Blaze Class - Burghfield SC Open 28/29 September

High pressure, and associated light and fickle winds welcomed the 13 entrants
at Burghfield for the clubs Blaze Open meeting on the weekend of 28/29th
September. Race officer Brian Powell struggled to set a true beat throughout
Saturday and all three races tried the patience of the competitors as the
wind swung around and periodically died altogether. Best able to master the
difficult conditions was local Paul Hemsley who stole away to win the first
race by a good margin as the frustrated pack fought amongst themselves. He
was followed by Mike Lyons (654) also from BSC and Chris Coleman of Warsash
SC.

Race 2 was much closer with Lyons sharing the lead on a couple of occasions
only to be in second as the race was shortened with Hemsley winning again.
Paul Taylor (640) and Coleman followed in 3rd and 4th. Race 3 saw a little
more wind but the front two again repeated the previous positions but with
David Angwin (613) coming through to 3rd from Taylor this time.

Sunday saw a little more wind and in better conditions Lyons got away to win
race 4 from Hemsley. Roger Williams (665) and Paul Taylor followed. The
wind continued to build over lunch and in the last race Lyons again pulled
away to win followed by Dave Young (606) and Ian Moss (672) both from
Whitefriars SC with Oliver Daniels (615) and Williams who recovered well
from 2 capsizes following.

The prizes were dominated by the home Club, perhaps best able to appreciate
the extremely trying conditions. The next Blaze event is the class Inlands
at Oxford SC in a fortnights time.

Results:

1st Paul Hemsley (581) 5 points
2nd Mike Lyons (654) 6 points
3rd Paul Taylor (640) 17 points
4th Roger Williams (665) 18 points
5th and first visitor Dave Young (606) - Whitefriars SC 19 Points