Enterprises to the fore

WITHOUT much of a beat in the river due to the gentle easterly off the Suffolk bank, Beccles Sailing Club racing was certainly tamer than previous weeks but still a good fleet of boats were out contesting the final races of series A.

With seven in the top ten, Enterprises continued to dominate the RNLI Pennant Handicap Trophy races this year.

This week Kevin and Jo Edwards made light work of both in their Ent 'Sharkie', cruising to two firsts, although after a long absence at BASC, overall winners of the RNLI Pennant Trophy this year goes to Stephen Payne and Kirsty Fletcher in 'Mutley II', who secured two second places this week.

They narrowly beat Rory Kelsey and Joe Brackenbury in their refurbished Enterprise 'Evil Edna' who take second place overall after two third positions.

With the Poyser Cup already sown up by Milo Phillips from last week, overall second and third places were still up for grabs and this showed as four Toppers among the junior fleet made for exciting close racing.

With two well-earned third places, Harry Shipley certainly deserves his overall third position although Hugh Braidwood with a first and second respectively this week will be searching for his first series win in a Topper in the coming weeks.

With 36 boats out for series A alone, a busy racing calendar looks likely through 2009.

RNLI Pennant (race 1): 1st Sharkie (K and J Edwards), 2nd Mutley II (S Payne and K Fletcher), 3rd Evil Edna (R Kelsey and J Brackenbury).

RNLI Pennant (race 2): 1st Sharkie, 2nd Mutley II, 3rd Evil Edna.

Poyser Cup (race 1): 1st Tic Tac (H Braidwood), 2nd Windsinger (M Phillips), 3rd Just Harry II (H Shipley).

Poyser Cup (race 2): 1st Windsinger, 2nd Tic Tac, 3rd Just Harry II.

Overall RNLI Pennant winners: Stephen Payne and Kirsty Fletcher.

Overall Poyser Cup winner: Milo Phillips.