Season comes to an end at Killyleagh Yacht Club

Season comes to an end at Killyleagh Yacht Club

29 October 2014

THE sailing season officially closed for 2014 when Killyleagh Yacht Club held their annual prize giving dinner dance at the clubhouse recently.

With an average of 20 yachts competing at club racing on Thursday nights throughout the year, a wide range of prizes were awarded across three classes.

The Arthur Bolton Memorial Cup, awarded to the best Squib at club racing, was tightly contested this year, with David Hanna and James Marks in Blue tying on points with Don and Steven Bridges’ Firecracker.

Just one extra first place saw Firecracker lift the trophy for the second year in a row, while once again the Westward trophy was awarded to Kyle and Sharon Bolton in Allsorts.

This year the Squib fleet commissioned a new trophy, the Squibbler of the Year award.

The recipient of this trophy will be selected each year by a secret vote and this year it was decided that both Kyle Bolton and Simon Watson proved to be the most popular candidates for the award. 

By the slimmest of margins, this year’s Squibbler of the Year was a well-deserving Simon Watson, who also put in a sterling performance as the club’s safety officer.

The Brennesse Cup was awarded to the best NHC2 yacht at club racing and again was closely contested throughout the year.

It was won by Dave and Jaimie McGookin in Sloe Gin, expertly assisted by veteran crew Sam Bennett, while the Sam Greene trophy, for the best overall NHC1 yacht at club racing was won by Raymond Beattie’s Tiger Lily.

The overall results from the spring and summer series are as follows:

Spring Series

Squibs: 1st Blue, David Hanna and James Marks; 2nd Slipstream, Robert Marshall; 3rd Firecracker, Don and Steven Bridges.

PY 1030 and over: 1st Sloe Gin, Dave and Jaimie McGookin; 2nd Moonshadow, Jones/McNamara; 3rd Coranto, Davy Young.

PY Under 1030: 1st Tiger Lily, Raymond Beattie; 2nd Cheval de Mer, Barr/Bowsie; 3rd Big Wig, Graham Chambers.

Autumn Series

Squibs: 1st Allsorts, Kyle and Sharon Bolton; 2nd Firecracker, Don and Steven Bridges; 3rd Slipstream, Robert Marshall.

PY 1030 and over: 1st Moonshadow, Jones/McNamara; 2nd Sloe Gin, Dave and Jaimie McGookin; 3rd Gaelforce, Dermot McGale.

PY Under 1030: 1st Almaviva, Leo McCann; 2nd Tiger Lily, Raymond Beattie; 3rd Cheval de Mer, Barr/Bowsie.