Top sailing champions hail University's Young Adventurers Awards

Harvey Martin and Bobby Hewitt © University of Derby

Two teenagers who are world sailing champions have hailed the UK Young Adventurers Awards.

Harvey Martin and Bobby Hewitt now sail a high performance 29er skiff boat and have previously scooped National, European and World championships for their efforts sailing an RS Feva.

The 16-year-olds, who are members of Ogston and Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club, were joint winners of the UK Young Adventurer of the Year award at last year's ceremony.

The University of Derby competition seeks to find the best rock climbers, sailors, cyclists, runners, cavers, kayakers, bikers and skateboarders with an aim to recognise youngsters who excel at adventure sports and push boundaries to reach their potential.

Harvey and Bobby, who have recently secured a place on the 2015/2016 British Youth Sailing Squad, were nominated by Harvey's mum, Sara Martin.

She said: "I nominated Harvey and Bobby as they had worked incredibly hard over the winter and set themselves what seemed like very difficult goals for the 2014 competition season, yet they went on to achieve them all.

"Winning the National, European and World Championships in a period of a few months was an amazing feat.

"They won the RS Feva Worlds, in France, in August 2014, beating 372 athletes from 20 nations over a 14-race series.

"I felt so proud to see them win the UK Young Adventurer of the Year award. It was wonderful to see that their achievements were being recognised, not just in the sailing world, but beyond."

Harvey, who lives in Alfreton and is a student at Chesterfield College, said: "Winning the award last year was absolutely mind-blowing! "We were glad our hard work had paid off and were really pleased to be nominated and to win." Bobby, who is a pupil at Birchwood Community College, in Warrington, added: "Winning the award has definitely motivated us to carry on sailing and adventuring and we hope that we can go on to motivate others."

The winners of the UK Young Adventurers Awards 2015 will be announced at a special ceremony tonight at the University's Oaklands Manor Outdoor Leadership Centre, in the Peak District.

This year there are four categories for the competition; Junior Adventurer of the Year (aged 7-11), Adventurer of the Year (aged 12-17), Team of the Year and Derbyshire Adventurer of the Year.

As well as a trophy, the winner of each category will receive a GoPro HERO4 Session Camera to help document their future adventures.

Dr Chris Bussell, Dean of College of Life and Natural Sciences at the University, said: "I am delighted that the University of Derby is supporting the UK Young Adventurers Awards 2015 and to celebrate the amazing achievements of young people from across the country and their exploration of the great outdoors."

For more information about the UK Young Adventurers Awards 2015, visit www.derby.ac.uk/yaa2015

The next University of Derby Open Day takes place at our Derby and Buxton campuses on Saturday, October 17. Find out more and book your place www.derby.ac.uk/opendays