Border Counties Midweek Sailing Series at Winsford Flash Sailing Club
by Pete Coop 4 Oct 17:09 UTC
30 September 2025
On Tuesday, the 30th of September, Winsford Flash Sailing Club hosted the final round of the Border Counties Series - Round 8.
Pete Coop had already secured the overall series, but the rest of the podium places could be won by any of three boats - so a lot to play for, including establishing the top double handed boat.
We were met with sunshine and a light South Westerly breeze.
Race Officer Jon Close decided we were good to go, with the promise of a slight increase in the wind strength throughout the day. This proved to be good judgement, and all 3 races were completed.
Race 1
Pete Coop (Streaker) rounded the windward mark in the lead and was closely followed by the 2 Supernovas of Phil Watson and Eric Haselden. Ted Garner (Solo) was also in the mix just to the rear of this group. After several place changes Pete emerged on the final lap to cross the line in first place.
As ever with the Borders due to its handicap / average lap format, the slower boats can always be a threat, and it was with the 2 Comets of Pete Chambers and Bill Webber who finished 2nd and 3rd behind Pete, with Ted coming 4th.
Race 2
Paul Newman (Streaker) managed to ace the first beat closely followed by Pete, Eric, and Ted. On the final lap Pete managed to overtake Paul to cross the line in first place. Paul 2nd, Eric 3rd and Ted again with a 4th.
Race 3
With 2 first places, Pete had secured the regatta win, so the focus was on as to who could fill out the podium for not only the Winsford regatta but also the overall podium for the 2025 series?
Paul along with Ian Clarke (Supernova) rounded the windward mark together and were not to be caught.
Paul was first, with the Comet of Bill Webber 2nd and Pete Chambers Comet taking 3rd.
Podium and Category Winners:
1st Pete Coop (Winsford) Streaker
2nd Paul Newman (Shotwick) Streaker
3rd Pete Chambers (Winsford) Comet
1st Double hander Simon and Julie Dolman (Shotwick) Miracle
1st Junior Nayth Twiggs (Budworth) Topper
Overall Results:
| Pos | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|
| 1st | STREAKER | 2177 | Pete Coop | | Winsford Flash | 1 | 1 | ‑7 | 2 |
| 2nd | STREAKER | 1621 | Paul Newman | | Shotwick | ‑5 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3rd | COMET | 437 | Pete Chambers | | Winsford Flash | 2 | ‑5 | 4 | 6 |
| 4th | COMET | 291 | Bill Webber | | Shropshire S C | 3 | ‑9 | 3 | 6 |
| 5th | SOLO | 6107 | Ted Garner | | Budworth | 4 | 4 | ‑6 | 8 |
| 6th | SUPERNOVA | 1296 | Eric Haselden | | Winsford Flash | 6 | 3 | ‑15 | 9 |
| 7th | SUPERNOVA | 1253 | Ian Clarke | | Winsford Flash | ‑18 | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| 8th | SUPERNOVA | 1184 | Gary Butterfield | | Bartley | 8 | 6 | ‑10 | 14 |
| 9th | SUPERNOVA | 1320 | Phil Watson | | Winsford Flash | 7 | 8 | ‑16 | 15 |
| 10th | SOLO | 5963 | Phil Snewin | | Chester | 11 | ‑14 | 5 | 16 |
| 11th | MIRACLE | 4011 | Simon Dolman | Julie Dolman | Shotwick | 9.5 | ‑15 | 8 | 17.5 |
| 12th | STREAKER | 1868 | Steve Bellamy | | Winsford Flash | 9.5 | ‑10 | 9 | 18.5 |
| 13th | TOPPER | 49191 | Nayth Twiggs | | Budworth | 12 | 7 | ‑18 | 19 |
| 14th | COMET | 697 | Janet Gaukroger | | Winsford Flash | ‑15 | 11 | 11 | 22 |
| 15th | SOLO | 5257 | Paul Clancy | | Budworth | 13 | ‑17 | 13 | 26 |
| 16th | SUPERNOVA | 1241 | Frank Lafferty | | Winsford Flash | ‑16 | 13 | 14 | 27 |
| 17th | MIRACLE | 4103 | Dave Thomas | Shan Stapley | Shotwick | 17 | ‑18 | 12 | 29 |
| 18th | GP14 | 14294 | Peter Thoms | Dawn Frost | Nantwich | 14 | 16 | ‑17 | 30 |
| 19th | MIRACLE | 4116 | Ellen Dinelow | Pete Williams | Colemere | ‑19 | 19 | 19 | 38 |
| 20th | LASER RADIAL | 132365 | Thomas Walker | | Nantwich | ‑20 | 20 | 20 | 40 |
What did this mean for the Overall scores of the whole 2025 series after eight events?
1st - Pete Coop-Winsford - Streaker was crowned 2025 Champion
2nd - Paul Newman-Shotwick - Streaker
3rd - Ted Garner-Budworth - Solo
1st Double - Handed Simon and Julie Dolman - Miracle
1st Junior - Nayth Twiggs - Topper
Big thanks to Jon Close and the whole rescue team for making this a great finish to the series.
The Borders has been a huge sailing success with over 90 boats entering the eight events, which equates to over 100 sailors (with double handed).
There were seven different dinghies in the top ten which tells us that any boat has the potential to do well in the Borders and also validates that the PY numbers are fair.
We have had regattas with over 30+ boats and over 200 entries and an average turnout of 25 per regatta.
We congratulate Dave Thomas and Dave Turtle for their vision and effort (back in 2000), in creating and making the Borders into a highly successful and well supported series.
So why not come and join our friendly Tuesday club it’s better than being in work! If you want any information about the series then see our website, bordercountiesmidweeksailing.wordpress.com