Super Scourfield takes victory in Pursuit

Ten boats took to the river at the weekend as Welland Yacht Club members contested the Carl Bilbie Pursuit Trophy.
The competition saw boats with different handicaps start at individual times.
The first boats away were the Solos of Paul Wilson and Martin Cook, followed by the Solo of Mark Scourfield, next was the OK of Andy Agar and the five Laser full rigs.
Wilson managed to take the lead but halfway down the mile straight picked up some weed which enabled Cook and Scourfield to catch him.
With the wind filling in from behind, the chasing boats began to catch up.
It was Scourfield who sailed around the turning mark first. On the tight reach back Alan Cox in the Laser managed to catch and overtake Cook as they turned to the off wind leg.
At the end of the 50-minute race it was Scourfield who had stayed ahead of Cox, with the laser of Alistair Mitchell finishing third.
Race two had the same format.
Solos were again first around the four buoy and Scourfield rounded before Cook and Wilson with the Lasers closing.
It had developed into a beat back and a lot of cross tacking took place looking for some clear wind, until the boats reached the corner and were able to turn for the clubhouse turning mark.
As the 50 minutes ran down it was going to be a close finish between a number of boats, but it was Scourfield who held off Cox by half a boat’s length to win, with Keiron Powell in the laser coming through Chapman and Cook to take third place.
There was all to sail for in the third and final race with the trophy up for grabs.
This time seven boats started and were joined by the Mirror of Eric Murray who was away first.
Solos again reached the buoy first. Cook and Scourfield had a few cross tacks on the way back allowing the Lasers of Powell and Cox to catch up and eventually overtake on the off wind leg.
Powell built on his lead and sailed to a first place, with the battle for second between Cox and Scourfield, who remained in close company up to the rounding of four buoy and the finish of the race. This time Cox took second place by a boat’s length.
Scourfield took the victory by one point from Cox, with Powell in third.
p WYC took part in the Wash Rivers and Edgar Bain trophies held at OASC, King’s Lynn, on Sunday.
WYC had four boats enter and were the only other club to take part.
There were three team entries – two from the host plus WYC team of Gail Follington (Comet), Neal Tack & Rebecca Slator (Graduate) and Mark Holland (Laser).
As OASC’s second team were a boat down WYC’s Arden Follington (Laser Radial) took part for the hosts.
Offering the visitors a wider stretch of water than they’re used to sailing on, the course proved a little challenging. Although finishing third, a few points adrift of second place it was a great experience for those involved.