Competitors at Wigan SC’s Mirror Open on Sunday, 4th September, enjoyed bright, sunny conditions and a moderate but variable westerly wind. Four races were held, with three to count for the trophy.
In Race One Richard Badman (Blackpool & Fleetwood YC), Dave Warren (Burton SC) and John McKeand (Wigan SC) all made good starts. However, by the second lap a tussle had developed at the front between McKeand and Warren. At the gun it was McKeand first, Warren second and Luke Turnbull, fresh from his win at the previous weeks Youth championship, third.
Race Two got underway in a freshening wind. Platford was first at the windward mark, with Warren on his transom. A capsize to windward then caused Warren to fall back and Tumbull took up the chase. Gradually Turnbull eroded Platford’s lead and, after many place changes, the finishing order was Turnbull, Platford and McKeand.
Turnbull was also the winner of Race Three with McKeand second and Warren third.
With McKeand and Turnbull now favourites for the trophy, it was Platford who established an early lead in Race Four. Eventually Platford and McKeand got clear of the fleet. This pair changed positions no fewer than six times, before McKeand got ahead on the vital last lap to take the gun, with Platford second and Warren third.
Overall best positions were:
1st John McKeand & Bruce Mills (Wigan SC)
2nd Luke Turnbull & Gillian Toman (Wigan SC)
3rd Roy Platford and John Deane (Wigan SC)
4th Dave & Carol Warren (Burton SC)
5th John Lewis & Celie Brookes (Winsford SC)
6th Mike Preston & Paul Shimmin (Blackpool & Fleetwood YC)
Editors Note: This article is from Reflections No. 79 Winter 1988, page 9. It has been captured by OCR, so typos & errors are possible.