Wineglass Open Fishers Green Sailing Club
by Brian Conroy 17 Oct 2005 22:03 BST
16 October 2005
Bishop moves in again!
A misty start to the day did not bode well for any breeze for this Southern Area Championship on 16th October, the last open meeting of the year at Fishers Green. However as soon as the Fleet launched the N Easterly zephyr rapidly grew to become a shifty force 3.
Three races were to be held, two back-to-back in the morning and one more after lunch, we would follow the Club racing and share the same course.
In race one, three boats were contesting the early lead, Alan and Steve Bishop (200), Roger Castle and Dick Reynolds (421) and Brian Conroy and Ron Elston (508). Bishop led initially but Conroy chose the better side of the course and led during the second lap only to clash with a Solo and have to take a penalty. This allowed Bishop to regain the lead and hold it to take the race from Conroy with Castle third and Dave Gascoigne and Joyce Fontana (504) in 4th.
The second race, on a revised course, saw the same trio leading the way with a second group led by Gascoine pressing hard. The wind had increased a little more. Bishop with a fine start, led for the whole race to win. Conroy was second having overtaken Castle to press for the lead only to hit the next mark and have to take a penalty, but still retained second place. The second wave brought Gascoigne and Dave and Laura Carter (507), up to finishing fourth and fifth in a freshening wind.
So lunch was taken with Bishop already claiming first place, none the less the final race was just as keenly contested. A better start and windward leg by Conroy allowed him to take first place from Bishop and Castle with Gascoigne, a visitor from Swarkstone SC. in fourth place and Mike Peters and Stan Tolfts (472) fifth.
Alan and his son Steve were presented with the Wineglass Dinghy Owners Association Southern Championship Cup and the Crystal Bowl for the best FGSC crew.
Overall Results:
1st Alan and Steve Bishop (200) Fishers Green S.C.
2nd Brian Conroy and Ron Elston (508) Fishers Green S.C.
3rd Roger Castle and Dick Reynolds, Fishers Green S.C.
4th Dave Gascoigne and Joyce Fontana (504) Swarkstone S.C.
5th Mike Peters and Stan Tolfts (472) Fishers Green S.C.