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by Rachel Matheson Karen Ball of Thames Valley Skiff Club claimed two Punting Titles at the Punt Championships in Maidenhead, this Sunday 12 August - taking both Ladies Junior and Championships titles. In the Junior event, Karen Ball beat Sarah Poole of Dittons - a very closely matched pair so there was nothing in it on the first leg, however Karen turned a slightly better peck than Sarah which gave her the slim advantage she needed to pull ahead and take the victory. Even closer fought was the Ladies Championship event, a straight final between Sandra Knowles and Karen Ball, both of Thames Valley. Again well-matched opponents, they were level on the first leg, with Sandra perhaps slightly in the lead till the peck. On the return leg however, Karen established a narrow lead and she was building on this nicely when Sandra unfortunately fell out of her punt coming into the final stretch, leaving Karen to take the title. The winner of the Amateur Championship was Mike Hart of Dittons, who beat Dave Somerville of Thames Valley. The first round was a very close race between Dave Somerville and Dan Teuten of Dittons but Dave managed to establish a small lead which he held to go through to the final. In the final however Mike Hart, the more experienced punter of the two, punted strongly to win easily over Dave Somerville and take the Amateur Championship's Title. The U18 Junior Championships was retained by Adam Champion of Wargrave Boating Club, and the U16 Title went to Ben Thompson of Thames Valley. Sarah Poole and Mike Hart of Dittons comfortably beat the composite crew of Karen Ball of Thames Valley and Marcus Goudge of Wraysbury to win the Mixed Handicap Doubles Championship. And finally the Gentlemen's Double Championship title was awarded to Bruce Maidment and Robert Float of Thames Valley and Wargrave, who beat Mike Hart and Dan Teuten of Dittons comfortably, and were also fastest race of the day. Next weekend, Sunbury Regatta on Saturday 18th - the last regatta before Skiff Championships, and raced over a suitably long course to perhaps give some indication as to how crews will perform at Henley the following weekend - and Sunbury Children's Regatta on Sunday 19th.