GP14 Midland Bell at Trimpley Sailing Club
by Ben Roberts 24 Aug 19:45 BST
11 July 2026
GP14 Midland Bell at Trimpley © Simon Yeomans
Trimpley Sailing club opened its door to GP14 sailors on the 11th July, for their annual contribution towards the long-running Midland Bell series.
Race Officer (and Trimpley Commodore) Allison Blakeway welcomed visiting boats comprising Oliver Goodhead & Katie Keith (South Staffs), Mike and Alex Homer (Midland), Richard Binns & Charles Saunders (Nantwich & Borders / Staunton Harrold) and David Baldwin and Rich Moss (Winsford Flash SC). These 4 boats combined with 7 home boats gave a fleet of 11 on the water, a good turnout for this small club.
The weather contributed in delivering consistent winds, an unusual feature for this glorious but notoriously shifty location.
After a race briefing, race 1 got under way without delay. Early into the lead were Gold Fleet sailors Oliver and Katie, with locals Lesley Freeman (H) and Sue Webb (C) battling the Homer's for second place, the home boat just pulling ahead in the final lap to claim the second slot.
A break for a fabulous lunch followed with the Trimpley galley team outshining themselves once more. The atmosphere in and around the clubhouse was convivial and relaxed, a key feature of many GP14 Midlands Bell events and indicative of a supportive and welcoming community.
Two further races commenced back-to-back in the afternoon with the South Staffs duo insurmountable in pole position. Second position was hotly contested throughout with a second and third for each Lesley and Sue and Mike and Alex. 4th place also contested between David (with Rich) and Richard (with Charles).
Final results:
1st place: Oliver and Katie (South Staffs)
2nd place: Sue and Lesley (only Home Boat in the top 5)
3rd place: Mike and Alex Homer (Midland)
4th place (on count-back): David Baldwin and Rich Moss (Winsford)
5th place: Richard Binns and Charles Saunders (Nantwich and Borders / Staunton Harrold)
To round-off this superb day of sailing at this small and wonderfully friendly club, a barbecue and overnight camping had been arranged for visitors to extend their stay in this idyllic location. Visitors were then able to join in more Trimpley fun on the Sunday before waving goodbye for another year.
A collection of photos is available at www.trimpleysailingclub.co.uk/gallery/288485