420 World Championships at La Rochelle Overall
by Jo Grindley 24 Jul 2000 16:28 BST
THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT AS BRITISH GIRLS TAKE YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
Christina Bassadone and Helen Mayhew were crowned 420 World Champions last
week in La Rochelle, France, beating off competition from 57 teams
representing 16 nations. A greater achievement due to this being an open
championship (no age limit) and Christina and Helen being just 19 and 16
respectively.
The last British Woman to win this title was Kathy Foster in 1978, Kathy went
on to represent Great Britain at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games becoming
the first Women's helmsman to compete at the Olympics in a mixed class.
Charlotte Odell (18) and Susie Webber were the top girls at the inaugural
29er World Championships held in Lake Garda, also last week. Finishing 22nd
overall in an open fleet of 60 boats that included star 49er crews and the
boats designer Julian Bethwaite, the British pairing showed great maturity to
take the Women's Trophy.
Katie Archer (18) was sailing the single handed Laser Radial at the Youth
Worlds in Turkey. In a fleet of 127 boats Katie finished first female & 42nd
overall with fellow Brit Bonnie Holt (18) winning the silver fleet and being
2nd female overall. Katie has become the most successful female Laser Radial
sailor Britain has produced and hopes next year to try her hand at the
Olympic single-handed Europe class.
With the disappointment of no British Women 470 sailors reaching the IOC
qualification criteria for this year Olympic Games, the future certainly
looks bright for Women's sailing at the 2004 Olympics with new talent already
rising to the top level of International sailing.
Youth Manager Steve Joel was overjoyed with the girls performance "This is
great for the girls, they have been totally focused all year towards the
World Championships and they have received their just rewards. I hope these
results will encourage more girls into sailing, the future certainly looks
bright."
With this years introduction of the £1 Million Sport England & Volvo UK Ltd
funded Youth Sailing Initiative the girls can expect the best coaching and
support services available in youth sport today to move forward to the 2004
Olympics.
Overall results, 420 World Championships, La Rochelle, 9 races, 2 discards:
420 - Women:
1st Christina Bassadone & Helen Mayhew GBR
2nd Altani Danezi & Evagelia Vlachov GRE
3rd Elena Ziliani & Alessand Marenzi ITA
Other British placings
12th Gemma Frier & Sophie Esson
21st Victoria & Emma Rawlinson
22nd Nicky Barnes & Kate Sanders
28th Caroline Litchfield & Katie Graves
32nd Gemma Farrell & Joanna Allen
420 - Men:
1st Mathew & Daniel Belcher AUS
2nd Luca Bursic & Thomas Jacob ITA
3rd Mileos Michalis & Polighronidis GRE
British placings:
30th Nic Asher & Paul Davies
31st Elliot Willis and Sam Richmond
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