Sports Report - W/E 21st & 22nd June

The 10th Hanseatic Festival of Watersports, Snettisham Sailing Club host major event, Bates starts his journey to make The Open, a costly hole in one at charity event and another busy weekend for local cricket clubs.

Water Sports

The Hanseatic Festival of Watersports celebrated their 10th Anniversary over the weekend with high level powerboat, water ski and jet ski racing on display. Participants travelled from across Europe and further to take part in what proved to be the hottest day of the year so far.

Once again, it was Australian, Cameron Nix, who won the flagship F1 Water Ski Gold Trophy along with Belgian driver, Nico Bertels. Making it a good weekend for the Australians, current world champion, Nellie McMillan, won the flagship Ladies event, whilst local racer, Jordan Allen, won the Ladies Open. On Day Two, local youngsters, Darcy Manchett (U15’s) and Luca Manchett (U12’s), continued their good start to the season winning in their respective age categories.

Thousands of people lined the quayside to take in the high octane action whilst enjoying the many refreshment marquees, eateries and bars along the river front. A flyover by a Lancaster bomber took place on Saturday afternoon, with a concert and fireworks in the evening.

A crash late on the final day brought the event to an early close. The Air Ambulance was called to attend after an 90mph smash as a racer hit the River Great Ouse face first after trying to adjust one of his water skis. Fortunately, the rescue boat was straight on the scene and managed to rescue him moments later as he floated face down. The racer was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital with injuries that Norfolk Constabulary described as life threatening.

Snettisham Sailing Club held a major sailing event over the weekend, hosting the Eastern Area Championships. Local brother and sister duo, Toby and Faith Turner, performed admirably, with the youngsters finishing 2nd and 5th overall respectively, with Faith the leading female. It has been a busy couple of weeks for the pair, as they have just returned from Draycote Water Sailing Club in the Midlands Area Championships, where Toby won the coveted title and Faith came 4th.

Faith Turner

Toby Turner

Golf

Local Heacham Manor golf professional, Warren Bates (25), came 9th in the latest Clutch Pro Tour tournament last week. A good turn in form as he begins the long path to the holy grail of golf, aiming to win a place at the 153rd Open, which takes place at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland from 17th July. 

His first qualifying event takes place at Gog Magog Golf Club near Cambridge today (Monday) where a top ten finish should be enough to put him through to one of five final qualifying events next week. Whilst qualification for the world’s oldest and most famous golfing event is a big ask, last week’s performance means he can go into the event with confidence.

Over at Hunstanton Golf Club, some 45 teams of four took part in a special charity golf day on Friday, 20th June in aid of the RNLI.

And while proceeds from the day are still being counted, it proved to be an expensive day for Julia West after achieving a hole in one on the 14th hole - for golfing tradition has it those who land the ball in the hole with their first drive must buy the entire bar a drink! “It’s the first one I've ever had and it's going to cost me a fortune”, said a shell-shocked Julia.

Despite the costly end to the day Julia, whose husband David is a member of the Hunstanton and West Norfolk RNLI Guild, said, “As a team, we had a great round of golf. There was lots of money raised for the RNLI and a fun, happy day for everyone”.

Event organiser David Umbers, who is both a golfer and a member of the guild, said, “We've had 45 teams and the tee was full from 7.30am until 2.30pm. It's a great cause without a doubt and I think people have enjoyed it in previous years. Judging by the generosity of people who've come, they're very happy to support the RNLI”.

Chris White, general manager at Hunstanton Golf Club, said: 'We've been doing it for a number of years now, as long as I've been here. The club embraces it, the RNLI has always been the club charity, we just hope we never need it.'

The event was started by Ed Gifford, a former chairman, who said, “We started it 12 or 13 years ago and we've raised a lot for the RNLI since then. We raised just under £8,000 the first year and it's just grown and grown, it must have raised around £150,000 by now”. Roll on next year.

Cricket 

Sandringham & Dersingham Cricket Club continue to defy the odds after last season’s promotion, sitting fourth in Division Two of the Norfolk Cricket Alliance League, after a comfortable 7 wicket win at Bradenham. Callum Lee and Chris Smith hat-tricks and a half century from Aaron Nicol seeing them chase down 159 with ease. The 2nds were beaten by Brisley & North Elsham despite James Hurst’s four wicket haul.

In the same division, pre-season favourites Bircham’s luck certainly seems to have deserted them as they yet again lost a tight affair, losing by just 22 runs at home to Gt. Witchingham, with hat-tricks for Tom King and Tom Hill proving in vain. To cap a bad day for the club, the 2nds were comprehensively beaten at Saham Toney by 223 runs.

In Division Four, Snettisham’s run of good form continues as they won by 132 runs against bottom side Old Buckenham 2nds. Half centuries for Jonny Forder and Jack Cotton and four wickets for Danny Arnold moving the club up to 3rd. The 2nds also had a convincing 144 run win at New Buckenham, with Sachin Rathnayake’s five wicket haul stealing the limelight.

Thornham have stopped the rot with a key 64 run win at home to Horsford 3rds. A solid all round team batting effort and four wickets for Tom Wallace re-igniting their promotion challenge. The 2nds made it a successful day for the local club, as they won a tense encounter by just 2 wickets. Five wickets for Bradley Williams and a half century for Matt Rose the pick of the stats.