Dittons Skiff & Punting Club

Punt / punt / n. a long narrow flat-bottomed boat of wood, square at both ends, used mainly for pleasure on rivers; propelled using a long pole by one person (single), or two (doubles) when two punters are punting together in the same Punt.

DITTONS DO THE DOUBLE

The Thames Punting Club (T.P.C.) has informed me that Dittons Skiff and Punting Club have won the Moris Trophy for Punting this year. For those of you who do not know what this is, it is the Punting version of the Orminstion.

So it looks like the Punters have had a successful year as well. As well as Richard Carless winning the Amateur Championship, I am also pleased to let you know, that Mike Hart has won the T.P.C. Pardoe Cup (punter who has won the most points) this year, congratulations to both of you.

So I think this year, on a whole, it has been very successful year for both Punting and Skiffing at Dittons – lets keep it up!

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE.

Thames Punting Club Regatta (PUNTING CHAMPS) - Sunday 6th August, 2005 Bray Reach - Maidenhead

It was the 121st season for the Punting Championships with glorious weather (not to hot as in previous years) and the racing was as competitive as ever - we even had a few swimmers. The best race of the day was The Mixed Championship between TPC & TVSC, both crews were level all the way (see results for final verdict).

Punters representing Dittons, were the usual suspects:- Richard Carless, John Douglass, Mike Hart, Dan Teuten, Sandy Nairne, Peter Williams and Sarah Poole. The competitors were represented by most clubs, DSPC, TVSC, WSPC, WBC and Westminster School, sadly no Skiff Club - maybe next. Results at the bottom of this article.

Unfortunately Dittons only winners this year were; Richard Carless, winning the Amateur Championship and Peter Williams who won the Classified and Drawn with Tony Cross of WSPC. Congr atulations to both on their efforts and commiseration's to those that did not quite make it this year - maybe we'll be more successful next year!

This year we had members of the Press who came along to see what it was all about. I have attached a copy of the article, which was featured in The Times on Tuesday 8th August 2005 (interesting read - original on Punting Board). We also had a Russian Journalist (invited by Sandy Nairne) who is very eager on becoming a member and a camera crew, who were filming the racing and interviewing competitors and TPC officials.

I must stress that even though there was more support than last year (thanks to those who came along - your shouts were appreciated); this sport will die if we do not do more. This regatta is situated at a fantastic part of the river and it is a shame that the sport of punting is so poorly supported, from across all of the clubs. WE MUST DO MORE!

Rem inder: Punting training night is still going strong at 7pm on Monday nights and all are welcome to come and have a go.

The Results of the Punting Championships are as follows: -

Amateur Championship - R Carless (DSPC) - 6.47 2 1/2L

Ladies Amateur Championship - K Ball (TVSC) - 6.00 4L

Ladies Double Championship - J Graham/S Mepham (TVSC) - 6.12 E

Gentlemen's Double Championship - B Madmen/ R Floate (TPC) - 4.45 4L

Mixed Double Championship - J Graham/N Mepham (TVSC) - 5.17 1ft

Junior Championship - J Moseley (Westminster School) - 5.53 E

Gentlemen's Senior - B Maidment (TVSC) - 4.50 E

Gentlemen's Junior - M Goudge (WSPC) NTT 2L Gentlemen's Veteran Double Handicap - M Gordon/J Chew - 5.16 3/4L

Gentlemen's Handicap (2fts) - M Gordon (WBC) - 5.57 1 1/2L

Gentlemen's Junior-Senior (Best Boats) - M Chamberlain (WBC) - 5.29 E

Mixed Double Classified & Drawn - K Dargue/K Ball (TVS C) - 5.45 E

Men's Double Classified & Drawn - A Cross (WSPC)/P Williams (DSPC) - 5.15 E

Dittons have a very active punting section. One of the oldest forms of river transportation - 'the art of propelling a craft with a stick or pole'. Forget those balmy summers on the river at Oxford or Cambridge, come down to Dittons and have a go in a racing punt.

PUNTING CHAMPS - Sunday 7th August, 2005 The setting was glorious, weather was fine, the water was good and the racing was as competitive as ever. Punters representing Dittons were Mike Hart, Dan Teuten, Sandy Nairne, Peter Williams and Sarah Poole. Disappointingly and with some sadness, there was far less support than in previous years, but the volume of shouting and support was still considerable from the competitors of all clubs and those who did make the effort to be there and give those taking part some well deserved encouragement.

Unfortunately Ditton's only winners this year were; Sandy Nairne who won the Gentlemen's Handicap 2ft and Mike Hart was awarded the Pardo cup for the most wins last season. Congratulations to both on their efforts and commiserations to those that did not quite make it this year - maybe we'll be successful next year!

It is a great shame that at this event and outstanding venue that the sport of punting is so poorly supported. From across all of the clubs that participated this year the races were made up of a handful of competitors entering every single event they were eligible for, with some competitors racing in consecutive events as there were insufficient races to give them a break.

This year in particular some of the 'junior (u15), Junior and junior/senior' levels of the sport lacked any participants what so ever, in either ladies or gentlemen classes. Punting, like skiffing is a great river tradition and one Dittons is proud of but it needs your support to continue this.

Reminder : Punting training night is still going strong at 7pm on Monday nights and all are welcome to come and have a go.

Thanks

Sarah

Spear Fishing?
Giving it a good shove	Perfect symmetry
Rounding the peck	Shoving off again

To contact the Vice Captain - Punting, please Click Here