2011 Enterprise North West Top Helm Series

Enterprise North West Top Helm Series at Pilkington © Dave Greenhall

Enterprise North West Top Helm Series at Southport © Kit Robinson

A very exciting year and its not just about the sailing! From sailing superstars, marriage and raising money for charity, our first superstar turn up at Toddbrook Sailing Club later in the year went on to win the Belgium OK National Championships and winning the more prestigious Toddbrook Open.

Round 1, Hosted by Toddbrook Sailing Club The weather was particularly warm with very little wind. Tony Woods and Charlie Berry (Etherow) won the event with Matt Rawson and Jess Law 2nd and Karen Morris & Lisa Woods 3rd.

Round 2, at Winsford Flash Sailing Club, Always a great turnout at this event, Although the weather was stunning, wall to wall sunshine and unusually warm for the time of year. The wind was far from great as drifting conditions remained for all of the racing. The New Epoxy Rondar Enterprise was shown off to all of the sailors and various people had trial in the Rondar. Our 2nd sailing superstar, Alan Johnson & Paula Fisher (SCYC) won the event with Richard Critchley and Izzy Sowley (Pilkington) 2nd and John Berry and Erica Hayton (Etherow) 3rd.

Enterprise Inland National Championships, 49 Enterprises on the water, there was an entry of 52 boats but circumstances prevented 3 competitors attending the event. BCYC provided an excellent venue for what turned out to be a titanic battle between Nick Craig/Toby Lewis (23170 Team Gill from Frensham Pond SC) and Alan Johnson/Paula Fisher (19876 Subsonic Whinkle from SCYC/SSC). Our North West sailors did us proud with Alan Johnson and Paula Fisher finishing 2nd, Mike & Verity Birch WLYC 4th and Johnathon Woodward and Alex Halliwell (Bartley / WLYC) 6th and Charlie & Hannah Adams (WLYC) 11th. The weather was reported to be very wind with gust of force 8 at times.

Round 3, Well the weather was wet, wild and windy for the turn of Pilkington Sailing Club Open Meeting. Unfortunately Bill Rhodes has retired from the sailing committee at the grand age of 83 but our new OD Bill Wilcox managed to create 3 exciting races. This event was a Pilkington white wash with Ed & Diane Thomas 1st Ed Thomas is one of the leading Phantom sailors finishing 3rd at the Inlands and winning the Phantom Northern Area Series. Steve Blackburn & Lisa Woods 2nd and Richard & Ruth Critchley 3rd.

Round 4, our North West Area Championships held at Bala Sailing Club, Bala was the perfect venue. The weather was cold and very windy with gusts of force 8 and big chop on the lake. No other than last years Endeavour Champion Christian Birrell and Rob Holmes won the event with Tony Woods & Charlie Berry Etherow 2nd and Paul Young and Megan Ward (Midland) 3rd.

The Enterprise Masters Championships held at Northampton Sailing Club, A very competitive fleet of Enterprise Masters attended this venue. Competitors were faced with shifting North Westerly 3 gusting 4 giving the Race Officer a ‘tricky’ task to set a course. Alan Johnson & Paula Fisher SCYC / SSC finished a very worthy 2nd and Mike Birch and Oli Hilliker WLYC came in 8th overall.

Round 5 Our first and only river event Chester's Enterprise Open, a Beautiful blue sky day with good wind dropping at the end of the event. Steve Blackburn & Lisa Woods (Pilkington / Etherow) 1st with Richard Critchley and Diane Thomas (Pilkington) 2nd and Dave and Ashley Southall (Leigh & Lowton).

Round 6, a day later we was at Rudyard Sailing Club light and shifty winds were the order of the day and Richard Critchley & Izzy Sowley Pilkington went on to win their first Open Meeting away from home waters. With one of the leading Juniors in the Enterprise, Sam Woods and Rik Hayton Etherow came in 2nd and Jonathan Woodward and Alex Halliwell (Bartley / WLYC) in 3rd.

Round 7, our tidal event at West Lancashire Yacht Club, The weather was just to windy for the sea so we settled for sailing on the Marine Lake. Previous Enterprise National Champion Mark Lunn & Ali Fry came out of a 10 year break to win the event, Dave & Beth Porter WLYC 2nd and Charlie & Hannah Adams WLYC 3rd. An exciting day of planing and tough beats.

Round 8. Held at Ogston SC, The top three all from Ogston with 12 competitors taking part. Matt Rawson & Jess Law won the event, with Martin & Abigail Honnor 2nd and Noel and Paula Wilson in 3rd.

The Enterprise National Championships held at Looe, You couldn’t really ask for a better venue. Our North West sailors did us proud with Christian Birrell & Sam Breary winning the event and earning the title of Enterprise National Champions. Pete Lawson & Gareth Balfour came in 4th and Charlie & Hannah Adams finished 5th overall with 58 Enterprises taking part.

