A modern record 35 Snipes took to the water for the 50th staging of the Axia Fans-sponsored North Western Snipe Championship at Budworth Sailing Club over the weekend of 26-27 September. Winds were fickle on both days and blew across a narrow stretch of the Mere, making the first windward leg exteremly tight and good starts critical.
In the first race Mike and Ben Crompton worked their way into the lead and once into clear air, were able to apply a loose cover to the finish. Reigning champions Neil and Randi Martin worked their way up to second after a poor start, overhauling Duncan and Paul Fraser at the finish.
In the second race, Iain Marshall and Alan Williams got clear but were caught by Martin. They were locked in a tense fight of first place for three agonising laps, Marshall eventually prevailing by 20 seconds. Crompton was third.
On Sunday, the third race followed a similar pattern of slow, tactical racing with big gains to be made by hitting the right shifts. Marshall won comfortably this time, with Martin second and Budworth Fleet Captain Mark Antonelli, sailing with his sister Sue, third.
Marshall completed three straight firsts in the fourth race, winning comfortably from Richard Lambert and Jeffrey Edwards. John and Debbie Love were third. Crompton, sailing with his other son Tom, took the lead midway through the final race after a flying start from newcommers Dick and Polly Cowan. Antonelli took second and Lambert was third as Cowan dropped eventually to fifth. Marshall's fourth place was more than enough to take the Howarth Trophy back south to Maldon for the first time in living memory. It also completed a very successful season for British Snipe manufacturer Devoti Sailing. The high turnout was a tribute to the enthusiasm and popularity of fleet captain Mark Antonelli.
Overall results:
1st GBR 29501 I Marshall/A Williams Maldon YC 6.25pts 2nd GBR 26996 M/B/T Crompton Budworth SC 10.50 3rd GBR 27106 N/R Martin Budworth SC 12.00 4th GBR 20323 M/S Antonelli Budworth SC 14.00 5th GBR 22779 D & P Fraser Budworth SC 16.00 6th GBR 27098 J/D Love Budworth SC 18.00 7th GBR 23908 R Lambert/J Edwards Blue Circle SC 19.00 8th GBR 20558 P MArshall/A Gregory Maldon YC 36.00 9th GBR 26734 P/S Hackney Budworth SC 36.00 10th GBR 29411 R/R Barnes Budworth SC 42.00