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UPDATED REPORT - The protest against Team Holiday Shoppe's win in the
Trans-Atlantic rowing race has been thrown out.
Arch-rivals and second placed Team CRC had lodged a protest after the end
of the race late last year, arguing the winners broke several rules.
A five member panel has heard the protest in England overnight, with
evidence from both sides.
They found that the original race result will stand, concluding that Team
Holiday Shoppe did not use their solar panel for improper purposes as
alleged by Team CRC.
Team CRC rowers Steve Westlake and Matt Goodman also claimed that during
the 5000km race from the Canary Islands to Barbados last November, their
rivals Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald jettisoned equipment from their
vessel.
Regarding these allegations, a statement issued by the hearing panel said
"the accidental loss of the life raft and other fundamental equipment,
although demonstrating a serious lack of seamanship, was not in breach of
the Class Rules."
The statement also said the loss of a life raft did not give Team Holiday
Shoppe an advantage.
The hearing panel found the life raft and a seat were lost accidentally on
November 26, three days before Biggar and Fitzgerald berthed in a race
record time of 40 days and five hours -- nine hours ahead of their
compatriots.
The eventual winners trailed Westlake and Goodman by 50 nautical miles for
most of the race but less than two weeks out from the finish they passed
them and powered out to a 30 nautical mile lead.
Team CRC alleged the solar panel was set up on the roof of their boat's
cabin as a sail, but the hearing found no evidence to show it had been
used improperly.
The panel concluded that the speed difference between the boats at the end
of the race could be explained in a number of ways, including changes in
rowing patterns, the steering mechanism, success in surfing the waves and
the crew's condition.
Hamill told NZPA that today's decision vindicated Biggar and Fitzgerald's
fantastic effort.
"These two guys have produced a world record, they're world champions and
deservedly so."
Hamill said they had questioned Team CRC's agenda from the outset and
believed the protest was about "taking the shine off a worthy victory".
Hamill says it should never have come to this but at least rowers Kevin
Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald can finally celebrate an official victory.
Meanwhile, protesters Team CRC are bitterly disappointed with the outcome
of the hearing.
CRC's lawyer Michael Smyth believes the panel has gone back on the rules
of the race.
However, Smyth says they always knew it was going to be hard to prove any
alleged wrong-doing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
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