Welland Yacht Club held a combined 75th Anniversary Party and 2025 Awards event on Saturday, with members and local dignitaries celebrating in the clubhouse.
Commodore Sarah Prior summarised the sailing year and welcomed the last commodore of Witham Sailing Club, Patrick Corke, to formally mark the completion of the merger of the two clubs.
She then awarded trophies with the assistance of the South Holland District Council chairman Jan Whitbourn, Coun James LeSage and Anthony Grunwell, representing Spalding Water Taxis.
A meal was provided by the Red Lion Hotel and the evening concluded with music and dancing to Shoddywaddy.
The commodore said: “It was a brilliant evening and marked the occasion well. It was great to have our special guests with us and also good to see so many new members there, many of who joined as a result of the Celebrate the River Day in June and the idea of Coun LeSage.
“I was especially thrilled to have Patrick Corke, the last commodore of Witham Sailing Club with us. This event marked the completion of a two-year process to formally merge the two clubs, and we are now officially known as Welland Yacht Club, incorporating Witham Sailing Club.”
Awards were won by Andy Prior (Club Champion, Brass monkey, Tulip Regatta, Sunday Points, Munson Cup, Ralph Gibson, Jim King Trophy, Rob Creek Shield, PBS Salver, Masters Trophy, Afternoon Points, Autumn Points, George Hasting Coaching Award), Mark Scourfield (Club Championship runner-up, Tulip Regatta third, Flag Officers Cup, Frostbite Series, Midweek Points (Spring), Midweek Points (Summer), Herbert Ingram, Grounds Trophy, Richard Glenn Challenge Bowl), Alan Cox (Club Championship third, Tulip Regatta runner-up), Welland Paddle, Ray Keightly Shield, Adventurers Trophy), Alan Chapman (Anne Smith Perseverance Trophy, Tombstone Trophy), William Stabler (Junior Seamanship Award, Most Improved Helm), Neal Tack and Rebecca Slator (Lowland Trophy, Personal Handicap Series), Harry Jackson (Under 10s award, Talents Trophy, Junior Crew), Rebecca Slator (Maclaren Crew Trophy), Ian Thompson (Commodore Points), Adam Stabler (Autumn Midweek Points), Kieron Powell (Sunday Morning Points), Mark Holland (Herd Salver), Geoff Tibbs (Ditch Crawler Trophy), Helen Boyd (Bailer Trophy, George Hastings Coaching Award), and Richard Stedman (Chris Mew Trophy.
