LAST Sunday was the last of the Winter series on Oulton Broad and coincidentally was also one of the best with a good breeze for the first time for a long time.

LAST Sunday was the last of the Winter series on Oulton Broad and coincidentally was also one of the best with a good breeze for the first time for a long time.

The first Fast Handicap race had the largest number of starters for the whole series with nineteen out and it followed the same pattern that had dominated the series. Richard Fryer and Carol Smalls were again the fastest round the course, enjoying some exciting three sail planning down wind and they finished with a good lead. But again back in ninth place was David Frary sailing his Finn, a couple of places in front of the leading Laser sailed by Alan Cone and these two moved up to first and second to produce a one, two, three which was also the same as the overall series positions.

Owen Delany has ended the series with several good results and he won the first Squib race, leading all the way. Jim Tubby picked up a place to second by passing Bryan and Jenny Riley but Bryan had done enough earlier in the season to win overall with Owen second and the place that Jim gained during the race was good enough to give him third place from David Gooch by just one point.

The second Fast Handicap race had Richard Fryer out in front as usual but this time he was beaten on handicap by Ben Falat sailing a Contender by a narrow six second margin while Duncan Madin could do no better than third both on the water and handicap. David Frary had gear failure and had to retire but he had still won enough races to win the series overall from Richard Fryer with Nick Favell taking third place.

Alan Cone was the easy winner of the Laser class but behind him there was place changing as Jonathon Jones moved up to second pushing Simon Beckett back to third. Overall Alan Cone won the series from Steve Cole who had made a successful transfer from the Merlins with Jones taking third.

Bryan Riley pulled out a good lead to win the second Squib race and with it the series while David Gooch and Jilly Foulds turned the tables on Jim Tubby to finish second and third. But overall Owen Delany took second with David Gooch getting third.

Next Sunday there is a joint Open Day for the Lasers and RS classes and the summer season will start as usual the following Sunday with the All Comers race for the Lady Mayhew Trophy.

Results. Oulton Broad. Sunday. Fast Handicap 1 (19) Finn Lizzie (David Frary); The Mistress (Alan Cone); Mustard (Richard Fryer). Squibs 1 (8) Firebird (Owen Delany); Spirit of Perfection (Jim Tubby). Fast Handicap 2 (6) Nogbad the Bad (Ben Falat); Custard; Get Over It (Duncan Madin). Lasers (4) The Mistress; Zigzagzig (Jonathon Jones): Rawhide (Simon Beckett). Squibs 2 (7) Brimstone; Ex Flame (David Gooch); Spirit of Perfection.

Overall. Fast Handicap Finn Lizzie (David Frary); The Mistress (Alan Cone); Custard (Richard Fryer); Squibs 1 Brimstone (Bryan Riley); Firebird (Owen Delany); Spirit of Perfection (Jim Tubby). Fast Handicap 2 Finn Lizzie; Custard; Cabinet Craft (Nick Favell). Lasers The Mistress; Flying Solo (Steve Cole); Zigzagzig (Jonathon Jones). Squibs 2 Brimstone; Firebird; Ex Flame (David Gooch).