Round 4

Mark C-J returns for this weekend's JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge match racing

A strong British contingent will be joined by competitors from Denmark, Poland, France and Germany for the fourth round of the JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge, scheduled to kick off this weekend 13-14 January at Queen Mary Sailing Club, Staines.

This round sees Great Britain’s Mark Campbell James back for the second time this series looking to book his place in the final. Campbell-James is ranked 25th in the world and is the top ranked entry for this round. Germany’s reigning National Match Racing Champion, Carsten Kemmling is ranked 29th in the world rankings and will be looking to become the first non-British sailor to make the final.

Three further international teams will make the trip from Europe this weekend including Frenchman Vincent Biarnes, Marek Stanczyk of Poland, both of whom competed in the 2005-2006 series and newcomer Lotte Meldgaared Pedersen from Denmark.

West Kirby’s, Andrew Cornah returns to the JPMorgan Winter Challenge Event in an attempt to repeat his success from 2006, when his young team reached the final.

Southampton-based, former British National Match Racing Champion Nick Cherry will also make a repeat appearance at the JPMorgan Winter Challenge, and will no doubt be hoping to better his fourth place finish at the first qualifier, held in November 2006.

Surrey’s Ali Hall and Jon Pinner from Oxford will also skipper teams at the event, rounding off the British challenge.

With three Brits, Iain Percy, Ian Williams and John Greenland, already booked in for the final, the European teams will be looking to break the British stranglehold on the event this weekend, but the strong British contingent competing may result in a fourth British boat contesting for the ultimate prize.

Qualifier 4 (13-14 Jan)
Marek Stanczyk (POL) 48
Carsten Kemmling (GER) 29
Vincent Biarnes (FRA) 42
Lotte Meldgaared Pedersen (DEN) 421
Jon Pinner (GBR) 294
Andrew Cornah (GBR) 31
Mark Campbell James (GBR) 25
Ali Hall (GBR) 118
Nick Cherry (GBR) 50

Future Events
Qualifier 5 (27-28 Jan)
Qualifier 6 (9-11 Feb)
Women’s Final (23-25 Feb)
Final (9-11 March)

The Winter Challenge Series is part of JPMorgan Asset Management’s commitment to world-class sailing in the UK. In addition to extending its title sponsorship of the Round the Island Race to 2010, the company are now sponsors of Ben Ainslie and Shirley Robertson, Britain’s two double Olympic gold medallists.