RYA Zone Champs 2009

On the 26/27^th of September seven of our youth members attended the annual North Zone championships at Burton sailing club.

 

 

Some were trying to qualify for zone squad (Callum Escritt, Hugh Simpson, Chris Towers) some had already qualified for other squads (Hector Simpson National Squad), (Luke Cowling Junior Development Squad), (Matt and Ben Lulham-Robinson National Squad)

42 Topper and 9 Mirror sailors attended making it the hardest year yet to qualify, so nerves were jangling (mainly the parents).

 

TOPPERS

Race 1 started in a good force 2 to 3 and the lightweights were soon to the front, Chris Towers had exceptional speed and stormed away to win by a long distance. Hector Simpson who likes a bit more breeze hung on for a 6^th, Callum Escritt had a great start to the event posting an 18^th.

Race 2 was a repeat of race 1 Chris won by even further with Hector 6^th, Luke Cowling improved to post a 14^th.

Race 3 and the wind dropped and the course became very uneven, this taxed the more inexperienced (Callum 26^th) but the usual suspects came to the front with Hector taking a bullet and Chris in second Luke improved further posting a 12^th.

After the racing Nick Rodgers (470 double Olympic silver medalist) gave a talk and answered questions like “what qualifications did you get at school”, “Not many I just sailed”, what fitness work do you do”, “none I just sail”, some of the parents were seen to be covering their kids ears!

Sunday dawned windless but by 11am racing was able to be started in a patchy force 1. Chris got back to winning ways and Hector was also building a great series with a 2^nd, Luke 13^th, Hugh 31^stand Callum 38^th.

Race 5 and Chris sealed the overall win by placing 3^rd behind Hector 1^st, Luke 24^th, Hugh 31^st and Callum 35^th.

Lunch was taken with people being seen with calculators working out the qualifying positions.

Although Chris had already won the event and much to his credit he sailed the last race placing 2^nd Hector 4^th,Luke 22^nd ,   and Callum coming back from the dead to finish 24^th.

 

OVERALL

Chris Towers                         1^st           Zone Squad

Hector Simpson              2^nd               National Squad

Luke Cowling                      16^th              Junior Development Squad

Callum Escritt                      27^th               Zone Squad

Hugh Simpson                     36^th

 

MIRRORS 

Matthew and Ben dominated the event from start to finish winning 4 and second in the others, they also got a prize from Nick Rodgers, as he was amazed at the fact they use “homemade” sails. 

Overall it was a fantastic success and we can now boast of having some the best Youth sailors in our region.

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