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2003 Topper Match Racing Finals

There was some exciting racing in the finals, with really first class boat handling on display. Among the most dramatic matches were the Tozer/McVeigh semin final, and the final. The Tozer/McVeigh Semi final saw Tozer using every trick he could manage to try and hold off the lighter and faster McVeigh downwind, and failing in the second race when McVeigh pulled off a particularly neat passing move, using his speed to gain an overlap and force Tozer way above the leeward mark, and then timing the gybe back perfectly so Tozer could only follow to the finish.

The final could be described as the jailer versus the escapologist. Time after time Tozer seemed to have Valentine locked away, only for Valentine to wriggle out of the handcuffs and make good his escape. In the end Tozer won two starts, Valentine one with one pretty much even. Up the first legs the advantage seesawed one way or the other as each competitor tried to get the best compromise between advantage in the light shifty breeze and tactical position against their opponent. Valentine prevailed in the 4th race to take the title of Topper Match Racing Champion 2003 to sit next to the Fleet Racing Champion's Trophy.

Eliminators

Quarter Finals

Semi Finals

Final

Name

Sail No

Result (W)

Name

Sail No

Result (W)

Name

Sail No

Result (W)

Valentine, Richard

44839

W

v

Valentine, Richard

44839

2

Hilton, Sean

44089

W

v

Hilton, Sean

44089

L

Palmer, Ben

44584

L

v

Valentine, Richard

44839

3

Lucas, James

42363

W

v

Lucas, James

42363

0

Adams, Stuart

44040

L

Fox, Adam

44482

L

v

Tozer, Sam

44104

2

Tozer, Sam

44104

W

v

Tozer, Sam

44104

W

Cooper, Alex

44375

L

v

Tozer, Sam

44104

1

McVeigh, Louis

44350

W

v

McVeigh, Louis

44350

1

Rome, Graham

41006

L