SHIELDS | Tonbridge Town SC | 1075 | ‑77 | 73 | 71 | 144 |
| 78th | Flying Dutchman | 391 | David BOURNE | Richard BURTON | Herne Bay SC | 885 | 76 | ‑77 | 69 | 145 |
| 79th | Laser 3000 | 3386 | James DAVIES | Zach AZIZ | Shropshire sailing club | 1090 | 75 | ‑76 | 70 | 145 |
| 80th | 2000 | X | Liam HANNA | Katie REILLY | Burnham Sailing Club | 1085 | ‑78 | 78 | 73 | 151 |
| 81st | ILCA 6 | 219884 | Cornielle LEPRINCE | | Greig City Academy | 1145 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 168 |
| 81st | RS Feva | 5785 | Elina SIVITER | Benji KLOSE | Oxford Sailing Club | 1280 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 168 |
| 81st | Devoti D‑Zero | 183 | Terry BROOKS | | Oxford sailing club | 1043 | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 168 |
