Prize night at Killyleagh

Prize night at Killyleagh

14 October 2015

THE sailing season at Killyleagh Yacht Club closed officially for 2015 when the club held their annual prize giving dinner dance at the clubhouse on Saturday night.

With an average of 18 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 was awarded to the best Squib at club racing and was tightly contested this year, with just four points between Robert Marshall’s Slipstream and Simon Watson’s Volante.

Seven first places from sixteen races however were just too hard to beat and Volante was the proud recipient of this trophy for the first time.

The Westward trophy, for best Squib at the spring series, was also awarded to Simon Watson and his crewmate, Brian Kelly, in Volante.

The ‘Squibbler of the Year’ award is selected each year by the Squib fleet in a secret vote and this year a four-way tie resulted as the vote was split across the fleet.

By the slimmest of margins, this year’s Squibbler of the Year was none other than the club Commodore, a well-deserving David Hanna, who was delighted to receive the accolade. 

The Brennesse Cup was awarded to the best NHC2 yacht at club racing and again was closely contested throughout the year with just one point between the top two after 16 races.

It was won by the team of Jones/McNamara in Moonshadow, with Dermot McGale’s Gaelforce in a close second place. Meanwhile, the Sam Greene trophy for the best overall NHC1 yacht at club racing was won by Graham Chambers’ Big Wig.

 The Olympic Cup recognises the hard work and dedication of those unsung members, found in every club, without whom the club would not be a success.

This cup was presented jointly to the highly deserving partnership of Kyle and Sharon Bolton who have worked tirelessly in the background, helping to support youth sailing and in particular, youth racing at the club.

This year’s commodore, David Hanna, also paid tribute to Don Bridges, club race officer for Thursday night racing and Colin Stewart, rescue officer, for their dedication and commitment to making sailing and safety a priority at KYC. 

The overall results from the spring and summer series are listed below:

 Spring Series

Squib Class: 1st Volante, Simon Watson; 2nd Allsorts, Kyle and Sharon Bolton; 3rd Firecracker, Don and Steven Bridges.

NHC2: 1st Galeforce, Dermot McGale; 2nd Moonshadow, Jones/McNamara; 3rd Extreme, Mark Bridges.

NHC1: 1st Big Wig, Graham Chambers; 2nd Tiger Lily, Raymond Beattie; 3rd Cheval de Mer, Barr/Bowsie.

Autumn Series

Squib Class: 1st Slipstream, Robert Marshall; 2nd Volante, Simon Watson; 3rd Blue, David Hanna.

NHC2: 1st Moonshadow, Jones/McNamara; 2nd Coranto, David Young; 3rd Gaelforce, Dermot McGale.

NHC1: 1st Tiger Lily, Raymond Beattie; 2nd Big Wig, Graham Chambers; 3rd Nik Nak, Trevor Hooks