UK Fast ElectricModel Boat Racing National Championships 2005 - Results

Report by Race Director –Ernie Lazenby

Once again the weather gods smiled upon us and we had a very good weekend of sunshine and very little wind. The presence of friends from overseas was very welcome and they very much added to the competitive side of the weekend and also to the general air of good humour and friendliness.

Because the event was the MPBA national Championship with an international element separate trophies were awarded to the MPBA members and the overseas visitors. The trophies awarded to the overseas visitors were sponsored by Allan Shillito and are for permanent retention by the recipients.

NOTE: The top three placed UK competitors in each class automatically qualified for the 2006 World Championships.

Mono 1

This was a very well supported class with 12 competitors from the Uk and Belgium. It was apparent that any one could win this class but the front runners were Tom Feyen, Bart Vangeyt, Vaughan Miller and Paul Dodge. It was necessary to split the 12 into 2 groups of 6 not least because we only had sufficient lap counters for 10 boats!!

The pleasing thing about the racing from a race director’s point of view is that it was easy to control; all the drivers knew what was required and there were few racing incidents. The standard of racing was top notch.

Result Mono1

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Tome Feyen (Belgium)	60	41 secs. *
2nd	Vaughan Miller	57	29
3rd	Bart Vangeyt(Belgium)	55	27 *
4th	Paul Dodge	53	29
5th	Luc De Weerd(Belgium)	52	40
6th	David Pearson	48	55
7th	Ken Brown	39	65
8th	Nigel Murgatroyd	38	10
9th	Jordan Dodge(jnr)	33	33
10th	Joe Read	31
11th	B Gains	23	05
12th	Ian Williams	12	05

The MPBA trophy and medals therefore went to

Trophy and MPBA Champion Vaughan Miller (Electra)
Runner up Paul Dodge(Bury)
Bronze medal David Pearson(Bury)

* Tom Feyen awarded the gold cup
* Bronze medal to Bart Vangeyt

Mono 2 open

The number of competitors was perhaps on the low side but one thing was for certain, all those who competed were highly competitive and nothing was decided until the last heat. Luc De Weerd gave a master class of how to drive a course at speed and how to drive when dead boats litter the lake. Luc found the course strange because of the dimensions of the oval however he made no complaint and just got on with the job of proving that a top racer can race anywhere. The three musketeers from Bury cleaned up the three MPBA positions.

Result Mono 2

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Luc De Weerd	63	40
2nd	Paul Heaton	59	20
3rd	Simon Mitchell	58	21
4th	Joe Read	58	52
5th	Peter De Winter	39	25
6th	Bill Addison	19	10
7th	Ian Williams	7	05

Therefore the MPBA national Champion is Paul Heaton (Bury)
Runner up Simon Mitchell(Bury)
Bronze medal Joe Read (Bury)

Luc De Weerd was awarded the Gold cup.

Mono 2 Restricted

This class used to be very well supported often into double figures.

This year the numbers were well down but that did not mean the competition was not hot because it was!. Paul Heaton always looked favourite and did not disappoint. Ken Brown was driving his rebuilt B24 a boat that he had not used for well over 6 months and had he tested it before the first heat he may well have challenged for first place.

Results Mono 2 restricted

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Paul Heaton (Bury)	33	30
2nd	Simon Mitchell (Bury )	31	24
3rd	Ken Brown(Darlington)	31	26
4th	David Pearson (Bury)	30	12
5th	Jordan Dodge(Bury-jnr)	27	28

Mono 3

This class is not as popular in Europe as it was a couple of years ago and this downward trend was repeated at this event however the racing was highly competitive. Paul Heaton gave a demonstration of controlled driving with a fast boat proving that to win it you need to finish!

Result Mono 3

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Paul Heaton	40	37
2nd	Joe Read	39	80
3rd	Tom Feyen	24
4th	Simon Mitchell	20	36
5th	Bill Addison	10	05
6th	Guy Verachtert	8

MPBA National Champion Paul Heaton (Bury)
Runner Up Joe Read (Bury)
Bronze medal Simon Mitchell (Bury)

Tom Feyen awarded a Bronze medal.

Eco Standard

The race director thoroughly enjoyed this class and in particular watching Stephe Hart of Electra give a master class in how to drive the triangle at high speed. He was pushed by Tom Watson and Andy Hassan but the result did not really look in doubt barring any mechanical failure. The top three achieved lap scores that would have been enough to get into the final at this years European championships.

