Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club Annual Prize Giving
by Sylvia Clamp 8 Dec 2011 21:22 GMT
25 November 2011
Anthony Parke wins the Admiral's Trophy at the Mengeham Rythe annual prize giving © Sylvia Clamp
With the main racing season coming to an end it was time for the Annual Prize Giving Ceremony and an opportunity to award our sailing greats on their achievements. This was held in the club house on Saturday, 25 November, 2011 with a packed audience of prize winners, crews, support teams and their proud families.
The Master of Ceremonies was Graeme Macdonald, who opened the proceedings and introduced Val Jenkins who had graciously agreed to present the prizes.
John Butcher (RYA Principal) introduced the 10 Junior Members who were being awarded certificates for attaining RYA Stage 1 and the 5 Junior Members who attained RYA Stage 2.
The Junior Shield for Most Promising went to Harry Payne.
A full list of awards including those for our dinghy and cruiser members can be found on the MRSC website www.mengeham.org.uk.
The overall star of the evening must go to 15 year old, Anthony Parke who amongst other trophies and awards was awarded the Sailing Secretary's Award.
Anthony has had an exemplary year not only in the races at MRSC but this year he also qualified and was chosen for the RYA Team (under 19s) to attend the Laser 4.7 Worlds held in San Francisco in July/August of this year.
MRSC were proud to help Anthony attend this event with sponsorship through the Jeremy Strugnell Fund and the Club's support was justly rewarded as Anthony came 19th out of 110 –and 2nd in the Under 16 Championship run concurrently; no mean achievement for this quiet, unassuming young man.
Anthony said that it was very exciting sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and getting up close to Alcatraz but thankfully not as an inmate!
Anthony received his Club awards watched by his proud parents, brother Conway (who had been awarded the Admirals Trophy), his sister Hazel who had attained RYA 2 this year and his grandfather who started it all off.
Anthony's ambition is to eventually compete in the Olympics in 2020 and will be looking into sponsorship to help him to achieve this goal.
It was certainly a year for our junior members and we can all look forward to an even better year and no doubt be spurred on by the Olympic Sailors in 2012!