SAILING NEWS
Zone Championships 05
Patience the key at RYA Zone and Home Country Championships
Olympic heroes help stars of the future
Picture: Paul Wyeth / RYA
PATIENCE was the key as 1,000 youngsters across RYA North Zone Championships (Scaling Dam
England, Scotland and Wales took part in the 2008 RYA SC)
Zone and Home Country Championships over the weekend
of 27-28 September. Having enjoyed a belter of an opening day, the North Zone
Sailors in the Home Countries enjoyed some sensational endured the same frustrating fate as many of the other Zones
racing with those events taking place at Largs (Scotland) on day two as they waited on a postponement for some breeze
and Pwllheli (Wales) completing their full scheduled com- at Scaling Dam.
plement of six races. However, one race was enough for Notts County SC’s
But across England, it was a different story as the week- Andrew Kilburn (Arnold), who had been tied at the top of the
end’s Indian Summer spell made patience a virtue at the leaderboard with Callum Lambourn overnight, to seal overall
other Zone events. Optimist victory on countback from Arran Holman (Burton
Having endured long delays on Saturday, the West Zone Overy, Leics). Kilburn finished second in Sunday’s sole outing
(Blithfield) enjoyed a better day two to see them end the to end on eight points as Lambourn (Alveston) came in third.
weekend as the only English zone to succeed in completing Ripon SC’s Tom Britton’s (York) second place was enough to
their six race series. see him move from second spot into pole overall and claim the
The North (Scaling Dam) and South (WPNSA) zones had Topper class crown by a point from race five winner, and
enjoyed a champagne opening day, getting in four and three Scaling Dam sailor, Kieran Hill (Whitby). Britton’s clubmate
races in respectively for every class, but they struggled on Samantha Towers (Harrogate) finished third on countback, tied
day two and only three of the seven classes at WPNSA on the same points as Hill.
were able to get another race in while just one further race With five windsurfer fleets, Ruben Lansley (Barton Upon
was completed at Scaling Dam. Humber) and Josh Leadbetter (Earlshilton) both romped to
After drawing a day one blank, and despite best efforts all sensational fleet clean sheets on the 4.5 and 7.8 respectively to
round, the South West Zone (Chew Valley) was also unable end the Championships on the minimum four points while the
to get any racing in the can on day two while after succeed- other three windsurfers heading their respective fleets all fin-
ing in nailing one first day race, the South East (Bewl ished on five points in total; Sarah Jackson (Over Peover) won
Valley) were also thwarted in their attempts to add to that the 3.5, Joe Bennett (Rotherham) the Bic Techno 6.8 and
tally. Emma Lambourne (Barrow Upon Humber) the 5.5.
All dinghies (except the Optimists) managed to get a fur-
ther race on day two at the East Zone event (Dabchicks & RYA/WYA Zone Championships (Pwllheli SC)
West Mersea) however the windsurfers successfully com-
pleted a seven-race series. It was as good as the perfect weekend in North Wales as three
The annual RYA Zone and Home Country Championships races were completed on each day with a steady 10 knots from
are considered a key event for young sailors wishing to be the north on day two following the first day’s eight-12 knots of
selected for the RYA Zone and Home Country squads. puff.
But Duncan Truswell, RYA Junior Racing Manager, was Cardiff Bay YC’s David Pain (Penarth) was untroubled on his
quick to stress that those who have seen limited racing in way to Optimist class glory picking up three straight wins on
their Zones would not be disadvantaged in terms of their Saturday before adding a 3, 2, (4) to seal overall victory by 10
possible squad selections. points from nearest challenger Llandegfedd SC’s Myles
He said: “There was some great racing around the country Jackson (Bettws Newydd). A 1, 4, 3 on day two for Mumbles
but it was obviously unfortunate that quite a few sailors did YC’s Joshua Burgess (Caswell) saw him leap up to third place
not get as much racing under their belts as they would have in the final standings having sat in eighth spot overnight.
liked or hoped. The race officials at all the venues did their In the Toppers, overnight leader, Sara Jackson (Bettws
utmost to get as much racing in as possible but it was just Newydd), Myles’ big sister, made no mistakes in hanging on
not to be for some of them as the breeze refused to play to her lead to wrap up the Topper title, scoring 2, (4), 1 to fin-
ball. ish on eight points overall with second-placed Jack Preece
“However, whilst the Zone Championships are seen as an (Newport) on 14 and Robyn Cox (Holyhead) third on 17.
