RYA Regional Youth Champions 2018 announced

RYA Regional Youth Champions 2018 announced © Simon McIlwaine

Ten promising sailors from across the UK have been revealed as the winners of the RYA Regional Youth Champion Awards.

Each of the regional and home country winners will receive a trophy at the official awards presentation taking place on Sunday 04 March at the RYA Dinghy Show 2018. The awards will be presented by 49er World Champion and Rio Olympian Dylan Fletcher.

Created in 2014, the RYA Regional Youth Champion Awards recognise the outstanding achievement and performance of young people across the range of activities the RYA represents, including sailing, windsurfing and powerboating.

Winners this year include South West Champion Milly Jinks (15) whose long-term determination has resulted in a spectacular year of achievement including being awarded the Philip Kemp trophy for under-21 young sailor of the year from the Port of Plymouth Sailing Association.

Also picking up an award is Scott Wilkinson who has been named London and South East Youth Champion after beating off competition from around the world to win the 2017 Topper World Championships.

RYA Regional Youth Champions 2018

Eastern: Daisy Collingridge
London and South East: Scott Wilkinson
Midlands: Imogen Wade
North East: George Stewart
North West: Sam Cooper
Southern: Matilda Nicholls
South West: Milly Jinks
Wales: Hatty Morsley
Northern Ireland: Sally Bell
Scotland: Alistair Coombs

RYA Director of Sport Development Alistair Dickson said: "We're delighted to recognize the achievements of these sailors who have all shown lots of hard work, sacrifice and determination to the sport.

"The Awards also help to emphasize the endless support of our many volunteers who work so hard at the club level to give our sailors the best possibly start to their future sailing careers."

For more information on the RYA Regional Youth Champion Award, visit rya.org.uk/go/youthchampion