History

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HISTORY OF THE BILL REYNOLDS TROPHY

Bill Reynolds was the proprietor of a book exchange shop in Springs in the early seventies. He always had an interest in model building and the shop soon became an outlet for all types of hobbies, although retaining the name of Springs Book Exchange.

It was well known that Bill would go to no end of trouble to assist his customers with their hobbies and modeling projects.

In 1972 Bill was instrumental in the founding of the East Rand Model Boat Club that catered for Radio control scale boats, yachts and powerboats. He was Chairman of the boat club for many years. Some time later he also formed a Radio Control Car Club and was also chairman of the Springs Model Engineers Society while remaining Chairman and driving force of the boat club. He was also instrumental, in association with Keith Mackey and Keith Gerson, in the formation of the Transvaal Model Yacht Association and the MYASA.

Bills particular interest in Radio Sailing was the 10Rater class. Shortly after his death from a heart problem in 1986, his wife, Alison presented a trophy to the then MYASA.to be known as the Bill Reynolds Trophy. The family felt that it should, if possible, be competed for in the 10Rater class on an annual basis.

The committee of the MYASA decided that an event would be held annually rotating between Transvaal, Natal and Western Province, These being the three Provincial bodies existing at that time. Two Skippers from each Province, selected by the Province, would compete in the event that was held over a weekend. The trophy being awarded to the winning Province. A dinner attended by the competitors and their wives or friends taking place on the Saturday evening. Traveling expenses were shared, MYASA paying 50% and the balance shared equally by the three Provinces.

The first event was held on 30th. July 1988 at Boksburg, the second on 16 July 1989 in Durban, the third on 8 August 1990 in Cape Town and the fourth in 1991 in Boksburg. The event was very popular, with skippers competing throughout the year to gain selection to the event.

Unfortunately with rising costs and less money being obtained from the Department of Sport the MYASA decided in 1992 that the event could no longer be supported financially by the Provincial Associations and the MYASA. It was decided to run the event during the Nationals each year, on the same basis of two skippers from each province. This has continued successfully ever since, but has not had quite the prestige of the early events.

Winners of the trophy have been:

Venue Skippers Province

1988 Boksburg Keith Gerson and Geoff Mundy Natal

1989 Durban Peter Simons and Stephen Schulze Natal

1990 Cape Town Peter Simons and Joe Robbertse Natal

1991 Boksburg Stephen Schulze and Roy Reynolds TVL.

1992 Cape Town Joe Robbertse and Geoff Mundy Natal Natal

1993 Port Elizabeth Peter Simons and Joe Robbertse. Natal

1994 Bronkhorstspruit Tony Perreira and Joe Robbertse. Natal

1995 Midmar Tony Perreira and Joe Robbertse KZN

1996 Zeekoevlei Craig Richards and Barry Loubser Western Province

1997 Port Elizabeth Des. Fairbank and Joe Robbertse KZN

1998 Rietvlei Craig Richards and Barry Loubser Western Province

1999 Midmar Des. Fairbank and Peter Simons KZN

2000 Port Elizabeth John Mckerchar and Shaun Carrol Northvaal

2001 Port Elizabeth Des Fairbank and Joe Robbertse KZN

2002 Rietvlei John Mckerchar and Roy Reynolds Northvaal

2003 Midmar Joe Robbertse and Norrie Taylor KZN

2004 Cape Town Des Fairbank, Norrie Taylor and Peter Simon KZN

With the demise of the 10Rater class at the Nationals it was decided that the 2002 event would be for Marbleheads.

In 2003 the event was changed to IOM’s.

RKR