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Kingsbury Water Park


1989, the late Dick Medlicott

June

The first regatta of the 2023 started rather chilly with a North Easterly wind across the lake, creating an unwelcome wind tunnel in the pit, luckily this did not last too long and the weather soon warmed up. A big thank you to Andrew from the Kingsbury Club for cutting the grass for us and to Mark for continuing to take fantastic photos.

Everyone got together to set up at the start and we were all ready to start at 10.30am. All those present accepted a proposal put forward by Norman today that we would hold an Annual AGM at the Kingsbury Regatta on August Bank Holiday Sunday. We will incorporate an hour’s lunch break into the regatta and hold the AGM then, last year’s reports and a request for agenda items will be sent out later this month.

Anthony was the first to get a run, unfortunately untimed as the timing equipment was not working, the issue seemed to be with the pole and John Demott kindly loaned us his pole, which rectified the problem for now. Thank you to John, Steve and Anthony for helping with the timing.

Thank you to everyone who has donated on behalf of Dave Scarnell for the Big C Cancer Charity; a total of £100 collected, along with a donation from the club is being forwarded onto the Charity and the condolence card to Dave’s wife Sue.

Round One

A– Rick had a bad launch so didn’t come off the bungee cleanly
A/B – Norman could not start Ron's boat who dropped the back of the boat and filled it with water
A3 – Norman pulled the starting cord out too early so could not get cord back in the time. Mike and Anthony's boats would not start. Mike put it down to lack of practice. Steve Turley had a good run 121.43mph
A2 – Norman had an engine problem so did not run anymore, Rick had a bad launch
S40- Mike did not finish the laps’ Anthony got a good run but was not timed, as the timing did not work
B1 –Angela did not finish the laps
A1E –Angela did not finish the laps as the shaft grub screws came loose
A1– Steve T had a good run 94.00mph, Ron’s propeller was too big so stopped on the launch

Rick Benson A Class Ron Hankins A1 Class Norman Lara

Round Two
A
– Rick had a good run 65.8mph
A3 – no one got a start
A2 –no one ran
S40- Anthony did not finish the laps
A1 – Ron had a good run 83.62mph
A1E-Angela did not finish the laps

Anthony Rose S40 Class Ron Hankins AB/R Class Rick Benson

Round Three
A
– Rick had a slower run as he was trying out a new propeller 51.69mph
A3 – Anthony did not finish the laps
S40- Anthony had a nice run 64.58mph

A very good day and thanks for everyone’s hard work!

July

Rather chilly with a North Easterly wind across the lake, luckily, this did not last too long and the weather soon warmed up. Everyone got together to set up at the start and we were all ready to start at 10.30am. Thanks to Mark for continuing to take fantastic photos including this image below, probably the most amazing hydro photo since the days of film?

Everyone present accepted a proposal put forward by Norman today that we would hold an Annual AGM at the Kingsbury Regatta on August Bank Holiday Sunday. We will incorporate an hour’s lunch break into the regatta and hold the AGM then, last year’s reports and a request for agenda items will be sent out later this month.

Round 1

A Class, Rick Benson had a bad run, the crankshaft broke in two so back to the workshop for him, John had a bad launch
A/B, Ron Hankins could not start the engine
A3, Norman Lara, John Underwoood, Dave Singleton or Antony Rose did not finish the laps, John Hyder had a good run 116.25mph Steve Turley had a good run 122.6mph
A2, John did not finish the laps, Norman had a good run 108.63mph
S40, Mick Rose could not start his engine, Antony had a nice run 61.20mph
A1, Ron, John H could not start their engines, Steve T had a nice run 82.35mph
B1, Both Dave Sheldrake & Dave Singleton had bad launches
B1S, Dave Sh did not finish the laps

Mike Rose John Underwood John Hyder

Round 2

A class Rick did not run so he helped with timing, John had a good run 118.14mph
A/B, Ron had a very good run 135.44mph
A3, No one got a run in this class
A2, No one got a run in this class
S40, No one got a run in this class
A1, Ron got a nice run 82.35mph no one else run
B1, no one got a run in this class
B1S, Dave got a run 94.39mph

Flighty B1 launch Flying tail B1S John DeMott

Round 3

A class,  No one run
A/B,
Ron had a slower run 135.25mph boat is running well
A3, No one got a run in this class
A2, No one got a run in this class
S40, No one got a run in this class
A1, No one got a run in this class
B1,
No one got a run in this class
B1S,
No one got a run in this class

John DeMott in the spray Mighty 30cc S40 at full chat

A very good day and thanks for everyone’s hard work! And Rick learning the timing equipment he got there in the end - thanks mate

August Bank Holiday
St Alban's Speed & International meetings

St Alban's Speed Trophy: Arrived at 9.30am everyone helped to set up including copious umbrellas for the forecast rain. All ready to start at 11am. A heavy downpour prompted an extended lunch break with everyone sheltering under their umbrellas. At the end of the day, Norman announced that the Speed Trophy went to Ron Hankins who achieved 135.21mph - Well Done Ron! 

