GUL Topper South West Area Championships Chew Valley Lake 7th/8th Sept.
A massive 125 competitors from as far away as Scotland, Guernsey and Kent found Chew at its sparkling best. Bright sunshine and a brisk F 3-4 breeze.
Richard Valentine lead the first race closely followed by Robin Paris and Alex Cruttenden. John Beatty emerged from the pack with Joe Crabb, and Joe eventually won, despite hitting a mark. Alex Cruttenden was second and Daniel Small worked from tenth to third.
Steve Restall lead race 2 with Daniel Small again in contention. Nathan Batchelor finally arrived at the front to win with Dan second and Steve third.
Saturdays last race, when the wind began to shift, brought general recalls and 10 black flag DSQs. Once again Steve Restall lead only to be overtaken by Chews Alex Knight offwind. Alex held on to win followed by Joe Crabb and Karen Smalley completing a Chew Valley clean sweep.
The evening entertainment from the Clevedon Waveband, some superb, traditional Rock and Roll, was appreciated by everyone.
Sundays winds were light and very variable. Shifts of 90 degrees meant the race team, lead by John Smalley, managed only two of the three scheduled races. Eventually, at mid-day, a fairly steady 6 knots of wind allowed a course to be set and Race 4 started. This was won by Sarah Gregson with Nigel Pepperdine second, both from Frampton on Severn. New face, Tom Dalton from Whitefriars was third.
With all to sail for, race 5 started with a closely fought tussle between Nathan Batchelor, Robert Waite and Louis McVeigh. Steve Restall moved from sixth to second, with Louis first and Nathan third.
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors GUL, and in best Chew style, over 40 competitors found themselves in the prizes.
Overall: 1st Steve Restall, Downs S.C.; 2nd Richard Valentine, Great Moor; 3rd Alison Young, Trimpley; 4th Joe Crabb, Chew Valley; 5th Nathan Batchelor, Clevedon; 6th John Beatty, East Down; 7th Robert Waite, Downs S.C.; 8th Evan Scott, Grafham.
John Smalley