Leigh & Lowton New Year's Day Pursuit 2020

by Richard Catchpole 4 Jan 2020 20:09 GMT 1 January 2020

Leigh & Lowton New Year's Day Pursuit 2020 © Pete Chambers

A very light and fickle forecast didn't stop over 40 competitors fending off hangovers to take part in the 2020 New Year's Day Race at Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club.

The forecast was for slowly fading winds during the afternoon, so it always looked likely that the slower boats would benefit. However, in reality, the wind only really faded in the last 15 minutes, so the event proved to be a very competitive affair with the first 8 boats being all of different classes.

Ben and Alex Welfare (LLSC) led the fleet out for their 2 hr 50 min marathon in their Oppies. A couple of young Topper sailors followed with the rest of the fleets hard on their heels. Ben made the most of his clean air early on to put some separation distance between him and the pack behind.

Steve Blackburn (LLSC) in his Streaker and Chris Parker/Chloe Parker (Southport SC) in their Graduate were the main chasers, with Ian Jones (Dovestones SC), Martin Brennan (Hollingworth SC) and Neil Marsden/D Hill (Blackpool & Fleetwood SC) making good ground also.

Of the faster boats the RS400s got the closest, but Dave Exley and son Charlie (LLSC) couldn't make up the remaining distance in the dying breeze, but picked up the 1st Asymmetric prize.

With some nervous glances at his watch around the closing marks, Ben Welfare maintained his lead to the last to win both the Junior Trophy (Chris Leigh Memorial Trophy) and the New Year's Day Overall Trophy.

Leigh & Lowton New Year's Day Pursuit 2020 - photo © Pete Chambers

Overall Results:

Pos	Class	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	Pts
1st	Optimist	5500	Ben Welfare		LLSC	1	1
2nd	Streaker	1942	Steve Blackburn		LLSC	2	2
3rd	Graduate	2839	Chris Parker	Chloe Parker	Southport Sc	3	3
4th	Laser	213589	Ian Jones		Dovestone Sc	4	4
5th	Solo	5825	Martin Brennan		Hollingsworth	5	5
6th	GP14	13654	Neil Marsden	D Hill	Blackpool And Fleetwood	6	6
7th	Wayfarer	10747	Louise Mckeand	Nigel Hall	LLSC	7	7
8th	RS 400	1460	Dave Exley	Charlie Exley	LLSC	8	8
9th	RS 400	1396	Richard Catchpole	Gary Coop	LLSC	9	9
10th	Solo	5818	Nik James		LLSC	10	10
11th	Solo	5217	Malcolm Waddington		LLSC	11	11
12th	Laser	213590	George Graham		Burwain Sc	12	12
13th	GP14	14201	Hugh Devereux	M Bird	Budworth	13	13
14th	Phantom	1434	Martin Knott		Ribble	14	14
15th	RS 200	1314	Jon Chapham	Wendy Martin	Budworth Sc	15	15
16th	Solo	4884	Tom Welz		LLSC	16	16
17th	Laser	182219	Malcolm Marsden		Blackpool & Fleetwood	17	17
18th	Merlin Rocket	3699	Alan Roberts	Alex Pikes	LLSC	18	18
19th	Solo	4985	Kim Cant		LLSC	19	19
20th	Solo	5272	Dave Kelsall		LLSC	20	20
21st	RS 400	1257	Mark Dingsdale	Ness Evans	LLSC	21	21
22nd	Phantom	1414	Dave Smith		Hollingworth	22	22
23rd	Laser	182556	Ian Ritchie		LLSC	23	23
24th	Laser	213074	Steve Roberts		LLSC	24	24
25th	Laser	195987	Zena Martin		Bolton Sc	25	25
26th	Laser Radial	149329	Henry Bayliss		Rudyard Lake Sc	26	26
27th	Laser	2	David White		LLSC	27	27
28th	Laser	194679	Mike Baldwin		LLSC	28	28
29th	RS 400	1318	Terry Oliver	Mark Atherton	LLSC	29	29
30th	Phantom	1429	Steve Dawson		LLSC	30	30
31st	Solo	4943	Ewan Kirkbride		LLSC	31	31
32nd	Laser	141466	Lucas Barrow		Rudyard Lake Sc	32	32
33rd	Devoti D‑Zero	107	Ian Lees		Scammonden	33	33
34th	Topper	48451	Daisy Fisher		Hollingsworth	34	34
35th	RS 400	1461	Caroline Exley	Jack Exley	LLSC	35	35
36th	Laser	1	Nick Radesk		LLSC	36	36
37th	Topper	48583	Jasper Bramwell		Hollingsworth	37	37
38th	Optimist	243	Alex Welfare		LLSC	38	38
39th	Finn	19	Mike Banner		LLSC	39	39
40th	Phantom	1131	Mike Barnes		LLSC	40	40
41st	RS 200	728	Adam Catlow	M Catlow	LLSC	41	41
42nd	Laser	214189	Andy Fox		LLSC	DNF	44
42nd	Solo	4556	John Andrews		LLSC	DNF	44