Hillingdon claims victory at London Youth Games Regatta
by Emma Slater, RYA 23 Jun 2009 11:26 BST
13 June 2009
It was overall victory for the borough of Hillingdon at this year’s 2009 Thames Water London Youth Games Regatta, held at Royal Victoria Docks Watersports Centre on Saturday 13th June.
Some 150 youngsters, aged from nine to 17, from 24 of the 33 London
boroughs, took to the water in the warm and sunny conditions to battle
it out for the winners’ trophy. Making it the largest team sailing
event to have ever taken place in London and the largest sailing event
in the history of the London Youth Games.
The regatta consisted of three sailing classes, with six categories.
Oppie (male and female), Pico (senior male, female and mixed) and the RS
Feva (mixed) – full results listed below – and proved quite a spectacle
out on the water with 75 boats and 110 young people afloat and competing
at one time.
Terri Butcher who claimed 3rd place in the Oppie Female Class said: "I
came down with my Bexley Borough Team and it was a great day of sailing.
We have been doing lots more racing and training for this event and I'm
so pleased to have won a medal. I really enjoyed meeting and talking to
other people who were also racing and making new friends".
As well as all the youngsters competing at the regatta there was an army
of some 50 volunteers behind the scene without whom the regatta is
impossible, made up from London based RYA qualified professionals.
Ranging from Club Race coaches, Dinghy Coach Assessor's, Power Boat
Trainers, Senior Instructors, Dinghy Instructors, Powerboat Instructors,
and Assistant Instructors.
There were also several volunteering parents who are linked to sailing
through the local Central & East London OnBoard Scheme.
Dudley Davis, Chief Instructor of Erith Yacht Club, who provided safety
boat and logistic responsibilities on the day said: “The event team
involved in today is huge and putting the event together and making it
run as smoothly as it has is great to both see and be involved
with....it has been a terrific day. I have thoroughly enjoyed giving my
time for a sport I myself get so much out of. What a great day for the
kids.”
RYA Regional Development Officer for London Guy Malpas said: “These
Games have clearly demonstrated the accessibility of the sport in the
City and that there is some great sailing talent in London. In
partnership with London Youth Games and the RYA Training centres within
London we are now working to get even more youngsters out on the water
at the next Games.”
For more information about the London Youth Games visit www.londonyouthgames.org . To find out more about getting into sailing visit www.rya.org.uk or for the RYA’s youth sailing progamme; OnBoard visit www.ruob.co.uk
Overall Results:
Oppie Male (18 entries)
1st Greenwich
2nd Croydon
3rd Havering
Oppie Female (15 entries)
1st Havering
2nd Tower Hamlets
3rd Bexley
Pico Male (24 entries)
1st Waltham Forest
2nd Lambeth
3rd Bexley
Pico Female (24 entries)
1st Hillingdon
2nd Harrow
3rd Wandsworth
Pico Mixed (18 entries)
1st Hillingdon
2nd Barnet
3rd Merton
RS Feva (16 entries)
1st Merton
2nd Southwark
3rd Tower Hamlets