Last updated: January 14, 2001 @ 08:51 CST
Soon after the original Venture Sailing Club of Dallas was formed,
yacht racing became a stable activity in the club. Many members soon became
accomplished skippers and it was only appropriate that each year a club
champion was determined and recognized. Initially, a "sail off" was
held at the end of each racing season with the winners of each series competing
in like boats. As skippers soon learned how to modify their boats to improve
performance, it became difficult to find identical boats for the "sail
off" and the process was changed to select the skipper who had the best
total scores from the competitive Spring and Fall series held each year.
To properly recognize the annual champion, a large silver bowl with tray
was donated in 1975 by Fred Towne to be awarded as a traveling trophy with each
winner's name appropriately engraved. After Fred's unfortunate death from a
heart attack suffered on October 20, 1979 during a club race, the trophy was
designated the Fred Towne Memorial trophy and was Engraved as such.
Over the years, the Venture/MacGregor Yacht Club has become
recognized for developing some of the most accomplished skippers in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area. Their abilities are often proven through successes in
regattas held throughout the region. Among many of these avid racers, are the
following who have proven to be among the elite by winning the Club
Championship and having their names appear on the Fred Towne Memorial
trophy.
Past Club Champions
1975 - Bob Krebsbach
1978 - Jim Schumacher
1979 - Randy Gilbert
1980 - Marshall McKenzie
1981 - Randy Gilbert
1982 - Marshall McKenzie
1983 - Larry Featherston
1984 - Sam Blake
1985 - Sam Blake
1986 - Winston Veazey
1987 - Larry Featherston
1988 - Sam Blake
1989 - Wendell Sullivan
1990 - Marshall McKenzie
1991 - Mike Gusler
1992 - Mike Jones
1993 - Mike Jones
1994 - Marshall McKenzie
1995 - Larry Featherston
1996 - Larry Featherston
1997 - Marshall McKenzie
1998 - Mike Jones
1999 - Mike Jones
2000 - Larry Featherston
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