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COMET OPEN - MAY 7TH 2006

The 8 travellers and 1 club boat shared the water with the Solo open. Both fleets and the club celebrate important anniversaries this year as the club like the Solo is 50 years old and the Comet is 25 years old. In recent years Ian Coppenhall of Hunts SC has made this Comet open his own but his absence today did not leave the family unrepresented as both Mark and John were sailing.

Race 1 saw Steve Bellamy from Winsford Flash take the early lead but Mark Coppenhall soon found his way to the front and led at the end of the first lap, he was being hard pressed by Dave Jobling from North Staffs and Alan Bennett from Staunton Harold and it was Bennett who eventually slipped through to win the first race from Mark Coppenhall and Jobling as Bellamy was relegated to 4th.

Race 2 again saw Mark Coppenhall leading at the end of the first lap from Bennett but the positions were reversed by the end of the race meaning that Bennett could then relax as he had won the event. Bellamy was judged to be OCS at the start and 3rd place was ably taken by Ros Stevenson.

Mark Coppenhall held up the family’s honour in race three; as the wind faded he had his first win of the day when the race was shortened after 1 lap. Jobling took 2nd place to finish 3rd overall and Bennett was 3rd. Catherine Bellamy was first lady helm just beating Stevenson by 1 point.