UKGlobal National Ranking League
We are pleased to announce UKGlobal as our title sponsor for the National Ranking League.
Based on results over the past 6 years, I have simulated who would have been the Number 1 ranked boat each year based on the new National Ranking. As you can see it is by no means a foregone conclusion and anyone really can take the honours.
|
2012 |
2011 |
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
2007 |
|
| Overall | ||||||
| 1st | Steve Goacher | Steve Goacher | Charles Apthorp | Greg Wells | Alan Bax | David McKee |
| 2nd | Simon Kneller | David Mckee | David McKee | Charles Apthorp | Gill Browning | Steve Goacher |
| 3rd | Hamish MacKay | Justin Waples | Robert Hogben | Steve Goacher | Charles Apthorp | Justin Waples |
| Silver | Peter Card | Malcolm Hall | Andy Clark | Andy Clark | Andy Clark | Paul McCarthy |
| Classic | Bobby Salmond | Gavin Cassidy | Bobby Salmond | Tim Tomlinson | Bob Tait | Colin Fletcher |
Greg Wells thinks that ‘the ranking system is an excellent initiative which will create much interest. Virtually all sports have world ranking lists and it is a great opportunity for the International Flying Fifteen class to lead the way for the non-Olympic classes’.
Class President, Jeremy Davy, believes that ‘the beauty of having those distinct categories is that it provides a sub-plot where older FFs can race each other on a level (and affordable) playing field… and the racing is just as serious as in the Open Fleet!’
The question is can any of these helms ‘retain’ their title? Simon Kneller, the current National Championship and who would have come second last year has taken an early stranglehold as we move on to the second event of the season. The next events come in quick succession with Datchet this weekend, closely followed by Bewl, Burnham and Grafham.
There is all to play but who is your money on to become the top seed in the 2013 UKGlobal National League?
Tom Waples
The Flying Fifteen Blog 