In fact Yeadon SC was hosting three parallel Open events on the same day – for Toppers, Mirrors and Herons.  Only four Herons participated in the event but, with more boats from the other two classes, there was approximately one boat per acre of water – and cries of ‘starboard’ or ‘water’ were regularly heard.

Two visiting Herons – both from this magazine’s editorial and production team - joined two members of the local club in the event, though the Heron event organiser, Glenis Burgess, was only able to participate in the latter two races.  

Yeadon members, Denis and Jo Beard, in their new FRP boat (10070), proved to be a formidable combination, getting ahead of the others in the early stages of the first race and building up a continuously increasing lead.  They thus finished first, ahead of Philip Lund (10044), from Nantwich & Border Counties SC, in second place and Calum Polwart (10092), from Derwent Reservoir S.C, in third place.

In the second race, Denis and Jo again led throughout though with a rather shorter lead.  They were followed in turn by Philip Lund and Glenis Burgess (7741), who had some fairly close tussles at times, and then Calum Polwart.

The third race was more exciting, with a thrilling finish.  First the wind died momentarily at one end of the start line and Calum got away to a good start, progressing well down the lake before the others had even crossed the start line.  However he was then caught by Philip Lund who built up quite a lead before this was gradually reduced by Denis and Jo over the last lap.  The long beat to the penultimate mark proved decisive, with Denis and Jo passing Philip on that mark to finish just ahead of him, with Glenis again in third place.

This repeated result pattern meant that the final placings were very straightforward – Denis and Jo, Philip, Glenis and Calum.