Results Eco Standard

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Stephe Hart (Electra)	86	36
2nd	Tom Watson(Bridlington)	85	27
3rd	Andy Hassan(Electra)	81	22
4th	Nick Rees (Concorde)	77	06
5th	Vaughan Miller (Electra)	71	40
6th	Steve Raynor (Electra)	67	21
7th	Tim Watson (NFERC)	22	05

Eco Expert

Seriously fast boats being driven around the triangle is not for the beginner. These boats are motoring and great skill is needed to drive close to the buoys while avoiding other boats all doing the same. It was good to see young Rubin Rees drive his boat so well and it won’t be long before he’s a serious challenger, The top 4 boats in this class were streets ahead of the others but the real class act was once again Stephe Hart.Tom and Andy had their own private battle and as you can see from the scores it was very close.

Result Eco Expert

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Stephe Hart (Electra)	117	42
2nd	Tom Watson (Bridlington)	109	19
3rd	Andy Hassan(Electra)	109	26
4th	Nick Rees (Concorde)	108	10
5th	Ian Phillips(Bridlington)	98	23
6th	George Roberts(Bridlington	98	57
7th	Steve Raynor(Electra)	92	27
8th	Rubin Rees Concorde)	58	04

FORMULA 400

This class was quite well supported and remains popular in the north and south of the country. Some of these 400/480 powered boats are quick. Joe Read was rather lucky to hold onto his title just managing to beat newcomer David Church (14 yrs) by 15 seconds! The trophy and medals for this class were kindly presented by Mrs Betty Dack widow of Alan Dack who passed away in 2004. Alan was a keen fast electric racer and he loved the 400 class. The race Director was very moved to have Alan’s widow do the presentation and makes no apology for getting his words mixed up due to the lump in his throat when introducing Betty. (he’s a big softy at heart)

Special mention must go to master Luke Burton of the Bridlington club who showed he is well able to race his boat while displaying excellent sportsmanship.

Results FM 400

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Joe Read (Bury)	42	14
2nd	David Church (Electra)	42	29
3rd	Tom Watson(Bridlington	40	47
4th	George Roberts (Bridlington)	36	14
5th	Tim Watson(Bridlington)	35	54
6th	Luke Burton(Jnr)(Bridlington)	32	47
7th	Nigel Murgatroyd (NFERC)	30
8th	Ian Phillips (Bridlington)	30	07

Hydro 1

This turned out to be a bit of a damp squib because although 5 boats pre entered only 2 managed it to the water.

Because there were not three UK entries no MPBA prizes could be awarded. A Gold cup was awarded to Bart Vangeyt who gave a master class demonstration of how to make a Victory micro cat run fast totally under control and for the full 5 minutes. Having seen this boat run there is not doubt in the race directors mind that Bart would have won the class no matter how many boats had entered

We will need to look at this class because this is the 4th event when there has been very low numbers resulting in it not being contested in 2003 and 2004. Maybe I will have to come out of retirement for next year!!

Result

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Bart Vangeyt (Belgium)	34	07
2nd	Nick Rees	4	02

Hydro 2

Unfortunately interest in this class seems to have drained away and although 4 boats pre entered only 2 hit the water at the start. Having less three boats resulted in the MPBA element not being contested however the two contestants put on a good display of driving and a gold cup was awarded to Ian Williams and a silver medal to Paul Heaton. Hopefully we can attract more entries for 2006 otherwise this class will wither on the vine and die.

Result Hydro 2

Posn	Name	Total Score laps	Total Score Seconds
1st	Ian Williams (NFERC)	37	22
2nd	Paul Heaton (Bury)	36	00

Eco Team

The Race Director always looks forward to this event even though it means he has to concentrate for 18 minutes and needs eyes in the back of his head. It’s a crazy event requiring great skill particularly when the recovery boat goes out because racing does not stop for dead boats.

Stephe Hart had kindly donated a splendid silver trophy to be awarded annually for this event in memory of his father who passed away in 2005. Stephe has kindly offered to have the names of the previous winners going back to 2002 engraved on the trophy. A splendid all round gesture by Stephe and most appreciated.

The race itself was excellent however from an early stage it was apparent that Team Electra was the front runners pushed hard by Dackys Destroyers and the Eco warriors.

Result- Eco team

Posn	Name	Team Members
Winners	Team Electra 106 laps	Stephe Hart Andy Hassan David Church
Silver Medallists	Dackys Destroyers	Tom Watson(Bridlington) Tim Watson (Bridlington) Ian Phillips (Bridlington)

apologies for getting this incorrect... Allan

FURTHER AWARDS

The race director provided the following trophies

BEST OVERSEAS VISITOR

A silver cup awarded to Tom Feyen for his results in Mono 1 & Mono 2 but particularly for his mono 1 result in a big field.

BEST JUNIOR

A cup awarded to David Church for his result in FM400

Medals for endeavor were awarded to those who gave of their time for the weekend fulfilling duties that otherwise would have to have been filled by competitors.