Fast fleet’s tight finish

SAILING ROWING

Richard Gower and Howard Baker claimed victory in the final race of Hampton Pier Yacht Club’s late Summer Series on Sunday. The duo’s Trio followed hot on the heels of Chris Hore and Steve Kendall and even though their Vago crossed the line first, handicap adjustment gave Gower and Baker victory in the fast fleet. Frank and Glynis Oliver continued their fine run of form in the medium fleet of Versas, leading for the whole race to finish ahead of Geoff and Celia Gambrill in second and Kevin and Kate Jones in third. The slow fleet was a close affair between the Topper of Dave Thorndycraft and the Mirror of Lee and Ann Gannon, which led after the first lap but was soon overhauled. During the final lap the Mirror managed to close the distance on Thorndycraft and take first place on handicap. On Sunday Hampton Pier travel to neighbours Herne Bay Sailing Club for the annual St George’s Cup, which starts at 3pm. Herne Bay’s Dan Ritchie begins his quest for glory in the World Championships in Chungju next week. The 26-year-old is a crew member of the GB men’s eight for the eight-day regatta, which starts on Sunday, August 25. Ritchie joins Ashfordborn Tom Ransley– who attended King’s School, Canterbury – in the crew, which includes TeamGB gold medallists from London 2012 Andrew Triggs Hodge, Peter Reed and Alex Gregory. Ransley was in the men’s eight which claimed bronze at Eton Dorney last summer but Ritchie missed out due to injury. The pair did claim gold at the World Cup Regatta at Dorney Lake earlier this season but missed out on the medals in Lucerne, Switzerland, in July, finishing fourth. The heats in Korea are on Monday, August 26, while the final will be on Sunday, September 1.