Shotwick Lake Sailing Club awarded Volvo RYA Champion Club
by Dan Wilkinson 12 Jun 2008 08:37 BST
7 June 2008
John Morrison, of Rybrook Volvo Chester, presents Shotwick's Volvo RYA Champion Club status to instructor Tim Bowden © flintshire.sport@cheshirenews.co.uk
Local sailing club, Shotwick Lake has been awarded the esteemed Volvo RYA Champion Club status, for their commitment to youth sailing and delivery of high level training at their club. Volvo dealer, John Morrison from Rybrook Warrington, presented Shotwicks junior sailors the award at the clubs annual open day (Sat 7 June 2008).
Tim Bowden Shotwick Lake Sailing’s training officer, said on receiving the award
“We’ve just been granted our Volvo Champion Club status which is great news for the club. It is recognition of what we have done to help develop the local junior sailors, and the success they have had over the past few seasons at events and regattas. We’re really looking forward to the extra support and backing we will get now as a result of this status.”
The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme recognises sailing clubs with a commitment to youth sailing and race coaching in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It aims to encourage young sailors and windsurfers at grassroots level to stay in the sport and learn to compete, while encouraging clubs to introduce youngsters to the sport and help develop their skills. The key challenge for the programme is to encourage more young people to start participating in sailing and then progress with their racing careers.
On presenting the award Volvo dealer, John Morrison, from Rybrook Warrington said “We’re really happy to be able to support our young sailors and the local sailing club and I look forward to working with them both in the future”.
Now Shotwick Lake Sailing has been awarded the Volvo RYA Champion Club Status, the sailors will see increased levels of development advice, coaching, and facilities. This includes support from their local RYA High Performance Manager Iwan Basten and the involvement of Community Coach Chris Grubbe a member of the Olympic Development Squad. Shotwick will also have access to the recent commitment from Sport England of £1.1m to the RYA’s flagship youth sailing initiatives, to further enhance club coach and volunteer development across England over the next three years.
“It really is an exciting time to be involved in the Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and the incentives are there for every club to take full advantage of. The easier we can make it for more clubs to get involved then the quicker the sport of sailing will benefit.” Iwan Basten, RYA High Performance Manager.
Another major benefit for Shotwick Lake Sailing will be the access to Volvo Eco Challenge grants to help make their club more Eco Friendly.