- 58 crew finished this years Willis Axa Sark to Jersey Rowing Race in sweltering heat
- 49th race in series proves to be a memorable one for Jersey entries
- Black Magic wins the day in dramatic race
- See the full results below
THE 49th running of the Channel Islands’ blue riband rowing event, the Bonne Nuit Boat Owners Association’s Sark to Jersey, was a punishing affair for the 58 entries on Saturday – but also a memorable one.
Held in sweltering conditions, the classic race from Dixcart Bay, Sark, to Bonne Nuit Bay was not for the faint-hearted as lungs, sinews and mental strength were tested to the full in choppy water up to the Paternosters, as well as in some thrillingly close finishes.
Guernsey won the overall honours, taking the team trophy by 71 points to 64, but Jersey probably won more silverware, and certainly the bigger ones, of an event sponsored by Willis and AXA.
It was not a day for records, but the waiting crowds at Bonne Nuit were not short-changed for drama with collisions and a number of near misses to go alongside a real race for the overall prize and the men’s singles, in particular.
Two of Jersey’s record-breaking winners from last year, Stephen Reed and Simon du Feu, triumphed again as their new coxed-fours boat, Black Magic, was first to cross the line, but not that far ahead of redoubtable Guernsey pairs Joe Paul and Paul Isaacs.
Reed, joined by William Le Quélenec, Andy Bowman and cox Cayenne ‘Pepper’ Le Boutillier, was glad to see the finish, saying: ‘It was tough, stressful, like it always is. The wind was going south west, so it was wind against tide and no chance of a record time.
‘I turned and went under; I unstrapped my feet, turned the boat back over, jumped back up and then fell out the other side . . . I’m quite surprised I won after all that’
Singles winner James Salkeld said: ‘The crew was put together at the start of the year, but we’ve been going really well all season. Looking at the Guernsey fours they didn’t seem as strong this year – but fair play to the pairs of Joe Paul and Paul Isaacs, they really pushed us all the way to the finish.
‘There were times they were a little further east than us, on a better course, but we just played it safe off them. As soon as we turned into the Paternosters we were in the same water, so we pulled away a little. We had a great course from the cox, Pepper, so all good – let’s go for the hat-trick next year.’
The Guernsey pairs, who have previously achieved the rare feat of winning the overall race, concurred it had been a tough old battle on the dog–leg course, which leads from Dicart to the Paternosters before an easterly turn towards Bonne Nuit. ‘Conditions were certainly tough today,’ said Issacs, adding: ‘I’m perhaps getting too old for this’ but still promising to return for the event’s golden anniversary next year. Guernsey’s strong showing in the pairs had a lot to do with their winning the overall trophy – four of the first five pairs home were Sarnians.
Another record-breaker with the Logicallis fours last year, James Salkeld, had a strong claim for the most eventful crossing of the day, not just because he held off Tom de Kooker to win the men’s title in his first crack at a Sark singles (and, in sea rowing terms, by a photo-finish). Salkeld had actually achieved a clear lead before twice leaving his Logicallis boat for a dip in the water, but by the time he was ready to row again, he trailed the Sarnian de Kooker. A frantic dash to regain the lead led to a near collision with his rival, and then it was a lung-bursting haul right to the line.
Said Salkeld: ‘First time in the singles this year, so it was a much bigger challenge; you’ve got to do your compass course and just keep going as hard as you can.
‘. . . fair play to the pairs of Joe Paul and Paul Isaacs, they really pushed us all the way to the finish’
Stephen Reed of winning Jersey quad Black Magic commented: ‘I never expected such a close finish … I had a big lead, but came out of the boat just before Cheval Rock – I turned and the boat went under; I unstrapped my feet, turned the boat back over, jumped back up and then fell out the other side! That’s why it was neck-and-neck at the finish – and I’m quite surprised I won after all that.
When asked what his plans for next year would be, singles or fours, he barely hesitated: ‘Seeing as it’s the 50th, definitely the fours!’
Jersey won the mixed quads with The Royal British Legion Poppy crew (Clive Russell, Anna Van Oort, Pete Culnane, Tracy Mourant and cox AndreaWilson) in ‘viking mode’ to beat a lot of men’s quads across the line. Said a delighted Mourant: ‘We were so determined this year – several of the crew lost by just 12 seconds last year, but we worked really hard on staying on course this time. Most of us are in our mid-forties or fifties, so we’re really pleased to get some silverware.’
Jersey also had joy in the ladies singles – and it was, once again, a tremendous story. Enya Satchwell, 16-year-old Les Quennevais pupil and product of the Moore Stephen’s Youth Academy put in a tremendous debut effort to take the title – this really is a star of the future. She even had competition from her mum Rosemary, who also finished the demanding course.
