He is also responsible for one of the high-profile boats of the week, Richard Matthews’ Essex Girl. ‘She’s a little beauty, an absolute delight, and straight out of the box,’ Jonty Sherwill, the helmsman, said.
The SJ320 comes from the drawing board of Stephen Jones, the designer who lives just the other side of the Solent up the Hamble River in Warsash. QUENCHER has turned out to be one of the wonders of Cowes Week, and all in the space of a few days. When Mike Eaton’s boat started her first race on Saturday the crew were still bolting things to the deck and the hull. Are these not the actions of a group of small-minded men who can only justify their position by attacking people who have achieved something in their chosen field? One remembers the people hounded into resignation – politicians, sportsmen, public figures – but who remembers the vicious little nobodies who wield the knife?
Yours faithfully,NEIL DUFFYDevizesWiltshire28 July. There is no voice within the game hounding Atherton, the South Africans have not complained – except that the affair overshadows their victory – the match referee has closed the matter, the Test and County Cricket Board has closed the matter, the International Cricket Council has not raised any complaints, yet still the media bay for blood.
Most English cricket supporters appear to support Michael Atherton, and are aware that he is the only sensible choice as England captain. Sir: I commend your paper for publishing the letter from Mark Lawson to Jonathan Agnew (28 July) which refers to Agnew abusing his position as the BBC Cricket Correspondent in order to impress his view on the public I hope that all reporters will now put the matter to rest. The media will not.
Yours faithfullyANDREW Q DAVIESLondon SW228 July. To my mind, guilty or not, Mike Atherton has been punished more than sufficiently Leave him be and he may yet turn England into winners. Atherton was only caught doing what we now believe is rife around the world.
Most people know this and hence do not really care what Agnew et al think. Cricket is a game and its players should not be treated like politicians with responsibilities to the people. Until the England captain is elected by the country, I see no reason to treat him as if he were. Sir: The average cricket follower does not really care what Mike Atherton did Indeed, I am sure many laud him for it. After all, he was only trying to win, as were Pakistan two years ago. And I suspect the muted South African response would have been slightly different as well, if they had lost the Test.
Yours sincerely,ANIL NINANInverness28 July.