important event in terms of squad selection they are not the
be-all-and-end-all for those selections and the High RYAS Zone Championships (Largs SC)
Performance Managers (HPMs) and coaches in each of the
Zones will take into account open training, key competition The RYA Scottish Zones at Largs had a great entry of 94
and performances over the summer, as well as other boats and boards, including a 20 strong Regatta fleet plus 19
impending end-of-season class association events, in their
the RYA National Junior Squad, 2008 Topper World Champion
the sailors and parents for their patience and praised the efforts Hayling Island SC’s Syd Mclean claimed Optimist class victo Page won the Cadets from Corinthian Otters duo Katie Barr windsurfers. Breezes were mostly light and shifty on the
selection decisions. The fact that you were at your Zone Event
Elliott Hanson (Prestbury) snatched a final race victory to
of the race officials and volunteers in frustrating circumstanc- ry ahead of Jamie Webb (Beaconsfield) in second and Helena and Arthur Brown. Saturday, and there were also mixed conditions on Sunday,
will be viewed favourably.”
leapfrog overnight leader Ollie Cooper (Chiswick) and take
es. Coombs (Cobham) third. Meanwhile in the Toppers Jack With no further racing in the fleet on Sunday, Dabchicks’ from sunshine to squalls, so the competitors’ skills were fully
the class win by just one point.
He said: “Everyone was very patient and understanding and Spence finished at the head of the fleet followed by Oliver Harry Gozzett won the Optimists with Jake Braybrook tested over six races.
RYA South Zone Championships (WPNSA)
Itchenor SC duo Hugo Sloper and Emma Spruce took the
really mucked in. We had lots of other things going on of Machell (Billingshurst) and Louis Knevett (Seaford). (Burnham on Crouch) second and Joe Girling (Norwich) third. There were healthy Regatta fleets for beginners to racing, as
Mirror title having finished first and second respectively with
interest to educate sailors and parents alike and other fun Olympic silver medallist Nick Rogers joined sailors on the Josh Girling (Colchester) won the Fast Handicap fleet and well as main fleets. The Topper Regatta fleet mustered a
Optimism was high that following Saturday’s three races, the
different partners at the 2007 South Zone event. They claimed
things and everyone really got into whatever was going on. All water at Bewl on Saturday before treating the 100 sailors and Matthew French (Colchester) the Slow Handicap. healthy 14 boats, and the lead was hard fought between even-
four knots of breeze that greeted the 320 sailors Sunday morn-
two wins and a discarded second to finish a point ahead of
the volunteers and the Principal Race Officer worked tirelessly their parents to a unique insight into life as a World Class sail- Olympic Laser gold medallist Paul Goodison was the guest of tual winner Joanna Barrie and second placed Iain McLaughlin.
ing would hang around long enough for all classes to add
Tom Lovesey (Sarisbury Green) and Millie Pugh (Parkstone).
to get some racing on but it just wasn’t to be. No-one’s attitude or. honour on Saturday. The Topper Regatta fleet welcomed the first ever OnBoard
another two races to their series.
Hayling Island SC pair Tim Gratton (Guildford) and Chris
could be faulted at all.” team to enter a Zone Championship, bringing a four person
However, with Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour acquir-
Taylor (Stokes Poges) also picked up two victories and a dis-
On Saturday, Olympic silver medallist Joe Glanfield enter- East of England Co-op Volvo RYA East Zone RYA West Zone Championships (Blithfield SC) team from the Low Port Centre, Linlithgow.
ing an increasingly glasslike appearance just one further race
carded second to win the Feva class.
tained the 130 youngsters at Chew Valley, going around the Championships (Dabchicks & West Mersea In the Optimist Regatta fleet, Rachel Mawer made a last race
was completed for the Topper, Dragoon and Laser 4.7s with
Scott Wallis (Wellow) claimed Optimist victory courtesy of
dinghy park talking to the children and helping the Cadet sail- YC) Blithfield were determined to make up for lost time and suc- comeback to snatch the class from the class’s leader up to
the windsurfers, Optimists, Mirrors and Fevas all returning to
his opening day (8), 1, 1, with Robert Baddeley (Cookham) a
ors learn more about rigging up their boats before then con- ceeded in sailing four races on day two to complete their full then, Angus Johnstone. Mawer took the title on tie break after
shore on the same scores they finished with on day one.
point behind in second.
ducting an hour-long talk and answering a host of questions It was the windsurfers who shone at Dabchicks completing a series. her last race win.
