OK Thames open

A good amount of boats contested the OK Upper Thames open

16 boats contested the Upper Thames OK Open meeting over the weekend 13-14
May.

Saturdays racing got underway in a light westerly breeze allowing race officer Nigel Garland to set a long course upstream. Neil Goodhead from South Staffs showed good speed by posting two bullets to end the day comfortably in the lead. Terry Curtis from the home club finished the day with a second in race one and was squeezed into third place by Garth Thompson in race two.

After a good meal and liquid refreshments provided by the Club on Saturday night, Sunday dawned with the wind slightly lighter than the previous day, but blowing from the east. The race officer made the most of the conditions setting the start upstream and sending the fleet down river for the opening beat. Curtis quickly overhauled Goodhead and lead the race to the finish with Mike Edwards coming in third.

With the event more open going into the second race of the day Goodhead lead in style, slowly extending his lead to the finish with Edwards second and Curtis third.

Curtis won the final race from Edwards and local Mick Haig with Goodhead down in fourth, but it was not enough to win the event.

Results:

1-Neil Goodhead
2-Terry Curtis
3-Mick Haig
4-Garth Thompson
5-Mike Edwards