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ITCA GBR Midland Championship at Draycote Water Sailing Club

by Dave Rowe 2 Jul 12:54 UTC 14-15 June 2025

Draycote Water hosted the 2025 Midland Championships held over a weekend in June. A regional champs always attracts a good turn out, and as a selection event for the ITCA GBR Regional performance winter training this year it was an extra reason to sign up.

Race officer Dave Rowe had a plan for eight races over the two days with one discard so a championships mind set would be needed by all sailors and consistency would be key.

Draycote Academy coaches Steve Irish and Joe Rowe were both on hand and chatting to the sailors around the boat park, before a briefing with lead coach.

Steve briefed all sailors on the weather forecast, taking, the right snacks and clothes and what to expect from the wind on the course.

30 boats entered with 19, 5.3 and 11 4.2s, it was a single start, racing around a trapezoid course, day one was raced in a strong south westerly winds and Toby Turner and Thomas Croxton won the day with consistent 1st and 2nds throughout.

All sailors were welcomed back to shore after a hard days racing to Burgers on the BBQ, music on the patio before a planned end of day de brief from Steve to look at some of the starts on the big screen.

Day 2

Everyone was back and ready for another four races and it all to play for, winds remained from the west but much lighter than day 1.

Faith Turner in the 5.3 set the pace in R5 overtaking her brother between the last mark and the finish line after what had been an epic family battle for the whole race, Audrey Yang took the race in the 4.2s.

Oscar Rowe in the 5.3 started well and sailed a great first beat in R6 to create a massive lead on the fleet and on for the race win, Audrey took the 4.2 win to tighten up the leaderboard with 2 races to go.

Seconds after the start of R7 Audrey's top section snapped with a bang causing a tow back to shore and a retirement from R7, Alfred Stoyell won the 4.2 race and Toby turner and Thomas achieved 2nd places in the respective fleets keeping the consistency going.

Audrey was back out and took the last race win in the 4.2s and Thomas again kept a clear head finishing in 3rd place and taking the 4.2 title.

Alex Stainton and Toby battled in the last race and while Alex took the win Toby in 2nd for the 6th race in the event had done more than enough to take the 2025 title of Midlands Regional Champion, Alex Stainton 2nd, Oscar Rowe 3rd.

While results where finalised there was time for a debrief from Steve where he recalled events from coaching the 49er Europeans the previous week where in the Medal race, having a plan and executing it was so important and how this is relevant at all levels before looking at the days racing.

Prize giving and cake from the Draycote youth and junior fleet parents was a fantastic way to end the weekend at Draycote water.

Thanks to ITCA GBR for organising the event and class sponsors, massive thank you to Draycote Academy Steve and Joe for supporting all the sailors over the weekend and Draycote Water Sailing Club for hosting.

Overall Results:

PosChamp NoSail NoHelmClubsR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
5.3 rig
1st16948677Toby TurnerSnettisham Beach SC‑2212221212
2nd17746512Alex StaintonHollowell SC / Draycote Academy1127‑856123
3rd2748672Oscar RoweDraycote Academy/Draycote SC33‑85414727
4th69147625Faith TurnerSnettisham Beach SC‑121041163429
5th14747533Hari ClarkDraycote Water Sc78‑94742537
6th36148798James BurtonNotts County SC5433‑1689638
7th8849272Henry CruseDraycote SC1065‑12637340
8th9947926Daniel RileyBartley SC/Asc Birmingham47(OCS)63108846
9th57045772Sophie ForbesBartley SC89‑1195911960
10th31548535Tom MoriartyDraycote Water Sc6561115(DSQ)101568
11th30546770William ClarkeHollowell SC111210109‑1351269
12th64349295Fred SeddonDraycote Sc/Bartley Sc911781312‑171070
13th66648667Euan PickardBartley SC‑161312141211131489
14th6448508Eve PickardBartley SC/Asc Birmingham1415(RET)DNC117121392
15th6546169Izzy BeecheyBartley SC/Asc Birmingham / Trimpley131414131415‑161699
16th55232908Adam CollinsShustoke SC15(RET)DNCDNC10141511105
17th6247183Zaynab BakshBartley SC/Asc Birmingham17161315‑18171818114
18th54040162Livia JenkinsShustoke SC(RET)DNCDNCDNC17161417124
19th8147076Maryam ParkerBartley SC/Asc Birmingham(DNC)RETDNCDNCDNCDNCDNCDNC140
4.2 rig
1st34445909Thomas CroxtonHollowell SC12113‑62313
2nd166 Audrey YangBartley SC/Asc Birmingham332411(RET)115
3rd35547181Jake DayBartley Sc/Mbsc814324(DSQ)426
4th2634667Alfred StoyellDraycote SC65(DNC)6431227
5th21246241Harry FentonDraycote Academy/Draycote Sc243287‑9733
6th17346223Elizabeth StaintonHollowell SC / Draycote Academy4765‑924634
7th25734352Hannah SwintonDraycote SC565‑101093543
8th8220172Maariyam BakshBartley SC/Asc Birmingham79777‑1161154
9th8047813Khadeejah ParkarBartley SC/Asc Birmingham‑108885108855
10th24846971Ben WhittakerDraycote Academy/Draycote Water Sc9(RET)DNCDNC657960
11th6147466Edmund HoltBartley SC/Asc Birmingham(RET)DNC99RET851065

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