WARM sunshine and a steady breeze blowing straight up the river proved wonderful conditions for the 14 boats on the water at the Evesham club last Sunday.

The first race was a round of the Small Craft Series and the second the final event in the Junior and Novice Trophies.

With a massed line leaving little room for manoeuvre, the start was greeted with enthusiasm as boats of all shapes and sizes surged away downstream with the colour of their sails reflecting off the river.

After turning just above the weir, there was a great charge upstream with the lead being shared by half-a-dozen boats.

Ian Haywood's British Moth went over when trying to turn with too much speed, while John O'Brian enjoyed a similar watery end leaving four boats out in front.

Simon and Zoe Styles in their Lark, Adam Styles sailing a Lightening alongside the Moth of John Pickford and Roger Middleton's Comet.

This quartet were locked together scything through the water each taking the lead in turn but someone had to be first over the line and it was Pickford who took that honour narrowly ahead of Middleton, Adam Style and Simon and Zoe.

The second race was away in fine style with crews of all ages striving to win their first series and trophy.

Adam Styles displayed an ability in the blustery conditions far above his tender years and, having just finished third in the senior event in front of his father, was in no mood to surrender victory in the final event.

Tony Jacks and Stuart Bonham tried hard but had to settle for second and third places respectively.