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OYSTER DREDGING MATCH
SUNDAY 7th SEPTEMBER 2008 1100 hrs - 1300 hrs An Oyster Opening Competition will also take place at the Packing Shed. More details in the Regatta Programme For further information please contact William Baker on: 01206 383158 |
  The 14th annual Mersea Dredging Match for smacks, bawleys and bumkins took place on Sunday 2nd September when eighteen ex-working craft worked under sail on the common ground off Seaview Avenue after Mersea Mayor, Alan Mogridge, and Colchester Mayor, Ray Gamble, opened the match by casting their dredges aboard the Foreman smack 'Fly'. A force 4-5 westerly breeze allowed the whole fleet to work well in such close quarters and provided a lovely spectacle to spectators ashore but the total yield of native oysters was disappointedly small. The fleet worked for 2 hours before sailing to the Packing Shed for the Weigh-in and Prizegiving. The event was judged by Dr Colin Bannister, formerly a scientist working in oysters and fisheries for MAAF and well able to choose the most professionally handled vessel which will become the Foreman Smack for next year. At high water, a big tide brought a quick end to the prizegiving as it flooded around the shed but, once again, our congratulations must go to the West Mersea oystermen and their retailers for a well organised and successful event. The John Frost Trophy and Foreman's Flag for the best handled boat went to the 'Mary', David Hewes and family. For the second year, the Hervey Benham and John Kemp Trophy for the greatest weight of oysters was won by the 'Mayfly', David Whiting, and the Brig Prize again went to the 'Bumble', Kevin Wood. The Florence plate, for the second greatest weight of oysters, is presented each year by Ian Procter in memory of the smack 'Florence' owned by his grandfather James Hempstead. The 'Florence' CK338, built 1888 by Aldous of Brightlingsea, was laid up in the Strood Channel in the 1920s and became a wreck. However, in 1959, her pump barrel, windlass ring and pawl box were fitted in the 'Mayflower' built in 1887, also by Aldous, where they are still used today. It was realised at the presentation that a part of the 'Florence' had therefore helped the 'Mayflower' to win her plate in 2007! All vessels taking part received a commemorative china mug as follows: 'Iris Mary', 'Bumble', 'Boadicea', 'Sunbeam', 'Dorothy', 'Mayfly', 'Hyacinth', 'Pioneer', 'Mary', 'Mary Amelia', 'Jack', 'Mersea Native', 'Boy George', 'Mayflower', 'Fly', 'Vendetta', 'William' and 'Sallie'. The next Dredging Match will take place on Sunday 7th September 2008.
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