Mid Week IOM Handicap

A cold gusty westerly was forecast and that was pretty much what we got for today’s IOM handicap at Risdon Brook Dam. The wind was unsettled throughout the whole day with dead calm patches suddenly changing to more than 15 knots. A-rigs were the go today - a handful in the heavy gusts but needed in the calm patches. It was a swinging wind too. I remarked to Ricky that it had come from all directions of the compass. Ricky qualified his agreement by saying that we haven’t had any from the due South but as if to mock us both less than a couple of minutes later it came fresh and strong down the bank.
 
Phil Jackman took on the PRO duties for the day and of course did an excellent job getting us through 11 races on a difficult day. Thanks as always Trout.
 
The ‘Short Boys’ pulled off a quinella in the second race of the day by finishing first and second and in a neat feat of book-ending managed another two races later only this time they took out the last two placings!
 
An honourable mention goes to Peter Webberley who turned up late after already putting in a day at work but managed to star with back-to-back wins in races #9 and #10.
 
The results sheet ended up looking like a tribute to Ian Vickers with the V12s and V11s filling the first 4 spots. John Penman and Alan Short took out 4th and 3rd respectively both having had two race wins during the course of the day. It was a day when fortunes could change rapidly and it was just as easy to go from riches to rags as it was to go from rags to riches. Not surprisingly on such a day the skippers who could manage some kind of consistency did the best. Ricky Price filled second place and Ian Hey won the day very convincingly a clear 11 points ahead with consistency the successful ingredient for both skippers. Congratulations to all!
 
Coming Up:
 
Sunday: DF scratch racing at Risdon Brook Dam. DF95 in the morning with button press 10:00 and DF65 in the afternoon with button press 1:00
Next Wednesday: Its long distance handicap racing for IOMs at Risdon Brook Dam. 10:30 button press.
 
Shorty