Saturday, Jul. 28, 2007

Bryant gets victory on penalties in heat 1A

By Jody Moore, hydro.commentator

Steve David led the way around the course, but Dave Bryant got credit for the victory in heat 1A of racing for the 2007 Columbia Cup. David was penalized a lap for jumping the gun in the Oh Boy! Oberto, and ended up finishing fourth.

"I thought Dave had jumped, but I really wasn't paying attention," Bryant said. "I was just trying to keep my lane and run with David. I figured he could show me a good way around the course."

Bryant finished first in the U-10 Hoss Mortgage Investors, followed by J. Michael Kelly in the U-13 Spirit of Detroit. Bryant was assessed a $300 monetary fine for a lane encroachment at the start, but was not disqualified.

"Before the start of the race, I got wet down a little and I couldn't see the inside of the course," Bryant explained. "I kind of moved out a little on J. Michael, and kind of screwed him just a little bit."

Bryant went straight down the dock after the end of the heat and apologized to Kelly, who seemed satisfied by the outcome.

"Things happen. I don't know what happened on his inside. He may have had to move out," Kelly said. "That (he apologized) tells you that he's a good guy and it wasn't intentional. I'm not upset."

Jimmy Shane earned a third place in his first start in the U-1 Formulaboats.com II, while David was fourth and Jeff Bernard was fifth in the U-5 Formulaboats.com. Bernard was also given a one-lap penalty for jumping the gun.

Racing action will continue with heats 1B and 1C today, followed by heats 2 and 3 and the final on Sunday.

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