Findhorn duo set sail for Olympic dream thanks to Budge Trust backing

Daniel Harris and Gillies Munro © Peter Newton / www.peternewton.zenfolio.com

Two young Findhorn sailors – tipped to represent Great Britain at future Olympic Games – have received a boost thanks to significant backing from a north-east charitable trust.

The Budge Trust, established by Aberdeen-based husband and wife Bill and Lorraine Budge, has donated £10,000 to youth champions Gillies Munro and Daniel Harris.

The lifelong friends - both aged 17 - live in Findhorn and have grown up sailing in the surrounding waters. They began sailing together competitively in 2012 against other youth teams, although they already had significant experience of racing at club level.

Members of the Royal Findhorn Yacht Club, the duo are already part of the Scotland and Great Britain squads. They currently sail a youth-class boat – a 29er with a single trapeze – but by August they will be able to progress to the Olympic-class 49er. The larger boat has a double trapeze and is roughly three times more powerful.

Gillies, a 6th-year pupil at Forres Academy, and Daniel, who is studying for an apprenticeship in engineering systems at Inverness College, have already experienced significant success.

In the season just past, which ran from February to November (2013), the boys have made incredible progress. Led by head coach Matt Thomas, Gillies and Daniel won the 2013 Harken 29er Grand Prix Series title – the first year they had competed in the competition.

In June, the boys competed as part of the British squad at the 29er Euro Cup, held in Lake Garda, Italy – finishing 2nd overall out of 62 boats. They also represented Britain at the 29er World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark in July.

On both occasions they performed at a very competitive level in a completely new environment; it was the first year they had been to either event.

Thanks to the generosity of the Budge Trust, which supports various projects which promote the health, wellbeing and education of young people, the boys will have increased opportunities to travel around the world where they can compete at various competitions and qualifying events.

They also receive some support from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). Gillies has been recognised nationally by the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes programme while Daniel has been supported by the SportAid programme.

Additionally, every fortnight between September and April for the past two seasons, Gillies and Daniel have made the 400-plus mile round trip to Largs for training. This has required a great deal of discipline to balance school and college work with their sporting activities.

Bill Budge, who originally hails from nearby Forres, said: "Both Lorraine and I have been hugely impressed not only by the remarkable talent of both Gillies and Daniel, but by the level of dedication they have shown to learn and improve at their sport.

"We previously awarded the boys a small sponsorship but the level of commitment we are now giving displays our belief in their potential to go all the way to the top. Given the right support I am certain they can achieve their goals.

"The Budge Trust's support is something we would like to continue. We will be keeping an eye on the remarkable progress being made by Gillies and Daniel."

Lorraine Budge said: "It is terrific to see two young people so focussed. They are both strong contenders to make it to the Olympics in 2020, if not sooner. Hopefully the people of Findhorn and the wider Moray area will really get behind the boys and show their support."

Gillies Munro said: "It's fantastic that the Budge Trust has stepped in to support us and we are extremely grateful. The cost involved in travelling to these various international events is quite substantial and both Daniel and I were concerned about the strain this was putting on our families, who have been extremely supportive of us.

"If it wasn't for the backing of the Budge Trust then we simply wouldn't be able to compete at such a broad range of international events."

Daniel Harris said: "Our target at the moment is very much the 29er World Championships in Canada next July. The British team is targeting a top 5 finish and if we can perform at a high level there then who knows what doors that might open.

"Ultimately, this experience competing against the best in the world can only help us improve. We are trying to keep our feet firmly on the ground as we know we have to continue to work hard to achieve our goals."

The Budge Trust was established by husband and wife Bill and Lorraine Budge as a means of supporting projects which help to sustain the culture and traditions of Forres and the surrounding area, where Bill had been born and raised. Bill is non-executive chairman of international shipbroker, the Stewart Group.

Additionally, organisations, whose focus relates to the wellbeing and or education of children is of particular interest to Bill and Lorraine. This includes the support of projects in Africa and worldwide. For further information visit www.budgetrust.org