Poor Performances In Leander Trophy Contest

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29101, 13 January 1960, Page 9

Poor Performances In Leander Trophy Contest

COMPLACENCY and lack of serious competition for most of the season were the main factors in toppling the Canterbury R-class yacht squadron from its pedestal in the Leander Trophy contest at Lyttelton last week. Canterbury, which has held the Leander Trophy quite safely since it was first awarded for competition in 1951, lost it to Wellington in a most embarrassing manner. Canterbury yachtsmen themselves have offered few excuses for their poor performances at Lyttelton, but they are determined that next season they shall not be overwhelmed again by such a convincing margin. With the trophy having spent so long in Canterbury, it is an excellent thing that it should now go to the North Island and stimulate enthusiasm for the class there.

Prospect

But while Canterbury lost the trophy on all counts this season, there is the prospect that Peter Mander, Graham Mander, or Cliff Papps may bolster up the Canterbury R-class squadron next season. None of these three top yachtsmen has been racing R’s this season, and other comSititors have suffered from the ck of competition.

Any praise heaped on George Gibbs and Colin Dalziel for their outstanding wins is deserved. To have won each race by such handsome margins speaks volumes for their seamanship, and there is little doubt that they have a great future in the sport Tempest (Graham Wilson), Horizon (Hugh England) and Impetuous (B- Wall) did the best

of the Canterbury entrants, and it was disappointing that Sari (Frank Simpson), which was fourth at last year’s Leander Trophy, should have dropped a long way back this year. Vision (A. W. Shields', at one stage looked as though it could seriously upset the Wellington parade, but a capsize when she was in second position in the third race ended those hopes.

Too lightly

Canterbury competitors themselves admit they took the contest too lightly, and by the time they

had recovered from the shock of the Wellington performances, it was too late.

Wellington is now the leading R-class province in the country, and if it can interest Auckland in the class still further, then the loss of the trophy from Canterbury will be compensated by the increased progress of the class. As it was, Auckland’s Ken Rushbrooke sailed very well at this year’s contest and showed that with more competition and experience, he should do well.

Next year’s Leander Trophy contest will probably be held in Wellington, and Canterbury wiD be entering with high hopes of regaining the trophy. Certainly the lesson they have learnt this year is one they will not soon forget.