IMA Inland Championships
The IMA Travellers Trophy came to a conclusion last weekend with the 2009 Inland Championships in Blessington, Co. Wicklow. Four boats made the journey from Galway to the spectacular setting of Pollaphuca Reservoir in the Wicklow Mountains. With Catherine Gunning still confined to spectating due to an injured hand, Ger Murray stepped in and joined Andrew Gallagher in his Formula 18, accompanied by the Dart 16s of Eibhlin Scanlon/Aoife Lyons, Eamonn Beatty and Paric O’Coincheanainn. Predominantly Westerly conditions for the weekend meant for light and variable winds and the lake held back none of its usual wind-trickery!
This event would prove to be the deciding event for the 2009 IMA Travellers Trophy, as a consistent two second places in previous events saw Ballyholme’s Richard and Barry Swanston tied on points with Galway Bay’s Andrew Gallagher and Catherine Gunning, with a first and third place.
A great turnout of 27 boats hit the water early on Saturday. As is the usually the case in Blessington, windshifts and varying wind strengths meant that even the top sailors had their work cut out for them. Race One saw the Blessington Spitfire of AJ Lawrence and Karl Smith continue their winning streak from the Northerns with a convincing win. The experienced Formula 18 team Jim Sheeran and Dave McGowan chalked up second with another Blessington Spitfire of Brian and Annette Murphy coming in third. Andrew Gallagher and Ger Murray came back to fourth place after match racing Richard and Barry Swanston off the start line and leaving the Swanston boys trailing in eighth.
A short break on shore saw 2008 Travellers Trophy Champion and Helmsman Representative Adrian Allen frantically retuning in order to improve on his 7th position. Race Two got underway with three Formula 18s battling for top positions. In the end another spitfire team of Karl and Peter Smith managed to creep into first position. A jammed Spinnaker halyard for Andrew and Ger nearly saw second place slip through their fingers, however, a bit of brute strength and composure regained, they managed to cover Jim Sheeran and Dave McGowan to a photo finish with Andrew and Ger taking second and Jim and Dave accepting third.
Race Three saw local knowledge play its part as the Formula 18 of Aubyn Thompson and Andrea Devine claim their first victory of the year. Adrian Allen and Dave Anderson in the Hurricane 5.9, back on form after his retuning pitstop, crossed the line in second place only seconds ahead of Andrew and Ger.
Day Two saw increasing yet unpredictable breeze all day. In Race 4, Aubyn and Andrea proved that their previous victory was more than good luck and notched up a second bullet of the regatta. Andrew and Ger battled with their main Travellers Trophy rivals, the Swanstons, however, Andrew managed to pull ahead and claim second on the line with Richard and Barry in third place.
Race Five was a return to form for AJ and Carl in the spitfire as they raced home for a final bullet of the event. The Ballyholme Spitfire of Pete and Dee McDowell sneaked up the fleet to claim second place giving Andrew and Ger another third place.
With such a mixed event, consistency proved key and the Galway Bay Sailing Club team of Andrew Gallagher and Ger Murray were crowned 2009 Inland Champions. Blessingtons Formula 18 Aubyn Thompson and Andrea Devine gained overall second and Ballyholme Yacht Clubs Spitfire, Pete and Dee McDowell claimed third with another set of consistent results.
www.blsc.ie/2009/Cats/Inlands/Inlandos.html
The Dart 16 travellers had great racing with 12 similar catamarans. Eamomn Beatty led the rest of the Galway Fleet so nearly cracking the highly competitive top ten in Race three. Eibhlin Scanlon and Aoife Lyons handled the challenging conditions beautifully to beat off competition from a number of the local boats as did Paraic O’Coincheanainn in his Dart 16.
Andrew Gallagher and Catherine Gunning claimed the 2009 IMA Travellers Trophy and now wait with bated breath to see if the Multihull fleet will be awarded a place at the ISA’s 2009 Helmsmans Championship. Andrew and Catherine will also be hoping to make their mark on the UK Formula 18 fleet as they travel to the UK Nationals in August.
The IMA Nationals Championships are also fast approaching. They will be held in UL Activity Centre in Killaloe on the 4th and 5th September. This should be a great event with Andrew Gallagher hoping to retain the National Champion title for a consecutive third year.
Anyone wishing to get information or ask questions about the National Championships please get in touch with either Andrew Gallagher or Catherine Gunning.
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