The first all-ladies crew to exit the water were the Sarnian fours Guernsey Electrix Ladies, Kirsty Boazman, Catherine Peet, Jess Storey, Lisa Mace and cox Lloyd Le Page. Said Boazman:
Second ladies home were the Jersey Quilter Cheviot Blues coxed four of Harriet Safe, Danielle Cox, Michelle Tring, Nathalie Le Barz and Jeanette Crowder.
(Place, Bib, Name, Class Crew, Time)
1. 152 Jersey Black Magic Mens Quad (sliding) Reed, Le Quelenec, De Feu, Bowman, Le Boutillier 02:01:31.4 00:00:00.0
2. 48 Guernsey Canaccord Genuity Mens Pair (sliding) Isaacs, Paul 02:02:42.6 00:01:11.2
3. 44 Guernsey Venture Garage Mens Pair (sliding) Johns, Coquelin 02:05:59.0 00:04:27.6
4. 14 Guernsey Siteweld Ltd Slumdogs Mens Quad (sliding) Martel, Pearson, Brown, Ward, Rumens 02:07:54.6 00:06:23.2
5. 256 France Bdm C-Craft Mens Pair (sliding) Ledard, Yoann 02:08:22.2 00:06:50.8
6. 30 Guernsey Fnb Mens Pair (sliding) Montague, Marley 02:08:53.4 00:07:22.0
7. 122 Jersey Catch 22 Mens Pair (sliding) Rive, Nevitt 02:09:08.3 00:07:36.9
8. 12 Jersey Marinas Mens Pair (sliding) Cassin R, Cassin L 02:10:49.5 00:09:18.1
9. 27 Guernsey Le Mont Saint Garage Ltd Mens Men’s Quad (sliding) Toussaint, Nicolle, Van Leuven, Beausire, Lai 02:11:24.0 00:09:52.6
10. 111 Jersey Rogue Mens Quad (sliding) Le Main, Davies, Richford, Le Bailly, Powell 02:11:32.8 00:10:01.4
11. 29 Jersey Pension Time Mens Quad (sliding) Ramsden, du Heaume, Clinton, Young, Tréhorel 02:13:04.3 00:11:32.9
12. 33 Jersey Hatstone Lawyers Mens Quad (sliding) Adu, Rioda, Wright, Rondel, Rogers 02:14:56.6 00:13:25.2
13. 342 France Cambc Safran Mens Quad (sliding) Dubois, Mendret, Lapere, Giot, Beaunieux 02:16:03.4 00:14:32.0
14. 24 Guernsey Geomarine Mens Quad (sliding) Ogier, Mahy, Todd, de Kooker, Will 02:16:40.7 00:15:09.3
15. 40 Guernsey Duquemin & Gill Mens Pair (sliding) Duquemin, Gill 02:19:24.1 00:17:52.7
16. 54 Jersey Dominion Mens Quad (sliding) Salkeld, Bradbury M, Greaves, Bradbury M 02:20:03.8 00:18:32.4
17. 95 Jersey Victor Mens Quad (sliding) Allan, Broughton, Curzons, Pirouet, Egre 02:20:09.2 00:18:37.8
18. 15 Jersey Logicallis Mens Single (sliding) Salkeld 02:20:39.3 00:19:07.9
19. 26 Guernsey G-Met Ltd Mens Single (sliding) de Kooker 02:20:45.9 00:19:14.5
20. 32 Guernsey Mens Single (sliding) 02:21:16.0 00:19:44.6
21. 22 Guernsey G-Met Ltd Guernsey Metals Mens Pair (sliding) Pipe, Van Katwyk 02:21:31.6 00:20:00.2
22. 124 Jersey Dental Care Mens Pair (sliding) Mare, Rolfe 02:21:54.9 00:20:23.5
23 38 Guernsey Electrix Ltd Ladies Ladies Quad (sliding) Boazman, Peet, Storey, Mace, Le Page 02:22:09.9 00:20:38.5
24. 70 Jersey The Royal British Legion Poppy Mixed Quad (sliding) Russell, Van Oort, Culnane, Mourant, Wilson 02:22:25.4 00:20:54.0
25. 61 Jersey Logicallis X 4 Mens Quad (sliding) Haywood, Harrison, Sutherland, Hinks, Galluzzi 02:22:31.5 00:21:00.1
26. 116 Jersey Mourant Ozannes Invictus Mens Quad (sliding) Forbester, Carpenter, Wright, King, Mullins 02:22:54.3 00:21:22.9
27. 96 Jersey Aquadisiacs Mixed Quad (sliding) Vautier S, Richardson, Hidrio, Mayo, Vautier C 02:23:02.4 00:21:31.0
