Ian Jones wins West Riding Laser Northern Grand Prix event

by WRSC Press on 10 Apr 2009
Ian Jones won the Laser Northern Grand Prix event at West Riding SC with a race to spare. Tim Keighley finished second and Robert Holmes third, tied on points with Hamish Gledhill.

Twentyseven boats entered the second leg of the Laser Northern Grand Prix Circuit at West Riding Sailing Club. The forecast was for sunshine but little wind as competitors turned up to see a glassy lake. However a building breeze filled in allowing race one to get underway with only a 15-minute postponement.

Neil Skellam made the most of the conditions, taking an early lead, before being overhauled by Ian Jones, with Robert Holmes coming through for second. The shifting winds dumped Skellam back into the pack, with Tim Keighley taking third and Dave Exley fourth.

Race two saw local boy Matt Cook make a quick get away leading from Ian Jones. It wasn’t until the penultimate lap that Jones was able to take the lead, going on to win the race and the event. Tim Keighley came through to take second place from Adrian Sandilands in third, with Cook in fourth place.

The final race saw several podium contenders taking an early shower as Exley and Sandilands were OCS with the black flag flying. Stuart Bellfield then stormed to an unassailable lead as several of the chasing pack took a swim up the first beat, with a 90-degree swirling gust.

The consistent Keighley came through for second place with Hamish Gledhill taking third and Alasdair McQuire fourth.

Laser Northern Grand Prix Circuit - West Riding SC, Final positions

1 Ian Jones 180031 Dovestone SC 2 pts
2 Tim Keighley 193446 West Riding SC 4 pts
3 Robert Holmes 185711 Glasson SC 8 pts
4 Hamish Gledhill 188637 West Riding SC 8 pts
5 Adrian Sandilands 182223 Dovestone SC 9 pts
6 Alasdair McQuire TBA West Riding SC 9 pts
7 Dave Exley 167605 Leigh and Lowton SC 12 pts
8 Stuart Bellfield 189082 Leigh and Lowton SC 13 pts
9 Matt Cook 169067 West Riding SC 13 pts
10 Neil Skellam 188797 Leigh and Lowton SC 13 pts
11 Soren Vonsild 0 Scammonden Water SC 17 pts
12 Adam Simms 182623 Yeadon SC 18 pts
13 Tom Keegan 192016 Leigh and Lowton SC 19 pts
14 Neil Barrett 172697 Leeds University SC 21 pts
15 Tim Brownell 170901 Ulley SC 25 pts
16 Abi Morgan 64194 West Riding SC 26 pts
17 Adrian Thear 173168 West Riding SC 26 pts
18 Greg Booth 179838 Port Dinorwic SC 27 pts
19 John Simms 121822 Yeadon SC 31 pts
20 Brian Goodwin 180694 West Riding SC 32 pts
21 Matt Velamail 1 West Riding SC 32 pts
22 Kaye Tickle 185302 West Lancs YC 39 pts
23 Megan Griffiths TBA Leigh and Lowton SC 40 pts
24 Ben Williamson 166335 Royal Yorkshire YC 40 pts
25 Chris Greenwood 186947 West Riding SC 44 pts
26 Anna Langford 170257 West Riding SC 45 pts
27 John Steward 185714 Yorkshire Dales SC 47 pts