Enterprise Youth National Championship at Barnt Green Sailing Club

Enterprise U25 Youth Champions Rory Mackenzie and Millie Pryke during the Enterprise National Youth Championship at Barnt Green © Paula Southworth

Roscoe Martin being presented with the Tim Finch Under 15 Enterprise Trophy during the Enterprise National Youth Championship at Barnt Green © Paula Southworth

The Enterprise Youth National Championship, sponsored by Zhik and Noble Marine Insurance, was held once again at Barnt Green Sailing Club and saw 12 boats from as far afield as Newcastle in the north and Kent in the south competed in a quality fleet which included two previous champions.

Race 1 started after a short postponement with Sam Woods and Laura Richardson (Glossop SC / Southport SC) over the line but failing to return and was disqualified. Matt Velamail and Tim Brownell (Ulley SC) started at the pin end of the line and led at the first mark, close behind where Sam and Laura in second, Rory MacKenzie and Millie Pryke (Ogston SC / Newcastle) in third and James Morley and Beth Porter (Ulley SC / West Lancs YC) in fourth. Matt and Tim held the lead for the whole of the race but places changed regularly further down the fleet with Calum MacKenzie and Roscoe Martin (Ogston SC) making up a lot of ground to pull through to second with Rory and Millie taking third. These places remained unchanged all the way to the finish.

Race 2 started after a general recall, the restart saw Matt and Tim led away from the pin end of the line, after a chaotic windward mark rounding Matt and Tim take the lead from Rory and Millie in second with Sam and Laura in third followed by Kelsey Suggit and Will Lockett (Barnt Green SC) fourth. Rory and Millie took the lead on the run with Sam and Laura second, Calum and Roscoe third, Matt and Tim fourth. Places continued to change throughout the race with the first five boats pulling away from the rest of the fleet. After a very shifty last beat Matt and Tim crossed the line first with Rory and Millie in second, James and Beth third, Sam and Laura fourth and Calum and Roscoe in fifth. Matt and Tim were however later disqualified from this race after a protest for a mark rounding incident.

Race 3 was started in lighter winds and saw Calum and Roscoe over the line and having to return. Tom Goodey and Richard Carter (Newcastle University) rounded the windward mark first with Sam and Laura close behind. By the second windward leg Sam and Laura had gained the lead with James and Beth second, Kelsey and Will in third followed by Matt and Tim in fourth. On the last lap Matt and Tim made best use of the shifts on the beat to move up to second with Kelsey and Will slipping to fourth. Sam and Laura held on to their comfortable lead to win the race followed by Matt and Tom in second, James and Beth in third with Kelsey and Will finishing fourth.

Race 4 on the Sunday started in similar wind to Saturday but with more sunshine. After a clean start and a busy first beat Jack Lawson and Clio Scutt (Killington Lake SC / Middle Nene SC) rounded the windward mark first, with Rory and Millie in second followed by Matt and Tim in third. By the third mark Rory and Millie had taken the lead with Matt and Tim, James and Beth, along with Calum and Roscoe all close together behind. On the second lap Jack and Clio capsized on the windward mark handing second place to Matt and Tim, who soon came under pressure from James and Beth followed by Kelsey and Will with Sam and Laura close behind. Rory and Millie maintained a comfortable lead to the line taking first in front of Matt and Tim in second with a close battle behind with Kelsey and Will taking third from James and Beth on the line.

Race 5 would decide everything with the scores very close for the first six placed boats. Calum and Roscoe started at the pin end of the line getting a fantastic start to lead round the windward mark several lengths ahead of Jack and Clio in second and Rory and Beth in third. Calum and Roscoe built a good lead which was gradually eaten in to by Rory and Beth who had overtaken Jack and Clio. By the leeward mark Sam and Laura were in third followed by Matt and Tim in fourth with Jack and Clio having dropped to fifth. The Mackenzie brothers who by now had managed to build a good lead battled for first place whilst Matt and Tim fought with Sam and Laura for third. Calum and Roscoe retaining the upper hand to win the race with Rory and Beth in second who had done just enough to win the 2014 Youth National Championships, followed by Sam and Laura in fourth with Matt and Tim in fourth.

Overall Results:

• The Old Boat Trophy (sail number below 21000): 17447, Richard & Bryn Abendstern
• Tim Finch Trophy (First Helm or Crew Under 15): Roscoe Martin
• The Thompson Cup (First Helm under 18): Jack Knight
• 1st U21 (First Helm under 21) Rory Mackenzie
• The Lady Helm Trophy: Kelsey Suggit

Winners during the Enterprise National Youth Championship at Barnt Green - photo © Paula Southworth