Guy Fawkes Pursuit Race at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club
by Richard Catchpole 6 Nov 2018 20:25 GMT
4 November 2018
Guy Fawkes Pursuit Race at Leigh & Lowton © Gerard van den Hoek
Andy Dawson was the clear winner of a very tight finish to the Guy Fawkes Pursuit Race at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club on Sunday. All the top six finishers were within 50 metres of each other at the finish, making the OOD split them carefully; difficult when asymmetrics are sailing a different direction to the rest of the fleet downwind!
A force 2 saw the groups of youngsters come off the start line well with a strong Topper fleet and two Teras. The Lasers and Solos had a particularly good battle for the lead in changeable conditions as the race developed.
Meanwhile the asymmetric and other handicap boats started the chase down from the back. The race went to plan for the OOD with some good beats and downwind legs until the wind decided to switch 40 degrees to the East against the forecast, resulting in tighter reaches and one-sided beats for the last couple of laps.
After a good tussle throughout the afternoon, it was Nat Pritchard-Jones (LLSC) who took first junior honours and the Guy Fawkes Plate, with Thomas Link (LLSC) in close attendance. Leah Fidling (Chester/LLSC) and Noe Peckham (LLSC) weren't far behind and the juniors did well to compete with the faster boats for so long in difficult conditions.
Towards the end at the front of the fleet the Lasers of Andy Dawson (LLSC), Greg Marshall (West Lancs) and Ollie Blackburn (LLSC) battled it out with the Solos of Nik James (LLSC) and Malcolm Waddington (LLSC). Greg made a course correction error that cost him dear, while the Asymmetric fleet charge was lead by Richard Catchpole and Gary Coop (LLSC), after overhauling Chris Pickles and Mark Lunn (Delph). Julia Bowden was first lady in eighth place in a GP14 with Joe Hartigan.
Andy just held off the fast approaching RS400 of Richard and Gary in a dying breeze to take the event and the Guy Fawkes Stakes Trophy with Greg having to settle for third place on the podium. Andy and Nat were worthy winners of this annual event.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 |
|---|
| 1st | Laser | 165217 | Andy Dawson | | LLSC | 1 |
| 2nd | RS 400 | 1396 | Richard Catchpole | Gary Coop | LLSC | 2 |
| 3rd | Laser | 213613 | Greg Marshall | | West Lancs | 3 |
| 4th | Laser Radial | 206876 | Oliver Blackburn | | LLSC | 4 |
| 5th | Solo | 5818 | Nik James | | LLSC | 5 |
| 6th | Solo | 5217 | Malcolm Waddington | | LLSC | 6 |
| 7th | RS 400 | 1283 | Chris Pickles | Mark Lunn | Delph | 7 |
| 8th | GP14 | 14047 | J Bowden | Jo Hardigan | LLSC | 8 |
| 9th | RS 200 | 1068 | Martin Smith | Barbara Smith | | 9 |
| 10th | RS 200 | 1033 | Gareth Williams | Jen Williams | LLSC | 10 |
| 11th | Laser | 82556 | Glyn Purnell | | LLSC | 11 |
| 12th | RS 400 | 1453 | Stuart Halman | Anna Walsh | LLSC | 12 |
| 13th | RS 200 | 1551 | Cathy Partington | Louise Mckeand | LLSC | 13 |
| 14th | Laser | 194679 | Mike Baldwin | | LLSC | 14 |
| 15th | RS 200 | 432 | Mark Hardy | John Bridgeman | LLSC | 15 |
| 16th | Solo | 5272 | Dave Kelsall | | LLSC | 16 |
| 17th | Solo | 5350 | Chris Helsby | | LLSC | 17 |
| 18th | RS Tera Pro | 2835 | Nat Pritchard Jones | | LLSC | 18 |
| 19th | Topper | 48252 | Thomas Link | | LLSC | 19 |
| 20th | Solo | 4139 | Ross Southwell | | LLSC | 20 |
| 21st | RS 400 | 1347 | Mark Dingsdale | Vanessa Evans | LLSC | 21 |
| 22nd | Laser Radial | 213074 | Steve Roberts | | | 22 |
| 23rd | Laser | 164513 | Steve Lloyd | | LLSC | 23 |
| 24th | Topper | 48261 | Leah Filding | | LLSC | 24 |
| 25th | Topper | 46023 | Noé Peckham | | LLSC | 25 |
| 26th | Phantom | 1229 | Steve Norris | | LLSC | 26 |
| 27th | RS Tera Sport | 2353 | John Bridgeman | | LLSC | 27 |
| 28th | Phantom | 1131 | Mike Barnes | | LLSC | 28 |
| 29th | Phantom | 1414 | Dave Smith | | | 29 |
| 30th | Streaker | 1653 | Jim Shield | | LLSC | 30 |
| 31st | RS 400 | 1091 | Stuart Belfield | Colin Belton | LLSC | 31 |
| 32nd | Laser | 173576 | Anton Fields | | LLSC | 32 |
| 33rd | RS 400 | 1306 | Julian Mecklenburgh | C Mecklenburg | LLSC | 33 |
| 34th | Topper 4.2 | 28491 | Elena Mecklenburgh | | LLSC | 34 |
| 35th | Devoti D‑Zero | 228 | Ian Taylor | | LLSC | 35 |
| 36th | Topper | 47743 | Jade Yarwood | | LLSC | 36 |
| 37th | Topper | 46654 | Tom Saunders | | LLSC | 37 |
| 38th | Laser Radial | 133398 | Paul Pritchard | | LLSC | 38 |
| 39th | Laser Radial | 3 | Nick Radesk | | LLSC | 39 |
| 40th | RS 400 | 819 | Vince Hussey | Sean Ratcliffe | LLSC | 40 |
| 41st | Wayfarer | 10397 | Phil Wishart | E Griffiths | LLSC | 41 |
| 42nd | RS Aero 7 | 1299 | Richard Woodward | | LLSC | 42 |
| 43rd | Topper | 47075 | Courtney Yarwood | | LLSC | 43 |
| 44th | RS 400 | 828 | Christopher Williams | Martin Spencer | LLSC | DNF |
| 44th | Albacore | 6844 | Tim Coleman | | LLSC | DSQ |