Round 8, Held a week later than usual was the Enterprise open held at Bassenthwaite lake due to the Enterprise National Championships at Looe. The Open is always ran in the regatta week with the Enterprises being one of the largest fleets with over 200 boats representing sailing clubs from all around the country. Pete Lawson & Gareth Balfour (Bassenthwaite) finished in 1st Steve Blackburn & Rob Lea (Pilkington / WLYC) 2nd and Alan Baker & Gill Kincaid (Tynemouth) 3rd.

Round 9, A wet and damp start to the day as 19 competitors entered for the Enterprise open at Elton SC held near to Bury, Lancashire. The rain soon stopped and the breeze slowly built up through the day to a nice force 5 at the end of the racing. The wind direction was south westerly. Pete Lawson & Gareth Balfour (Bassenthwaite) won the event with Mike Cossey & Christine Barron (Tamworth) and Richard & Ruth Critchley (Pilkington) 3rd.

Great news and congratulations on the marriage of Karen Morris now Brotherton and Paul Brotherton who tied the knot. They brought wedding cake to Scammonden SC Enterprise Open Meeting to celebrated their great news.

Enterprise Youth National Championships, Varied weather from strong to light winds throughout the weekend held at Barnt Green. Alan Roberts & Alex Pilkington Royal Navy SA won the coveted event with Matt Velamail & Tim Brownell Ulley finishing 2nd and Sam Woods & Rik Hayton finishing 3rd overall. Magan Adams & Beth Porter won 1st Lady's Helm and West Lancashire Yacht Club won the Team Prize.

WLYC 24 Hour Race, Alan Roberts and Alex Pilkington from the Royal Naval Assn sailed the whole 24 hours to raise money for Help the Heroes, finishing in 11th place. Alan had been given special leave from his ship, stationed off Libya, to attend the event.

Two other duos sailed the race to raise money for their charities. Matt Velamail and Tim Brownell of Ulley SC for Brain Tumour Research, finishing 19th, and Sarah Kincaid and Meg Marcano-Olivier of Chase for the British Heart Foundation, finishing 62nd.

Finishing 4th and 5th overall and 1st and 2nd Enterprises of Soul Sailor Racing Assn and the home Club, West Lancs YC were rarely more than a second apart on average lap time, with the order changing frequently. Pilkington SC finished 3rd Enterprise and 14th Overall.

Round 10, a new and exciting venue for our series Glossop SC. Wet and windy 13 competitors braved the conditions. The legend who is Paul Brotherton went on to win event with Jonathon Woodward & Alex Halliwell 2nd and Dave and Beth Porter 3rd.Included in the open and other opens and there after. A new lottery has been created by the Enterprise Association and Rondar Boats, to win a new Epoxy Rondar Enterprise with Every Open meeting equaling 3 tickets with races sailed. Good Luck! I don't mean it!

Round 11, As all eleven competitors arrived at a Wigan we was greeted with bacon butties and no wind. This delayed the start as we waited for the wind to arrive and the wind did arrive with force 3-4 wind slowly dropping throughout the day. Richard Critchley and Izzy Sowley won the event, Steve Blackburn & Nick Hampson 2nd and Dave & Beth Porter 3rd.

We had a battle between 2 sailors which was apparent. With only two events left we would have a wait to see if it would be a new winner or a previous winner of the Top Helm Series. And the Silver Award was still up for grabs between several sailors.

Round 12, Etherow Country Park Sailing Club, Fifteen boats and 8 visitors came from all over the country to be challenged by difficult and frustrating conditions at times. Toast was served for breakfast and sherry was supplied at the briefing. The weather conditions were varied all of the day, from little wind to force 3 from any direction you can imagine. Another sailing great, turn up by the surprise of all the sailors, James and Henry Hunt (Beaver) and they went on to win the event with Tony Woods & Sam Berry and John Berry & Erika Hayton in 3rd.

Our final Event for round 13, Held at Southport Sailing Club for the prestigious November Plate. The sunny Southport weather was pleasant with a sea breeze with a force 1-2. Steve Blackburn & Royston Taggart won and Richard Critchley & Izzy Sowley 2nd and Jonathan Woodward & Alex Halliwell 3rd.

As I said earlier in the report their was battle of two sailors who could win the North West Top Helm Series. Well we have a new Enterprise sailing Superstar with Richard Critchley and Izzy Sowley and extra crews of Diane Thomas and Sister Ruth Critchley (Pilkington). In 2nd place a Previous winner of the Top Helm Series is Steve Blackburn & numerous crews Nick Hampson, Royston Taggart, Lisa Woods and Rik Hayton. In 3rd was John Berry & Erika Hayton (Etherow) and the winner of the Silver Fleet Award Tim & Jackie Finch and help with crew Alex Dromgoole. Another great year was had with new an old venues and a special thank you for all the Sailing Club who run the events.

95 Enterprise helms and crews took part this year and we are still waiting for Nick Craig to visit us at one of our events.

Overall Results: