New York Canoe Club International Challenge Cup 1974
Hayling Island, UK
"An intensive training campaign is now under way to wrest the New York Trophy and the hurt British pride from the Swedes."
The last sentence of a Yachts and Yachting Canoe Week report is one indication that the NYCCCC was contested during the event. Another is this photograph in which the historic jug is visible towards the left.
Tony Marston recalls: Mats Lind and Leif Johansson challenged with Tony Miles and Dick Eberhard defending. Two against two. I failed to make it into the team: 'Alfred the Great' wasn't quite reliable enough! Bill Kempner, who was in the British Team for the challenge in 1959 was the chairman of the selectors. I can't remember without hunting out my 1974 diary with certainty but I think the Swedes won all three races. I remember having a sail in both Mats and Leif's canoe and not believing how well tuned they both were. Amazingly Leif was faster despite a heavy canoe and he was a big bloke....just goes to show what a well tuned rig can do. Lars Eric was sailing a Slurp with which he won the Worlds the following year.
The Dominant Swedish Team at the 1974 Canoe Week prizegiving. The NYCCC cup is towards the left of the table. Photo © Perham Harding
Swedish (Tummelisa V - Leif Johansson) and UK boats from 1974 Canoe Week. Photos © Perham Harding
