Red Square Lark Open at Shropshire Sailing Club

by Dougal Scott 3 Apr 2003 08:50 BST

29th March 2003

Photo © Lark Class

The Red Square Lark open circuit got off to a sunny start at Shropshire SC on Saturday 29th March. Twenty-four Larks arrived to enjoy the perfect conditions and five to ten knot breeze.

In the first race Martin Gillam/Matt Griffiths led a big pack arriving at the top mark together. They held their lead to the second mark, with Dougal Scott/Ruth Johnson climbing up to second by going low on the reach to avoid the shadow of some trees. Scott/Johnson got away on the next beat to take the lead which they kept through to the end. Richard Dowsett/Jane Alexander climbed through the fleet to take second, with Gillam/Griffiths third.

The second race was sailed on the same course. This time, Dowsett/ Alexander got away to a good lead, accompanied by Richard/Jenny Bennett. Scott/Johnson slowly climbed their way through the fleet, eventually taking the lead on the third lap. By the final mark, they were half a leg ahead. However, a big hole and poor covering allowed Dowsett/Alexander right back into the race, with the gun going to Scott/Johnson by only a split second. The Bennetts took third.

In the final race, Simon Cox/Kate Simpson in their new boat led at the first mark and down the first run. However, the course had changed and they had misunderstood it, meaning they lost the lead. Scott/Johnson, who had been in second, came through to first and lead to the end, giving them the meeting without dropping a race. Dowsett/Alexander again pulled through to take second, with John Billin

Overall Results:

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	Pts
1st	2347	Dougal Scott	Ruth Johnson	Rock/South Staffs	2
2nd	2331	Richard Dowsett	Jane Alexander		4
3rd	2405	John Billington	Sue Mellor		7
4th	2265	Matt Martin Gillam	Matt Griffiths		8
5th	2413	Steve Cumley	Rachel Jones		10