GP14 Leinsters at Mullingar Sailing Club

 With the GP14 World Championships less than a month behind us, many of the Irish sailors would be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas. But with the arrival of autumn, the GP14 Ireland fleet moved to Mullingar Sailing Club and Lough Owel last weekend for their Leinster Championships. And while not en-masse, a turnout of 35 boats is not to sneezed at. The event did see plenty of changed crew line ups with also the return of some past regulars. Great to see at this end of the season.

With next months Irish Sailing Champions Cup in Sutton Dinghy Club being sailed in GP14, 2 of the GP14 Classes representatives were hoping to get much needed time on the water. Ger Owens and Jane Kearney will be joined next month by Shane MacCarthy in what is the 75th Anniversary of the event.

A super event hosted by Mullingar Sailing Club under the stewardship of event coordinator and Club Commodore David Maxwell. A super dinner in the Annabrook Hotel was preceded by the Class first face to face AGM in a few years.

Outgoing President and Mullingar club man Michael Collender thanked the sailors and his Committee for their support throughout his tenure and particularly in this a GP14 World Championship year which had been such a success. Michael also extended best wishes to Ger Owens, Jane Kearney, Shane MacCarthy and Max Cully who would be representing the GP14 Class in the re-badged Irish Sailing Champions Cup reflecting that the GP14 Class are honored to have been asked, in its 75th anniversary year, to host the event, formerly known as the Helmsmans Championship. It will be held in Sutton Dinghy Club in early October and has been graced down the years by a number of GP14 winners including a couple who sailed in Mullingar this past weekend.

Overall Results:

Gold

1. Ger Owens & Mel Morris (Royal St.George Yacht Club & East Antrim Boat Club)

2. Ross Kearney & Katie Dwyer (Royal North of Ireland YC & Sutton Dinghy Club)

3. Colman Grimes & Sam Wrays (Skerries Sailing Club & Sligo Yacht Club)

Silver

1. Simon Cully & Libby Tierney (Blessington Sailing Club)

2. Alan Pinder & Jack Hayes (Mullingar Sailing Club)

3. Conor Twohig & Matthew Cotter (Sutton Dinghy Club)

Bronze

1. David Evans & Jon Evans (Sligo Yacht Club)

2. Max Cully & Tighe Wardell (Blessington Sailing Club)

3. Denis Cully & Ollie Lloyd (Blessington Sailing Club)

Youth Champion (U22)

Peter Boyle & Hugh McNally (Sutton Dinghy Club)

Junior Champion (U16)

David Evans & Jon Evans (Sligo Yacht Club)