RYA NE Youth Travellers Series at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club
by Liz King 19 Jul 2012 17:29 BST
14 July 2012
Dave Schilling (l) from Trident UK presents Simon Weatherspon with the RYA NE Youth Travellers Series winner's prize © Liz King
Young sailors from around the RYA North East Region gathered at Derwent Reservoir on Saturday to compete in the final event of this year's RYA NE Youth Travellers Series supported by TridentUK.
Run as part of the RYA 2012 Sail for Gold programme, the NE Youth Travellers Series has toured sailing clubs across the north east since early May, from Tynemouth and South Shields in the north to Scaling Dam and Ripon in the south. A total of 77 young sailors have completed 35 grueling races on inland waters and out at sea.
At the top of the leaderboard and the RYA North East Youth Travellers Series Champion for 2012 was 14 year old Simon Weatherspoon from Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club.
Simon, led the series from the halfway point and although beaten into 4th place at the final event on his home waters at Derwent Reservoir, that was enough to keep him in the overall lead at the end of the series. Simon will now be travelling down to Pwllheli in Wales to take part in the Laser 4.7m National Championships later this month.
Hot on Simon's heels in the NE Travellers Series was 16 year old Laura Carveth Marshall from Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club who was just beaten into second place in the overall series for the second year in succession.
"I am so proud of all the young sailors," said Judith Corry, RYA NE Youth Travellers Series Co-ordinator. "They have all sailed their socks off. I also need to thank the RYA Coaches, Simon Benson and Helen Bainbridge for all their support."
Presenting the series trophy and prizes for Trident UK, Dave Schilling echoed Judith's praise for the sailors. "It was not easy out there today. The weather forecast was dreadful but all the young sailors put on a great show. Well done to everyone involved for a really close and competitive series."
"On behalf of everyone at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club I'd like to congratulate Kelly Tate and Adam Billany for sailing well in the races today," continued Judith Corry. "We wish them the best of luck at Rutland Sailing Club on 21st and 22nd July when they represent the club at the RYA Sailability Multiclass Regatta."
The event is part of Sail for Gold, the nationwide London 2012 initiative from the RYA which aims to celebrate Britain's unmatched Olympic sailing heritage and inspire more people to get out on the water more often in this Olympic year.
Overall Results: (top ten)
1. Simon Weatherspoon (Derwent Reservoir SC)
2. Laura Carveth Marshall (Tees & Hartlepool YC)
3. Kieran Graham (South Shields SC)
4. Patrick O'Neill (South Shields SC)
5. James Hewitt (Teesdale SC)
6. David Robertson (South Shields SC)
7. Chris Jordan (South Shields SC)
8. James Moore (Derwent Reservoir SC)
9. Elizabeth O'Neill (South Shields SC)
10. Declan Graham (South Shields SC)