Reps recover

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 21

Reps recover

Keith May and Brent Cowan recovered from a near-disastrous capsize to retain their standing as Canterbury's Sanders Cup yachting representatives when the trials were completed at Lyttelton on Saturday. Needing to win the final heat for over-all victory, May and Cowan were vying for the lead with their strongest rivals. Dave Elder and Brian Lamb, on the run when they capsized. That mishap forced May and Cowan back to fourth place and allowed Elder and Lamb an advantage of about Imm 30s. Elder and Lamb appeared to have the senes in safe-keeping until May and Cowan, improving steadily, closed on them during the final beat and snatched the lead just short of the finishing line. Earlier in the day Elder and Lamb had been in front throughout the fifth race to win by 2min from May and Cowan, with the consistent Chris White and Derek Brandt third. It was a most commenuaoie

effort bv Mav and Cowan, who now have the opportunity to improve on their second placing in last season's Sanders Cup series. They overcame the handicap of having to use a borrowed boat. Gandalf, having shipped their regular craft. Simple Dream, to Sydney for the interDomimon Javelin championship later this month. But Elder and Lamb matched May and Cowan in achieving line honours in three of the heats, and it was only the more prominent minor placings in the other races which enabled May and Cowan to slip ahead on the points table. The other trials completed on Saturday were much mure clearcut. Steve Mockett assured himself ot the' nomination as Canterbury's representative in the national Tanner Cup F class contest at Timaru next month when he retained his perfect winning record on Saturday. Similarly Maitnew Buckciidge and David’Millington were again too swift lor their rivals in the Flying Ant trials.