John Pollard wins Leeds Trophy at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

John Pollard is awarded the Leeds Trophy at the Royal Torbay Yacht Club © Jean Border / www.borderphotos2010.com

John Pollard has been awarded the prestigious Leeds Trophy. This trophy was given to the Torbay Yachting Association (TYA) by Sir Reginald Leeds in the early 1950’s for outstanding achievement in connection with the sea and sailing. Sir Reginald was a very well know figure at that time and was married to Winnaretta Singer who was a member of the famous Singer Sewing Machine family. The trophy can be awarded to any member of a sailing or yacht club affiliated to the TYA following nomination by a club member and since its inception the award has only been made twenty times.

The honour was a well kept secret until the Royal Torbay Yacht Club annual prize giving and John says he was completely lost for words at having been nominated to receive the trophy by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club (RTYC).

John started sailing in the Torquay Cadet fleet, in the early 80's, when there were no zone squads; no coaching; no expensive equipment; just youngsters competing for the top spot. He says some of his predecessors achieved great success and they include several world champions and ‘round the world’ yachtswoman, Dame Naomi James. He is very honoured to have his name inscribed on the very select Leeds Trophy Winners Board at the Royal Torbay Club House.

He has been awarded the trophy for outstanding sailing achievement and says it is a fantastic honour to be acknowledged in such a way by competitors and associations alike.

His father, who was a keen cruising man, passed away early in John’s sailing career and it was his mother Joan, who was a life member of the RTYC, who encouraged him to continue in the Cadet Class. He learned the elusive skill of yacht racing in Torbay and it was to become a lifelong love and way of life. He is in no doubt that Torbay provides fantastic sailing waters. During his sailing career he has sailed at many international venues but still says that Torbay is a great place to sail and is just getting better with all the local improvements.

When commenting on the award John said, ‘Torbay is a place to be proud off. I know, I have sailed at the rest including the 2012 Olympic venue.

My wife, Katie, regularly competes internationally with me and we have won the Addison Gold Cup, the WhiteleggeTrophy and the St Petersburg Regatta (Boat of the Regatta) against 240 boats and over 1000 competitors.

My team and I compete internationally mainly in the Melges 24 Class and make up a true team incorporating talent, camaraderie, great friendship and we are all from the Royal Torbay Yacht Club. We are very patriotic and carry the Union Flag on the boats when we race.

The success of Team 'Xcellent' is all home grown and together we have been privileged to win 6 national titles, 3 european titles in addition to international success in Italy, France and America.

We are a very tight knit team which others sometimes find difficult to understand. We compete and stay together on and off the water and next month I shall be honoured to be best man at our tactician’s wedding; one of us has even thought of writing a book on our experiences and another is godfather to my 5 year old daughter, Emily, who is more than keen to start sailing.

Emily, and the award of the Leeds Trophy, have changed my vision for the future and now I feel it is time to return something to the sport that has given me so much. I hope to become involved in coaching others. The Royal Yachting Association has greatly improved local sailing and it now offers the opportunity of sailing for all. It will be necessary for me to become a qualified instructor following which I look forward to passing on my knowledge and experience of this great sport to others.

2007 has been a fantastic year – a truly awesome sailing season - for me and the team the high point for us was competing in California against the world’s best yacht racers; being placed second in the super competitive Italian National Championship; placed first at the UK National Championship; becoming champion in the professional Melges 24 Class and finishing the season in memorable style with the Leeds Trophy for outstanding achievement. I owe a special thank you to my great friends in team 'Xcellent', my family and to the No. 13 Cadet Squadron of the Royal Torbay Yacht Club without the existence of which this great dream and journey could not have taken place.’

John and his team are looking forward to the coming season and to further success.