Alistair charged up the final straight and turned Dave McCarthy’s dream of victory into a nightmare of another defeat and he was still gnashing his teeth at the presentation.

To be fair to Dave, the Pirate has hit his great form because of his duties as one of Coffs Harbour’s best-known surf lifesavers.

Roy Doutreband is reaping the rewards of his training regime by having his handicap whittled down by the handicapper, always a compliment to the TK1 paddlers.

Peter Grant is in the same boat (yes, a pun) and is also pleased with his efforts, even though he would like to perform an hour earlier.

Mart and Truus Meulenbroeks did pretty well in the double, while Allen Rutter again was subject to rule 23(b) and relegated an unsuspecting Carle Metcalf and a very suspect Mike Mackney to seventh and eighth respectively.

Brett Field took it easy and did well muscling in ahead of Janice Gregory and John Lindsay in a double and a group consisting of the Lovely Rose, the Blind Man, The Brick, Sir Les and Mr Tom Bedford.

John and Cherie Stimpson closed out the Lindsays, who in turn kept Rod Taylor in his place ahead of the G Man and Baylo.

It is good to see Tim Parkes back on the creek, travelling much slower than usual, but too late for Christmas Cup skulduggery.

Ken Buckley also had a slow go, as did a shirtless Bob Cameron, a bloke who can go without a shirt and still look well dressed.

Dave Chambers was quiet around the creek, as was Michael O’Brien, while the Ladies, Deb and Margy, fared little better than last week, but were saved the ignominy of a double black shirt by a lackadaisical and grin-less Stuart Fawle.

The Christmas party will be held on Saturday, December 12.

Racing at Moller Drive on Saturday at 4pm, despite Peter Grant. For more information phone 6658 9065.