Paralympic bronze medallist leaps to the rescue of 8-year-old girl
by Hamish Stuart, RYA Wales 4 Oct 2012 17:28 BST
29-30 September 2012
Niki Birrell and Olivia Jones © Hamish Stuart
A Paralympic sailing medallist leapt to the help of an 8-year-old girl when she ran into trouble sailing at Volvo Welsh Zone Championships held in West Wales.
Olivia Jones from hosts club New Quay was the youngest sailor at the zone championships and in her first year of sailing, but after setting off into the surf in her optimist boat she found the conditions very challenging 20 minutes later.
"The waves were taller than my mast," she explained. Paralympian bronze medallist Niki Birrell saw the problems and jumped from one of the safety vessels, where he had been watching the action, into Olivia's boat to sail her ashore.
Team Volvo sailor Birrell was at the event to encourage the young sailors and hand out the prizes to those who represent some of the best young talent in Wales, hoping one day to emulate the success of Birrell and Olympic silver medallist Hannah Mills.
When Olivia was told she had been sailed to shore by a Paralympian bronze medallist she replied, "Really? I didn't know that, but he was quite good!"
The two met up later when Olivia got the chance to try out the bronze medal and Niki received a gold for his rescue efforts.
Birrell won bronze at the London Paralympics in the Skud 18 class along with Alexandra Rickham and lives near Weymouth, though he comes from Manchester. He was a European junior champion before switching to the Paralympic classes.
RYA high performance manager for Wales, Sarah Williams said, "Team Volvo Sailor Niki Birrell was down with us for the weekend and went out on the water with the main fleet.
"Niki got awarded the "Recognition in Optimist Sailing Award" when he jumped in a struggling regatta fleet sailor's oppie and sailed ashore with her.
"Niki also brought his Paralympic Bronze Medal with him for the sailors to see and to take photos and signed a lot of autographs as well as handing out prizes in the prize giving.
"The sailors were all extremely excited and inspired thank you to Volvo for sending him for the weekend."
The zone championships are a key event for any young sailors looking to get into the British squads and also the start of the pathway to Olympics sailing.
A record breaking 1,200 young sailors took part in zone championship events around the UK, with 115 boats taking to the water in New Quay for the Welsh event.