{"id":8758,"date":"2026-04-07T18:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T18:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/8758\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T18:36:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T18:36:10","slug":"2026-uk-iom-national-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/8758\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 UK IOM National Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/p>\n

2026 UK IOM National Championship – Datchet Delivers a True Test Ahead of the Worlds
\n by Nigel Barrow 7 Apr 11:19 PDT
\n 3-6 April 2026<\/p>\n


\n 2026 IOM UK Nationals at Datchet – David Lindsay and Craig Richards launching in rough conditions \u00a9 Nigel Barrow<\/p>\n

\"Henri-Lloyd
<\/a>\"Colligo
<\/a><\/p>\n


\nThe 2026 UK IOM National Championships at Datchet Water Sailing Club proved to be far more than a domestic title fight. \n<\/p>\n


\nWith the venue set to host the IOM World Championships in May, this event became a full scale operational rehearsal\u2014testing race management, logistics, and the unique challenges of running major radio sailing competition on one of the UK’s largest inland waters. \n<\/p>\n


\nA Venue That Demands More \n<\/p>\n


\nUnlike many model yachting venues where racing can be run from a single shoreline base, Datchet requires a multi site approach. Three separate course areas were prepared: one in front of the clubhouse, one to the east, and one on the north bank. Volunteers and competitors logged more than 16,000 steps per day, moving equipment, laying marks, and repositioning RIBs and of course walking the course. \n<\/p>\n


\nThe scale of the ground tackle alone was remarkable. With depths ranging from 10 to 25 metres, nearly one kilometre of rope was prepared, along with new marks and heavy tackle for three full courses. Much of this work fell to Hugh McAdoo and Event Organiser Phil Holliday, who also oversaw campsite preparation, power distribution, Portaloos, site clearance, and MYA branding. \n<\/p>\n

The race team\u2014led by Race Officer Peter Baldwin, with support from Wayne Stobbs and MYA President Derek Priestley\u2014faced the constant challenge of selecting the right course area as the wind shifted. The diligent finishing team was Sharon Plested, Jen Hand and Min Edwards. Judith Baldwin and Jim La Roche managed the Fleetboard along with the additional tricky job of herding observers for each race. Allocating observers to each race on the Fleetboard was one thing, getting observers to the start area proved to be an entirely different issue. Richard Jones, kept the results flowing smoothly along with David Adam, Howard Shawyer and Mike Beckett.<\/p>\n


\nOn the water the boats for course setting(mark laying) and rescue were manned by Paul Kimmens and Hugh McAdoo and crewed by John Arundal and Rob Vice. \n<\/p>\n


\nIn the clubhouse, food and drinks including an excellent dinner on Sunday night was managed by Keith Burwood with assistants Keira, Jessica and Jo on Sat\/Sun\/Mon respectively. Separate special meals were prepared for a range of special dietary requirements (On of the competitors mentioned it was the best attention to her dietary needs that she had ever come across). \n<\/p>\n


\nFriday: Inspection and Practice \n<\/p>\n


\nCompetitors arrived throughout Friday for equipment inspection. Hugh McAdoo built a special jig for the worlds to sit on his recently calibrated scales, quickly weighing hulls, bulbs, fins, and rigs with the heaviest battery installed. Once passed, sailors took advantage of a lively 15-20 mph breeze\u2014ideal B rig weather\u2014to tune up ahead of racing. \n<\/p>\n


\nSaturday: Storm Dave Arrives \n<\/p>\n


\nSaturday began quietly with A rigs dominant, but as Storm Dave built, the fleet cycled through B and eventually C rigs. Datchet’s trademark chop made for exhilarating downwind surfing and challenging starts, but the fleet handled the conditions well. \n<\/p>\n


\nSix races were completed, with seeding race wins going to Craig Richards, Rob McIntosh, and Pete Walters. Visiting Americans Peter Feldman and Mark Gollison immediately showed their pace. \n<\/p>\n


