Bassett Lowke Trophy
Saturday 20th June 2015

Abington Park MBC were pleased to welcome the visitors from far and wide, especially the gentlemen from Cheddar Steam Club who were on another foray into expanding their knowledge about Footy Racing.
Unfortunately the weather was most unseasonal for the middle of June with persistent rain and only light winds for us to contend with.
A simple olympic course (sausage & wedge) was set for the morning racing with an upwind first leg, a spreader because we correctly predicted we might all get there at once, a run to the down wind mark then across to a wing mark and back to the spreader, for the triangle, down to the down wind mark again and then back across the start finish.
The course was perhaps a little long however we did manage to get in six races before lunch and chipped away at the time so that six were completed in the afternoon.

Mike Ewart (36, ICE) started off brightly enough, but with the light winds being in the right place at the right time was essential, Peter Shepherd (65, Fat Boy) came back at him almost immeadiately so that by race 9 it was between these two with Mike slightly ahead, he then consolidated his position in races 10 and 11 and it was all over and the Bassett Lowke Trophy has a new home.

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Trevor Thomas (58) deserves a mention at this juncture having taken one of the Carbon firbre Slims, done some home improvements, he had a few good races and generally was sailing very well taking two race wins. David Wilkinson (46, Iambus 11.?) filled in the last winners position and had a better day than we have seen from him for some while, to take third place. Peter Jackson (30, Fat Boy Slim) was there or there abouts in most of the races just a few too many fives and sixes to recover from with only two discards, these thre traded places throughout the event and the final scorecard showed how close it was.

Paul Risdale (53, wICE) and Keith Parrott (31, ICE) kept the rest of us honest, well almost! and the guys from Cheddar Steam Club are just starting out on their Footy experiance their lack of a suit of sails hampering them somewhat. They did manage to have some racing within their group and enjoyed the event, learning much from the other skippers in attendance.

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Many thanks to the Abington Park members who turned out to score and support the event.

The Winners and Also Rans

Midships -  Mike Ewart receives the Bassett Lowke Trophy from Peter Shepherd
Port Bow - Peter Shepherd takes second.
Starboard Bow - David Wilkinson came a long way to get third.
Port Aft -  Brian Issacs gets a set of sail cuts for his efforts.
Starboard Aft - Trevor Thomas takes this events Nov"ICE" Trophy.

The next footy event is the ACT 6 in the Extreme Footy Series once again at Abington Park, it's the 4th July so expect some fireworks! and then we are off to Birmingham for the Birmingham Open on the 25th July.