APART from a nip in the air and the odd shower, the final week of the racing season for the Beccles Amateur Sailing Club couldn't have been better as a light north-easterly ensured a good beat in the Waveney, this week starting downriver for a change.

APART from a nip in the air and the odd shower, the final week of the racing season for the Beccles Amateur Sailing Club couldn't have been better as a light north-easterly ensured a good beat in the Waveney, this week starting downriver for a change.

Overall top spots were still up for grabs in the Icicle Shield handicap race, the Toppers' Goodwin Trophy and even the new Popsicle Plate for Optimists.

After last week's second race fiasco, both Ryan Langston and Richard Deller could ill-afford start-line mistakes and both got away in race one without problems. They both dominated the 12-strong fleet although Richard and Ollie Baylis in their Topaz Zenon started to encroach on them in the final round.

But when they were forced onto the No 2 buoy by a straggling Topper, their third place slipped away as they were forced to do turns in the last 200 yards, letting Polyarchy through.

With the Icicle Shield now assured from winning the first race, the Commodore with crew Ben Mclean made light work of race two, leading from start to finish.

And with Glen Curtis and Georgie Roll in Polyarchy nailing Ryan at the basin marker, it enabled them to slip ahead to finish in second place with Ryan losing out to a Norfolk, Shanderlee, on handicap.

Milo Philips, Jake Smalls and Hugh Braidwood have all had mixed fortunes throughout the Goodwin Trophy races, so it was all to sail for this week.

After a silverware drought this season at Beccles, mainly due to regional zone squad commitments elsewhere, it was great to see Hugh Braidwood steam across the line in first position in both races in his Topper, Tic Tac, confirming his first BASC Trophy this year.

The club's regular Oppie fleet certainly were not over-shadowed as the new Popsicle Plate was still up for contention between Rowan Curtis and Casper Baylis and the pressure showed as Rowan's younger brother George led the six boats for the first round in race one - but eventually Rowan and Casper passed to finish first and second respectively.

Although now missing out on the silverware, consolation by winning the second race provided some justice for Casper on another closely- fought battle between BASC's youngest helms.

Members and readers alike are reminded that the annual Boxing Day race starts at 10.30am so all welcome to go along and enjoy the last racing commitment of 2009.

Icicle Shield race one (12): 1 Cuddles (R Deller/B Mclean), 2 PDQ (R Langston), 3 Polyarchy (G Curtis/G Roll).

Goodwin Trophy race one (7): 1 Tic Tac (H Braidwood), 2 Wind Singer (M Philips), 3 Tip Top (J Smalls).

Popsicle Plate race one (6): 1 Bittern (R Curtis), 2 Petite Rouge (C Baylis), 3 Great White (A Blankley).

Icicle Shield race one (11): 1 Cuddles, 2 Polyarchy, 3 Shanderlee (J Blankley/M Langston).

Goodwin Trophy race one (7): 1 Tic Tac, 2 Windsinger, 3 Tip Top.

Popsicle Plate race two (6): 1 Petite Rouge, 2 Bittern, 3 Great White.