\nAfter Day 1, the leaderboard stood: \n<\/p>\n


\n1. Peter Stollery

\n2. Graham Elliott

\n3. Craig Richards

\n4. Mark Gollison

\n5. Rob Walsh

\n6. Rob Dyer \n<\/p>\n


\nCompetitors and volunteers retired exhausted to the clubhouse after a demanding opening day. \n<\/p>\n


\nSunday: Delays and Difficult Decisions \n<\/p>\n


\nA night of heavy wind gave way to a morning of A rigs, but the fleet soon returned to B and the smallest C rigs as the breeze strengthened. Frequent wind shifts, protests, and the need to accommodate returning club boats to the jetty caused significant delays. A lunch break further compressed the schedule, and the final A heat of Race 10 could not be started before the time limit expired. \n<\/p>\n


\nThe day ended with an excellent meal in the clubhouse, giving sailors a welcome chance to regroup and sample local beverages. \n<\/p>\n


\nMonday: A Final Push \n<\/p>\n


\nMonday dawned calm, but by mid morning a steady breeze allowed racing to resume on a single course area\u2014an enormous relief for the race team. Five races were completed using A rigs, though the shifting breeze produced wildly inconsistent results across the fleet. \n<\/p>\n


\nEven overall leader Peter Stollery posted an uncharacteristic run of 10, 9, 15, 4 in the final four races but still won by 27 points over second place. Peter also won the David Perkins trophy which is the award for outstanding sportsmanship. As well as winning overall, Peter sat on protest committees, regularly helped other competitors as well as being a sage to the race team and organisers. \n<\/p>\n


\nAndrea Roberts collected the prize for the first lady and Jonathan Neale won the Vulturesoft Novice Trophy for the highest placed competitor in their first Nationals. \n<\/p>\n


\nThe standout performance of the last day came from the author, who climbed from 21st on Saturday to 11th overall with final four results of 15, 6, 4, 2, securing the Veterans Trophy as the top helm over 70. \n<\/p>\n


\nFinal Results: Britpop Still Reigns \n<\/p>\n


\nDespite pressure from both domestic and international challengers, Peter Stollery secured his third UK IOM National Championship, sailing one of the original 2011 Britpops\u2014a design that continues to dominate elite IOM competition. All three of the original Britpops have won the UK National Championships. \n<\/p>\n


\nOverall Results: (top ten) \n<\/p>\n


\n1. Peter Stollery – Britpop

\n2. Graham Elliott – Britpop

\n3. Mark Gollison (USA) – Venti

\n4. Peter Feldman (USA) – VISS

\n5. Rob Walsh – Venti

\n6. Craig Richards – Proteus

\n7. Rob McIntosh – Venti

\n8. Pete Walters – Venti

\n9. Darin Ballington – Britpop

\n10. Josh King – Pop \n<\/p>\n


\nDesigner Brad Gibson will no doubt take great satisfaction in seeing his 16 year old Britpop design still at the forefront of UK championship racing. \n<\/p>\n


\nA Successful Dress Rehearsal for the Worlds \n<\/p>\n


\nThe 2026 UK Nationals demonstrated that Datchet Water is ready for the challenge of hosting the IOM World Championships. The event tested every aspect of race management\u2014from multi course logistics to rapid course changes\u2014and the volunteer team delivered at every stage. \n<\/p>\n


\nWith international sailors already showing strong form and the Britpop lineage still proving formidable, the stage is set for a compelling World Championship in May. If you are near Datchet from the 17th to the 23rd, come and visit to see the best radio sailors in the world in action. If you can’t, then a video of every heat will be uploaded to YouTube as each race completes. The next best thing to live streaming. \n<\/p>\n


