Enterprise Open at Redditch Sailing Club
by Mike Cranmore 9 Oct 2006 09:06 BST
7 October 2006
The Redditch Enterprise Open Held on 7th October and sponsored by Speed Sails, saw some exciting close racing in a gusty wind which caused a few surprises for the 10 entrants.
In race 1 the locals led, until Mike Cranmore only just survived a capsize on a gybe mark. Dave Jackson and Greg Croydon the slowed each other in a battle for 2nd . Allowing Paul Young to pull clear, to finish 1st, with Jackson 2nd and Croydon 3rd.
In the second race a series of gusts double capsized Jackson and upset Martin Bottomley enough to allow Young to again pull clear, with Bottomley 2nd and Croydon just piping Cranmore for 3rd.
With so many changes of position, 2nd and 3rd were now wide open. For 3 laps the racing was extremely close with most of the fleet on the same leg, before Richard Pepperdine pulled well clear (and then retired) with Croydon steadily stretching his lead away from Jack Mead, Bottomley and Cranmore who were battling hard for 3rd place. Only at the last lap did Cranmore manage to pull clear and just hold onto his lead from Bottomley, (4th) and Mead (5th).
Overall Results:
1. 22901 Paul Young and Ali Torrens (Midland S.C.)
2. 22401 Greg Croydon and Gail Ranford (Redditch S.C.)
3. 23159 Martin Bottomley and Jonathan Wordward (Emberton Park S.C.)
4. 22081 Mike Cranmore and Margot Bish (Redditch S.C.)
5. 22701 Dave Jackson and Abbey Baker (Redditch S.C.)