Barrow set to benefit from 10mph Windermere lake speed limit

Next weekend (June 8-9), the docks will host the spectacle of grand prix racing boats, which in past years have been seen on a course in Windermere's south lake.

The move is a major step in the regeneration of Barrow's dock system, which has acres of unused water since the run down of the shipbuilding industry over the last 30 years.

Organisers of the venture are the West Lakes Renaissance Group, the Port of Barrow Grand Prix Partnership and, significantly, Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club, which has also arranged for some rounds of its own racing programme to be held in the docks in June and July.

With the 2005 introduction of the 10mph speed limit drawing ever closer, many people had expected that there would be exceptions for long-established organisations like the Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club, but that is now beginning to look increasingly unlikely and Barrow Docks may become the only viable alternative if racing is to remain in the county.

In the meantime the club continues to go ahead with its racing on the lake and recently its Broad Leys headquarters was the focus for a National Grand Prix for Offshore Racing Boats, which provided some spectacular action over a triangular course in the south lake.

Results:

OCR Race One (Saturday) 27 laps of 2.1 nautical mile course: 1 Ian Mackman & John Rusby 62.07mph, X55; 2 Sam Robinson & Fiona Bevis, 62.34mph, X24; 3 Gavin Hanks & Ian Stirling, 60.76 mph, X68.

OCR A: 1 John R. Young & Teena Mitchell, 55.46mph, A7; 2 Robert McCarthy & Tony Burnell, 54.91mph, A9; 3 Mark Kirk & Christina Deakin, 54.91mph, A69.

OCR National Race Two (Sunday) 27 laps of 1.8nm course: 1 I. Mackman & J. Rusby, 75.54mph, X55; 2 S. Robinson & F. Bevis, 74.05mph, X24; 3 G. Hanks & I. Stirling, 72.26mph, X68.

OCR A Class: 1 J.R. Young & T. Mitchell, 68.21mph, A7; 2 M. Kirk & C. Deakin, 66.00mph, A69; 3 Paul Hastings & Julian Robertson, 65.96mph, A33.

May 29, 2003 10:31