ROUND ONE
A/B - started and Ron & Tony both had good runs. 
A3 - was next and Dave Singleton and Mike both got runs.
A2 - was next Norman had a good run and Mike did well with his vintage boat. 
B1 - Dave Sheldrake got a reasonable run and in the B1s John U got a good run.
A1 - Steve Turley got a good run, Steve Poyser had a very good run getting his personal best - well done Steve!

Rick Benson A2 & A Classes John DeMott A Class John Underwood

ROUND TWO
A/B - Tony got a good run, unfortunately Ron did not finish the lap.
A3 - Dave Si had a good run.
A2 - Steve P, John U, Norman and Mike all had good runs.
B1 - Angela got a good run despite the timing clock not working at the start of the run, luckily Tony was on hand to effect a speedy repair. 
B1s- Dave Sh did not finish his laps.
A1 - Steve T & Pete got good runs.

Angela Lara keeping score Rick Benson Dave Singleton Picco A3

ROUND THREE
A/B - Ron had an excellent run but Tony did not finish the laps. 
A3 - no one ran.
A2- no one finished
B1 - Pete got a good run, Angela got a very good run 0.1 off the existing record. 
A1 - Pete got a good run.

John DeMott 'Passing Wind' Evening gathering Norman Lara Picco A3

Results:
B1 Class Angela Lara 154.63mph B1S Class John Underwood 111.99mph A1 Class Pete Dirs 120.58mph A2 Class John Underwood 118.11mph
A3 Class Dave Singleton 119.25mph A/BR Class Ron Hankins 135.21mph

Thank-you to everyone for their help and hoping tomorrow will be another good day. 

International Regatta: A grand turnout for the International Regatta 2023. Luckily, the rain held off and there were many spectators. It was lovely to meet Judith from the Kingsbury Club and Andrew of the Kingsbury Club and MPBA Treasurer. Rick also bought his other half Jenny along and it was great to meet her. Everyone helped to set up and we were ready to start by 11am.

ROUND ONE
A - Kicked off the regatta unfortunately no one got a run.
A3 - Both Steve T and David Si got good runs, unfortunately neither Norman, Mike and John H finished their laps.
A2 - Norman, John U and Steve P got good runs but sadly, Rick did not. 
A1 - Unfortunately, no one got a run.
B1 - no one finished a run.
B1S - both Dave Sh and John U got good runs. This was despite John losing his cowling on the run. Dave Si valiantly went into the lake with a long stick to retrieve it and came back with the cowling and waders full of water!

Norman Launching Steve Poyser launching  Pit area

An hour’s break ensued for lunch and the joint Tethered Hydroplane Club & Section AGM - all went well.

ROUND TWO
B1’s - Pete got a good run, Dave Sh did not run and Angela’s tail plane on her B1 broke.
B1S - no one ran
A1 - Steve P got a good run. 
A2 - Both Steve P and Norman got good runs but John U and Rick did not finish.
A3 - Steve T, Dave Si and John H all got good runs. Norman and Mike did not finish.
A - John D, but Rick did not get a run.

John DeMott John Hyder receives Everitt Gold trophy

As the time was getting on, we closed the regatta for training whilst the prizes were sorted out and Rick had a go at getting his A Class going. Prizes and congratulations were given to the following winners:

Class First Second
A Class John DeMott 109.85mph  
A3 Class Dave Singleton 123.64mph Steve Turley 115.95mph
A2 Class John Underwood 118.53mph Steve Poyser 116.64mph
B1 Class Pete Dirs 106.85mph  
B1S Class John Underwood 112.16mph Dave Singleton 90.25mph
A1 Class Steve Poyser 107.67mph  

John Hyder was the presented with the Everett Cup for his long service and commitment to the club! Well Done John!

All had a good day. Thank-you to everyone who helped pack up and a big thank you to Angela and Sue for doing the timekeeping.

October Regatta

A small select turnout for the last Kingsbury Regatta of 2023.

The weather was good to us and there was no sign of wind. A little rain in the afternoon but it did not affect the lake too much. 

Rick had a good run with his A class but the engine seized up again so it’s off to the workshop for him!

Everyone had nice runs especially the A3’s although unfortunately John U lost the skeg off his A2 so back to the workshop for him too!

It was good to see Jonathon Drinkwater who bought along some of his late father’s (Mike Drinkwater) boats as a gift for Norman.

Everyone helped with the setting up and putting away. We look forward to being back at Kingsbury in June 2024 - thanks for everyone’s support.

A very good day and thanks for everyone’s hard work!

Perfect water Dave Singleton B1 A3 Steve Turley A1 A3 Rick Benson A
Rick and Dave Steve's A3 Dave Sheldrake looks on

Leading Speeds B1S Norman Lara 91.46mph A1 Steve Turley 99.39mph A2 Norman Lara 95.98mph A3 Steve Turley 121.47mph A Rick Benson 57.32mph

©copyrightOTW/NormanLara/MarkHankins2023