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The unofficial report
from the 2011 Grand Bala meeting Nigel
Harrison
Too much sun, too many competitors, a bit too much whirling around on the
dance floor, too many stars under the night sky. How tiresome the Bala meet is
becoming!
The official report will tell you that Paul came first at the Bala
TT races closely followed by Alex and Gareth. But I am here to let you in on the
unofficial awards:

The coach and novice race is
awarded to Alex for manfully coaching Steve Fenner though his maiden
voyage on his Catapult plus first ever sailing race plus first capsize
and recovery!
The new Catapulter award goes to Steve for
renovating his old Cat with help from Dave, Paul, John and Jonno and
four hulls and getting on the water. I think his coaching trip with Alex
saved him about four years of normal learning. He is due to compete at
Bridlington so we may have a new racer amongst us.
The enthusiastic Catapulter award goes to
all of us who were there; John, Heather, Paul, Elaine, Dave, Gareth,
George and Margaret, Nigel, Stuart, Alex, Alastair, Steve, Steph, Jonno,
Brodie, Jed and Tomasina, Justin and Sarah
John Terry, Chris and Barbara, and Neal – your missed a great long
weekend!
(Below: George holds on to his
lead, Race 4, with Gareth, Paul and Justin chasing)

A few facts
Most of us arrived on Friday and assembled a fleet on 12
Catapults plus various tents and campervans. Fish and chips, beer and
camp fire by the lakeside got us in the mood. The Catapult throng
converged on Bala for the first Pairs race on Saturday morning.
Lovely 10 - 12mph
winds and sunshine made the following three TT events superb fun
and I managed to get some trapezing in. Saturday night was the
Ceilidh
in the marquee followed by beer by the camp fire.
Sunday saw another fun relay race followed by serious racing in
fresh winds and glorious sunshine. Thank you to George and Margaret for
booking the pub.
Monday winds were disappointing and we drifted and abandoned one
race, then managed one slow TT, then packing up, awards and home. A
wonderful weekend, I am exhausted, sunburnt and hung-over.
Nigel Harrison |
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Below: Race Officer Don
Findlay calls the fleet home on Monday as Race 5 dies on the glassy lake

Below: John Pep eases away from
Alastair

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