| UPPER THAMES SC OK OPEN -
10th / 11th May 2003
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| A healthy fleet of 27 OK's
turned up at Upper Thames SC over the weekend of May 10th-11th for the
Thames valley travellers series event.
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| A series of pursuit races
were staged on Saturday, where the fast end of the fleet were
handicapped up to 9 minutes, the series was won by Garth Thompson from
the home club.
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| There was a little more wind
on Sunday, but it was still fairly shifty with the wind filling in from
various directions causing some frustration. Gavin Waldron took the
event with 2 first places, Neil Goodhead won race two, but Terry Curtis
took second overall with a consistent three 2nd places.
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| Position |
Helm |
Club |
| 1st |
Gavin
Waldron |
South
Staffs SC |
| 2nd |
Terry
Curtis |
Upper
Thames SC |
| 3rd |
Neil
Goodhead |
South
Staffs SC |
| 4th |
Tony
Thresher |
West
Oxford SC |
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| TEES SC WORLD QUALIFIER
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| 23 competitors turned out for
the second OK qualifier for the 2004 World Championships in Parkstone,
held at Tees & Hartlepool YC.
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| Saturday brought some unusual
conditions with storm clouds passing from the west, shifting the wind
through 180°, causing much frustration throughout the fleet (and no
doubt the race committee).
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| Jim Hunt made the most of the
conditions and chalked up three 1st places, exhibiting good offwind
speed. Terry Curtis posted two 2nds and a lucky 13th. Neil Goodhead,
Tony Thresher and Gavin Waldron picked up the rest of the placings. THYC
laid on the evening's entertainment before the fleet zigzagged off into
the town centre.
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| Day two dawned sunny again
with a steadier wind. Terry tried out his new Superspars carbon mast to
good effect. Jim again had a good day with two firsts and a second, the
second due to he and Andy Rushworth holding a long conversation between
races a ¼ mile to windward of the race start.
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| Chris Arnell & Geoff
Woollen (ex National Champion) made welcome returns to the class. Neil
Goodhead had an excellent second day showing phenomenal light wind speed
to post a 1st and two 2nd places. Tony Thresher using a JP Williams
carbon mast and North sail showed much improved boat speed.
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| Position |
Helm |
Club |
| 1st |
Jim
Hunt |
South
Staffs SC |
| 2nd |
Neil
Goodhead |
South
Staffs SC |
| 3rd |
Terry
Curtis |
Upper
Thames SC |
| 4th |
Tony
Thresher |
West
Oxford SC |
| 5th |
Gavin
Waldron |
South
Staffs SC |
| 6th |
JP
Williams |
West
Oxford SC |
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