Shanks Mini Series at the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series
by John Hardie 7 Jun 2004 14:41 BST
29-30 May 2004
The second year of the Shanks Mini Scottish Series for radio controlled model lasers was held over Saturday and Sunday during the main event at the Bell Lawrie Scottish Series. There was a strong fleet of 10 lasers with the entrants being predominantly from Helensburgh and the local boats in Tarbert. The race committee managed to run 4 races on the Saturday and the Sunday starting around 6.30pm. With the event being held within Tarbert harbour itself there was much for the spectators along the harbour wall to enjoy. As last year, Mark Homer seemed to dominate proceedings managing to win the first two races on Saturday and leading the fleet at the end of the first evenings racing followed closely by Alastair Manderson, Jim Paterson and Tony Abraham, who with 10 points, found themselves 3 points behind Mark.
On Sunday Mark didn't have it all his own way coming in fifth in race one, being comfortably beaten by both his sons Andrew and Alastair, however, he soon made amends and at the end of the day he ran out clear winner on 14 points with Alistair Manderson coming second with 21 points and SB3 sailor Neil Rosie third.
Unfortunately on the second day the fleet was seriously depleted as the participants from Tarbert chose instead to attend the Tarbert Loch Fyne cocktail party which is held to thank the many supporters of the Club. Next year we must try harder so that there is no clash of times so that Mark does not have another clean sweep.
John Hardie, on behalf of Shanks, presented Mark with the Shanks Mini Scottish Series trophy as the deserved winner.