28. 50 Guersney Ravenscroft Ravenscroft Mens Quad (sliding) Coulter, Perrio, Windsor, Bousfield, Meader 02:23:12.6 00:21:41.2
29. 93 Jersey Just Do It Mixed Quad (sliding) Angell, Bolan, Hullah- Brown, Butel, Monins 02:24:10.8 00:22:39.4
30. 87 Jersey Quilter Cheviot Blues Ladies Quad (sliding) Safe, Cox, Tring, Le Barz, Crowder 02:25:40.8 00:24:09.4
31. 41 Guernsey Cherry Godfrey Mixed Pair (sliding) Rang, Mclean 02:26:59.4 00:25:28.0
32. 74 Guernsey Sarnia Vikings Mixed Quad (sliding) Bartlett, Vavere, Dean, Alcoba-Segura, Cook 02:27:16.0 00:25:44.6
33. 16 Guernsey Le Mont Saint Garage Ltd Ladies Ladies Pair (sliding) Beausire, Keeping 02:28:10.7 00:26:39.3
34. 75 Guernsey Browns Advocates Mixed Quad (sliding) McKee, Francart, Brown, Warburton, Ward 02:29:30.9 00:27:59.5
35. 7 Jersey Have A Go Doge Mens Pair (sliding) Rouille, Coombes 02:29:51.0 00:28:19.6
36. 20 Jersey Zebbeedee Mens Single (sliding) Rouille 02:30:21.0 00:28:49.6
37. 153 Jersey Paul Allman The Bettys Ladies Quad (sliding) Page, McClure, Henderson, Tidy, Cubbon 02:30:48.9 00:29:17.5
38. 1 Guernsey Development Double Mens Pair (sliding) Gregory-Haines M, Gregory-Haines J 02:32:37.7 00:31:06.3
39. 36 Guernsey Mourant Ozannes Ladies Pair (sliding) Elmy, Ozanne, 02:33:21.9 00:31:50.5
40. 21 Guernsey Sarnia Estate Agents Mens Pair (sliding) Martel, Teed 02:34:43.2 00:33:11.8
41. 59 Guernsey The 59ers Mixed Quad (sliding) Novice Dorey, Blondel, Ahne, Froome, Williams 02:35:38.2 00:34:06.8
42. 62 Jersey The Salty Swallow Ladies Pair (sliding) Le Quelenec, Egre 02:36:24.7 00:34:53.3
43. 68 Jersey Mens Pair (sliding) Dudes, Le Masurier 02:37:06.0 00:35:34.6
44. 113 Jersey Liquid Addiction Ladies Pair (sliding) Richardson, Mccormack 02:37:27.9 00:35:56.5
45. 64 Jersey Moore Stephens Youth Academy X 2 Mens Pair (sliding) Youth Smithurst, Brett 02:37:49.1 00:36:17.7
46. 11 Jersey Moore Stephens Youth Academy Ladies Single (sliding) Youth Satchwell E 02:38:16.9 00:36:45.5
47. 144 Jersey Sea Sorcerer Ladies Pair (sliding) Du Heaume, Smithurst 02:43:35.8 00:42:04.4
48. 102 Jersey Roe V Wade Mens Quad (sliding) Novice Robinson, English, Giovannoni, Herold-Howes, Robinson 02:44:58.2 00:43:26.8
49. 18 Jersey The Good, Bad & The Ugly Ladies Pair (sliding) Pacekajute, Le Cheminant 02:47:33.5 00:46:02.1
50. 2 Jersey Old Gits Rule Mens Single (fixed) Hidrio 02:48:19.2 00:46:47.8
51. 73 Jersey Aztec Mens Quad (sliding) Willis M, Troy, Hart, Johnson, Willis J 02:48:39.9 00:47:08.5
52. 56 Jersey Maid Tuin Mens Quad (fixed) Montgomery, Shambrook, Kempster, Troy, Achler 02:49:32.0 00:48:00.6
53. 80 Guernsey Saffrey Champness Ladies Quad (sliding) Berryman, Dowding, Karkadova, Mauger, Vaudin 02:54:21.0 00:52:49.6
54. 77 Jersey Numa Mens Single (sliding) Brown 02:56:00.8 00:54:29.4
55. 52 Guernsey Collas Crill Girls Ladies Quad (sliding) Ritchie, Nin, Morris, Le Moigne, Bichard, Hill 02:58:48.6 00:57:17.2
56. 101 Jersey Mercury Mixed Quad (sliding) Novice Langlois, Briggs, Smith, Gorin, Vincent 03:05:02.9 01:03:31.5
57. 104 Jersey Misfits Mixed Quad (sliding) Novice Holmshaw, Jones, Ball, Watson, De Louche 03:06:54.4 01:05:23.0
58. 150 Jersey Sassy Ladies Single (sliding) Satchwell R 03:14:58.8 01:13:27.4
