Williams fails to score successive wins at St. Moritz

Ian Williams' bid to score successive wins at St. Moritz in the World Match Racing tour fell at the last hurdle yesterday. He lost out in the final to France's world number one ranked Mathieu Richard, who became 'king of the mountain' on the lake 6,000 feet above sea level, but Williams stays at the head of the tour series after six out of nine events.

The finance law specialist from Southampton had been made to wait overnight before being able to start his semi-final encounter with the New Zealander

Adam Minoprio and the organisers were fearful that the wind would be so light and fickle that no racing would be possible, which would have left Williams fourth on countback.

But a light breeze penetrated the rain and Williams beat Minoprio 2-0 to face Richard, who had beaten fellow-Frenchman Philippe Presti by the same margin in the other semi-final. But whoever was handing out the lottery prizes in the form of rare veins of windpower was wearing a French hat and Williams himself went down 0-2.

It means that Williams still goes into the seventh event of the nine in Portugal later this month with a 20-point lead over Richard as, with Team Pindar crew Gerry Mitchell, Richard Sydenham, brother Mark and the injured Mark Nicholls itching to return and Simon Shaw also in reserve, he seeks to win the tour overall for the second year running.

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