Laser Midland Grand Prix at Burton Sailing Club

by Paul Williamson 16 Jun 2013 08:49 BST 15 June 2013

Fortunately the gale force winds that were forecast earlier in the week didn't arrive for Round 9 of the 2013 Laser Midland Grand Prix held at Burton Sailing Club on 15th June. However, the wind did vary between force 2 and 4 giving everyone the chance to have a thoroughly enjoyable days sailing despite the rain. After 9 events there have been nine different winners, will anyone break the spell and win a second event?

Race 1 was led from an early stage by Craig Williamson from Staunton Harold, no one really put him under pressure throughout the race. Chris Wright (Carsington), Cameron Smith (Chelmarsh), Sam Knight (Bartley) and Rob Lennox (Barnt Green) followed Craig across the line in that order. Jessie Welbourn Hesp from Carsington was not far behind the leaders in sixth place as first Radial.

The wind dropped slightly for the second race and Sam Knight made the best of the wind shifts up the first beat to lead round the windward mark. Sam held this lead for some time until Craig Williamson managed to cross in front on the second to last beat, but it was Sam who led the fleet around the final down wind legs. Unfortunately Sam capsized at the penultimate mark letting Craig and Chris Wright through to finish first and second. Sam recovered to finish third with Cameron Smith fourth and Rob Lennox fifth. Jessie Welbourn Hesp was first Radial for the second time in 9th Place.

With the meeting winner already decided, Cameron Smith led at the start of the final race, but it was Chris Wright who took up the lead by the final lap. Craig Williamson recovered from a poor first beat and low windward mark position to cross the finish line within a second of Chris, They had to wait until the results were posted to find out that Chris had won the race. Sam Knight took his second third place with Cameron Smith fourth and Rob Lennox fifth. In this race Robert Marshall (Earlswood) pushed Jessie Welbourn Hesp hard up the beats passing her on the final lap, but she had superior downwind speed to finish eleventh to Robert's fourteenth.

With two first places Craig Williamson is the ninth winner of a 2013 Laser Midland Grand Prix event, with Chris Wright second, Sam Knight third, Cameron Smith fourth, Rob Lennox fifth and Toby Woodings from Carsington sixth and first Youth. Jassie Welbourn Hesp was the first Radial with Paul Williamson (Staunton Harold) second and Robert Marshall third.

Sam Knight still tops the leader board for the Grand Prix Circuit with Rob Lennox one point in front of Paul Williamson. Round 10 takes place at Hollowell on Sunday 23rd June.

Midland Grand Prix Results so far:
(Showing only helms who have entered more than one event)

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Chelmarsh	Earlswood	Carsington	Swarkstone	Blithfield	Barnt Green	Ogston	Olton Mere	Burton	Pts
1st	201354	Sam Knight	1	3	4		‑9	4	4		3	19
2nd	192514	Rob Lennox		1	7	6	‑11	5		3	5	27
3rd	197694	Paul Williamson	4	2	6		‑14		2	2	12	28
4th	30595	Andy Allan	5	5	11	1	20	9				51
5th	182478	Robert Marshall	14	13			17		14	9	14	81
6th	200088	John Dransfield		14	19	10		25	10	10		88
7th	200906	Craig Williamson	11		3		3		3		1	344
8th	202293	Paul Powell	6	9		9		19				689
9th	187480	Jamie Cuxon		24			19	23		13		725
10th	166427	Jonathan Swain			2		1	3				975
11th	190614	Toby Woodings			12		6				6	993
12th	203581	Edward Higson		17			5	6				997
13th	139600	Paul Keeling			9		12	7				997
14th	200890	Jeremy Higson		12			13	8				1002
15th	164546	Ian Davies	8			15				11		1003
16th	150742	James Allan	13	10				14				1006
17th	7368	James Dalby			14			16			15	1014
18th	186067	Alexander Homer			24		16			8		1017
19th	192746	William Gould			28	16			22			1035
20th	202430	Ryan Letinga		27	27						16	1039
21st	136054	Phil Pimble	21				22	28				1040
22nd	129842	Chris Wright			5						2	1299
23rd	204068	Cameron Smith	3								4	1299
24th	144288	Rod Theaker				3	10					1305
25th	179012	Andrew McLeish			10				7			1309
26th	194495	Luke Hardy		6	13							1311
27th	197716	Alice Woodings			16		8					1316
28th	134703	Joe Scurrah			18		7					1317
29th	147060	Sam Brooke			17						10	1319
30th	201645	Simon Limb			20						11	1323
31st	172786	Neil Brinkworth			21						13	1326
32nd	179117	Rachel Lennox		15				20				1327
33rd	202469	William Lockett		18				21				1331