Despite scoring a discarded 19th in the sole day two race,
In the windsurfers Nick Sylvester (Truro) won the 3.5 fleet
from sailors and parents. seven-race series with three sailors claiming seven awesome Matt Venables (Sutton Coldfield) made light work of sealing Biggest fleet was the Topper main fleet, with 35 boats.
Spinnaker’s Matthew Hall (Warsash) held on to his overnight
with three bullets, Guy Dixon (Horton Cum Studley) came
straight wins. Topper class victory scoring 1, 2, 1, 1 to finish on eight points Andrew McGowan showed good form on both days to win,
lead to clinch the Topper title by the narrowest of margins
first in the 4.5 fleet with a day one (2), 1, 1, Adam Grayston
Volvo RYA South East Zone Championships Thomas Addison (Folkestone) romped to 7.8 success with his with Lucy Yeates (Warrington) second on 15. while Jamie Noyes showed more consistency on the Sunday to
from Weymouth’s Sam Barker. Both boys finished on eight
(Truro) claimed the 5.5 title having also sealed three race wins,
(Bewl Valley SC) clean sweep while Dani Conroy (Hythe, Kent) and Zara Petts However, it was much tighter at the top of the Oppies as take second, from Jack Evans. Newcomers Emily Robertson
points overall, including one race win apiece, but Hall got the
Ross Bromhead (Buckland Brewer) won the 6.5 class and
(Folkstone) achieved the same on the 5.5 and the 3.5 respec- James Hazelwood (Warrington) edged the class win from and Alastair Kent both showed great promise in fifth and sixth.
nod on account of scoring one more second place that Barker.
Louis Morris (Saltash) topped the 7.8 pile.
Frustrated in their attempts to add to the one race they man- tively. Two races wins and a fourth from her three races today Martin Wrigley (Hereford) after finishing tied at the top on 10 In Optimists, Callum Airlie took the most emphatic win in
Sebastien Samways (Hailsham) and Daniel Channing followed aged to sail on day one, the South East Zone eventually con- saw Hattie White (Sudbury) take the 6.8 title while Henry points. any class, counting the perfect score of five wins. In the
up their three straight opening day Dragoon wins with a dis-
Volvo RYA South West Zone Championships
ceded defeat at Bewl Valley with the breeze refusing to get up Bloodworth (Tadworth) tied up 4.5 victory with two firsts and In the double-handers, Barnt Green duo Joe Taylor and Handicap fleet, Radial sailor Lauren Wilkie found the stronger
carded second to secure top spot in the catamaran class. Adam
(Chew Valley SC)
above two knots on day two. a second. Rebecca Rowe took the Cadets by storm winning five of their breezes to her liking on Sunday, improving from third up to
Butler (Christchurch), 2008 RYA Youth National SL16 cham- Whitstable YC sisters Meia and Elin Harnett secured the sole With all dinghies bar the Optimists adding one more race to six races and finishing second in the other. Alex Lloyd (West first overall, overhauling overnight leader Nathan Forrester,
pion, and Niki Boniface ended with a race win to finish second
With flat calm waters and absolutely no racing possible on
race win in the Mirror class with Cambridge’s Tim Lachlan- their overnight scores, George Meredith (Peterborough) Berholt) and Jack Moore (Stone) matched Taylor and Rowe’s who took second just a point behind. Christopher Dowson took
overall.
either day, Chris Atherton, HPM for the South West, thanked
Cope and Theo Clarke taking second and Mali Harnett wrapped up the Topper title with a race victory with James feat to ease to Mirror success. the Windsurfing class from Amy Kenmuir, both sailing Techno
With the Laser 4.7 competition acting as a selection event for (Whitstable) and Isabelle Bruton (Lysted) third. Rushton (Salhouse). Felixstowe brothers John and Alexander 7.8s.
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