\nOverall Results: \n<\/p>\n


\nPosSkipperSail NoClub\/CityHullR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9R10R11R12R13R14R15
\n1Peter Stollery39Guildford & Littleton RSBritPOP!23162443224109154
\n2Graham Elliott9Birkenhead RS&PCBritPOP!3421452151724831727
\n3Mark Golison155AMYAVenti71032581110117141071
\n4Peter Feldman41AMYAViss291810.33116138138739
\n5Rob Walsh25Fleetwood MY&PBCVenti121928139193115112105
\n6Craig Richards112Datchet RSProteus151146122257422183327
\n7Robert McIntosh64Birkenhead RS&PCVenti11443131532101671620196
\n8Pete Walters65Lincoln RSCVenti51924111210791192515617
\n9Darin Ballington98Lincoln RSCBritPOP!5111415142121215101671453
\n10Josh King126Windrush RYCPop21122321233881286181918
\n11Nigel Barrow54Datchet RSViss1028262611914116181015642
\n12Tony Edwards75Yeovil DMBCR2V2316810197517415922291120
\n13Rob Dyer93Eastleigh&District MBCVenti385715615716141932441714
\n14David Lindsay23Datchet RSV121125914716206562021261829
\n15Martin Roberts22Birkenhead RS&PCBritPOP!1540534581481131218515823
\n16Graham Bantock95Chelmsford RYCFORKILO81523383028222323917251912
\n17Duncan Ellis37Norwich MYCBritPOP!117168920384038172328131411
\n18Buzz Coleman12Coalhouse Fort RYCVision4252313171727332825261431210
\n19David Donin16Gosport MYBCVenti9121023262217261432217332424
\n20Tony Guerrier50Three Rivers RYCVenti52579201216182752133313230
\n21Austin Guerrier68Datchet RSVenti9266182319132025231412212935
\n22Tim Hand134Lincoln RSCBritPOP!465338403138149131219302326
\n23Jonathan Kneale5West Cornwall RSCV116203844162133242931159162025
\n24Brian Summers7Tayside RSCProteus8351551013105338282730324133
\n25James Edwards88Yeovil DMBCBritPOP!9252030273219418302829272828
\n26Andrea Roberts63Birkenhead RS&PCBritPOP!73217293646391619203513112236
\n27Mick Chamberlain46Lincoln RSCVenti11402712182424.25324211320363138
\n28Steve Cockerill27Emsworth Radio SailingBritPOP!6183131333026212633344142123
\n29Simon Fairman71Manor Park RSCAlioth61313162235232932263234394434
\n30Nigel Brown55Gosport MYBCVenti132934382529252835223743121315
\n31Ben Harker122Huntingdon RYCH60144030202918323023293323353919
\n32Paul Middleton52Fleetwood MY&PBCV12122738253534312721273031382616
\n33Julia Hancock24Hampton Court MYCBritPOP!73028243125283134393947223018
\n34John Howell78Three Rivers RYCBritPOP!1953323239271520354748424053
\n35John Taylor128Fleetwood MY&PBCGillette101725273226293530365338405153
\n36Paul Plested15Birkenhead RS&PCBritPOP!123753172838384338322424344831
\n37Martyn Aspinall91Rotherham MYCBritPOP!133133232436444548442926233439
\n38Colin McGinnis45Tayside RSCBuzz342129384638533440343827243538
\n39James Hadden119Gosport MYBCBritPOP!1953535353535353535311681613
\n40Vernon Appleton73Datchet RSBritPOP!135044413853243841414838252732
\n41Roy Stevens154Scarborough MYCBritPOP!83643424433183833424145384743
\n42Bob Conner14Woodspring MSCBritPOP!124753405345434146454044282521
\n43David Lapes3Three Rivers RYCProteus154653193840303247384549414648
\n44Claes Nordin99SWEProteus103342434139533943433138505041
\n45Tracey Ballington49Lincoln RSCBritPOP!154135384343414739404435434244
\n46Clive Harries116Keighley & DistrictVision174239393441533842495140453646
\n47Malcolm Stewart129Emsworth Radio SailingBritPOP!143441484544474844473650484540
\n48John Crix28Eastbourne&District MYCVenti164938474753404431375051515250
\n49Richard Jutsum89Lincoln RSCViss164546494242424245464653474349
\n50Harry Neill51Hawley Lake RSCProteus164845535353484649484239493842
\n51Anthony Marshall33Eastbourne&District MYCVenti174340535353465353534346463745
\n52Lee Mutlow60Woodspring MSCVision144447465353455353534942524947 <\/p>\n

\"Rooster
<\/a>\"Hyde
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