Millar tops at Strangford Lough Race Weekend

16th July 2009

Carrickfergus Sailing Club’s Graham Millar took the top prize at the well-contested Strangford Lough Race Weekend.
Millar took first place in his yacht, Ski, in the IRC1 class, ahead of Charlie Gourley, in Freebird, and local man, Raymond Killops, in Movistar Bleu.

The sub-title for the weekend series, held at Killyleagh Yacht Club, was Sail for Cancer, with £2,000 being raised for charity. Mist made racing difficult on Saturday afternoon but the event was still competitive in all classes. By Sunday the weather had improved considerably making for ever better racing.

In the IRC2 class Ross Boyd, sailing Mithril, took the honours with Peter Thompson winning the IRC3 class.

Above: John Weir (right), Chairman of Strangford Lough Race Week welcomes William Dick, Chairman of Down District Council, and Neil Logan (left), Commodore of Killyleagh Yaht Club, welcomes Billy Montgomery, Mayor of Ards Borough Council to the event at Killyleagh Yacht Club

George Cromie, sailing Chorus Line, won the PY1 class, while Billy White, in Shanty, took the honours in PY2. In the Sonata class the first boat home was Apache, sailed by Brian Corry, and in PY restricted sail it was David Neilly who was the winner in Silmarillion.

Colin Dougan, in 2 Fast ‘n Furious, was the winner of the Flying Fifteen class and George Bloch took first place in the Glens class. Firecracker, sailed by Don Bridges, took top honours in the Squibs class.

Above: Major prizewinners from the well attended Strangford Lough Race Weekend at Killyleagh Yacht Club

RESULTS – Squibs – 1 Don Bridges, Firecracker, 2 Graham Dickson, 2XS, 3 Victoria Bridges, Winnie What. Glens – 1 George Bloch, Glen Cona, 2 Henry Anstey, Glen Iris. Flying 15 – 1 Colin Dougan, 2 Fast ‘n Furious, 2 Peter Lawson, Ffrigit, 3 Gerry Reilly, Over The Moon. PY Restricted Sail – 1 David Neilly, Silmarillion, 2 Peter Niblock, First Magic, 3 Eddie Rea, Catre. Sonata – 1 Brian Corry, Apache, 2 Ian Smith, Mouse, 3 Clyde Markwell, hiNote. PY2 – 1 Billy White, Shanty, 2 Jessy Rodgers, Beccy Boo, 3 Jim Rodgers, Mjollinir. PY1 – 1 George Cromie, Chorus Line, 2 F. Petticrew, Magdaleyne, 3 O’Gorman Family, Golden Shamrock. IRC3 – 1 Peter Thompson, Alycone, 2 Stephen Lynn, Mipaal, 3 Pat Kelly, Load of Mischief. IRC2 – 1 Ross Boyd, Mithril, 2 John Millar, Absolutely, 3 Richard and Pauline Donnan, Spindrift. IRC1 – 1 Graham Millar, Ski, 2 Charlie Gourley, Freebird, 3 Raymond Killops, Movistar Bleu. Best Boat – Graham Millar, Ski. Killyleagh Yacht Club Prize – George Cromie, Chorus Line; Colin Dougan, 2 Fast ‘n Furious; and Don Bridges, FireCracker.

Published in News From the Afloat.ie Archive

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