Ulsters and Masters Championship of Ireland

Ulsters and Masters Championship of Ireland 2010 © Darren O’Beirne

The Ulsters and Masters Championship of Ireland was held at Donaghadee Sailing Club on the 26th and 27th June 2010. The event sponsor was Ards Tourism. Nearly thirty teams turned out to enjoy the sailing and great hospitality of the club. The officer of the day Jimmy McKee set the course just off the clubhouse in a building southerly breeze in strong tide.

Robert Gingles and his son Chris were first to read the importance of the tide and rounded the weather mark in the lead followed by Norman Lee and Stephen Walker with Johnny Park and Bob Stinton in third. Staying hard right paid throughout the weekend and it was this factor that made passing difficult. The Gingles held out to the end followed by Niall Henry and James Conlon with Keith Louden and Dessie Hughes in their new Duffin design.. Whether the latest Duffin hull is fast or the time they spent in the gym over winter was well spent…but the boys are going very fast.

With the wind increasing it was the Sutton team of Paul Maguire and Stewart Boyle who lead throughout followed by Henry/Conlon and with the very fast Alan Blay and Niamh McCormack in a very close third.

Back at the club that evening the fleet enjoyed the great hospitality of its member and the event sponsors, Ards Tourism. All were entertained by and acoustic which kept the tills kept ring until the early hours making for happy club and very shaky sailors the next day which unfortunately for some…was breezy.

Race three was led from start to finish by Paul and Stuart with the Gingles pair in second and the Henry/Conlon team in third.

The Championship was up for grabs in the final race.

The Gingles pair made it to the right ahead of the pack led at the windward mark with Richard Street/Dan Crilly from Blessington in second and Henry/Conlon in third. The Blessington team had some difficulties at the gybe (it sounded like that anyway) allowing the Sligo boat into second. Maguire /Boyle were back in fourth and needed a top three finish to win. It stayed that way for the next lap but eventually Henry/Conlon took the lead and Maguire worked their way up to second with Robert and Chris Gingles finishing third. It finished it that order making Paul Maguire and Stuart Boyle Ulster Champions for 2010. Robert Gingles was crowned Master champion winning every race in the Master’s section. Adam Scott and Eamon Bourne won the Ulster Youth title, which was also sailed within the event.

Great credit must go to all at Donaghadee S.C. for all the hard work they put into running the event, their enthusiasm and warm welcome. This really is a part of Northern Ireland that deserves a visit.

Results

Ulsters:
1st Place Paul Maguire and Stuart Boyle
2nd Place Niall Henry and James Conlon
3rd Place Robert Gingles and Chris Jingles

Ulsters Silver Fleet:
1st Place Johnny Park and Bob Stinston
2nd Place Adam Scott and Eamon Bourne
3rd Place Steven Preston and Brenda Niblock

Ulsters Bronze Fleet:
1st Place Oisin McCelland and Stuart Ogg
2nd Place James Ogg and Ronan O’Beirne
3rd Place Bill Johnson and Stephen Byrne

Masters:
1st Place Robert Gingles and Chris Gingles
2nd Place Alastair Duffin and Paul Whitcombe
3rd Place Norman Lee and Stephen Walker

Youths:
1st Place Adam Scott and Eamon Bourne