Dramatic finish to IFDS Disabled Sailing Worlds

by Courtesy ISAF on 6 Sep 2005 A dramatic final race in Sønderborg, Denmark ended with Britain’s John Robertson/Hannah Stodel/Stephen Thomas claiming the 2005 IFDS Disabled Sailing Championship title in the three-person keelboat.

Meanwhile, Paralympic gold medallist, Damien Seguin (FRA), sat out the last day in the single-person keelboat, having secured victory with another dominant display on Saturday.

Robertson, Stodel and Thomas went in to the final race in the three-person keelboat Sonar knowing they would have to finish at least two places above the overnight leaders Jostein Stordahl/Aleksander Wang-Hansen/Per Eugen Kristiansen (NOR), to claim the gold medal.

Behind the leading pair the battle for the final podium position was also set for a tight finish with Jens Kroker/Holger Schönenberg/Tobias Schuetz (GER) just four points ahead of Israel’s Paralympic Champions Dror Cohen/Efrati Arnon/Benny Vexler.

It was another Israeli team, Tzur Avi/Pertzman Baruch/Dahan Shiomo, who took victory in the final race, their second bullet in two days securing them fifth position overall. Robertson/Stodel/Thomas put the pressure on the leaders by coming in second and when Cohen/Arnon/Vexler crossed the line in third, the gold medal for Britain was secured.

Kroker/Schönenberg/Schuetz came in fourth to take the bronze medal, whilst Stordahl/Wang-Hansen/ Kristiansen eventually crossing the line in eighth position. Despite a disappointing couple of days at the end of the series the Norwegian team can reflect on a very successful Championship where they have improved greatly on the eleventh position they finished at the Paralympics in Athens.

Seguin had already claimed the single-person keelboat title in the 2.4 Metre on Saturday and with six bullets and two second places in nine races, the Frenchman was undisputedly the number one sailor in Sønderborg.

With the top spot decided the final race became a battle for silver between Kieler Woche winner and past World Champion Heiko Kröger (GER) and Paralympic bronze medallist, Thierry Schmitter (NED). Kröger used all his experience and match raced Schmitter to the finish with the pair eventually coming in 23 and 21 respectively and Kröger taking the silver medal.

Nick Scandone (USA) completed a great couple of days to collect his second bullet of the Championship whilst Helena Lucas (GBR) took second place and fourth overall, with Megan Pascoe (GBR) seventh to just hold off Scandone and hang on to fifth place overall.

After the success of the Championship in Denmark, all eyes turn to Perth, Australia where the 2006 Worlds, the first of the qualification regattas for the 2008 Paralympic Games, is set to take place in January next year.

2.4 Metre Top Ten Results:

1. FRA Damien SEGUIN 10

2. GER Heiko KRÖGER 26

3. NED Thierry SCHMITTER 29

4. GBR Helena LUCAS 36

5. GBR Megan PASCOE 53

6. USA Nick SCANDONE 54

7. NED Ruud VAN HOLSTEIJN 63

8. DEN Jens ALS ANDERSEN 65

9. CAN Paul TINGLEY 67

10. NOR Bjørnar ERIKSTAD 72


Sonar Top Ten Results:

1. GBR John ROBERTSON/Hannah STODEL/Stephen THOMAS 18

2. NOR Jostein STORDAHL/Aleksander WANG-HANSEN/Per EUGEN KRISTIANSEN 23

3. GER Jens KROKER/Holger SCHÖNENBERG/Tobias SCHUETZ 26

4. ISR Dror COHEN/Efrati ARNON/Benny VEXLER 29

5. ISR Tzur AVI/Pertzman BARUCH/Dahan SHIOMO 40

6. IRL John C. TWOMEY/Brian O'MAHONY/Anthony HEGARTY 46

7. GER Olfa JAKOBS/Hans-Peter REICHL/Peter MÜNTER 48

8. IRL Paul MCCARTHY/Paul RYAN/Chris TOMAS 58

9. CAN Ken KELLY/Brian MACKIE/Don TERLSON 61

10. ESP Enrique VIVES/Jose MARIA LASTRA/Francisco PEREZ 72

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