Ellie and Will blast into the final
All the action from the Yorkshire and Humber Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship
Young powerboating enthusiasts from sailing clubs and Sea Cadets across the RYA Yorkshire and Humber Region collected at West Riding Sailing Club on Saturday 23rd July.
The youngsters, who came from as far away as Bridlington and Barnsley, all gathered at West Riding Sailing Club on Wintersett Reservoir, Wakefield to take part in the Regional Final of the RYA Honda Youth RIB Championship.
The Honda RYA Youth Rib Championship, sponsored by Honda and Ribcraft, is a National Championship in which 8-16 year old RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) drivers can demonstrate their boat handling skills in a race against the clock in the hope of winning a 5m Ribcraft or Honwave T40 for their club.
Although many of the competitors were already experienced around boats, for many of the youngsters this was their first taste of a powerboating competition and they were keen to take part and show off their co-ordination and talent.
The junior class (8 to 12 years) was won by 12 year old Ellie Benn from Otley Sailing Club in a time of 2 minutes 29 seconds. Ellie, who attends Prince Henry Grammar School, Otley, was selected for the Regional Final by Otley Sailing Club in a knockout competition.
When Ellie discovered that she had won her class at the Regional Final, beaten her sister Sophie who was also competing, and would now be representing her club in the National Final, she was surprised and excited.
The youth class was very competitive and with a time of 1minute 43 seconds, the eventual winner Will Bell from Bridlington was only 2 seconds faster than second place Ben Cross from Flamborough.
16 year old Will who attends Headlands School in Bridlington, was representing the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club and was only persuaded to enter the competition in the past few weeks. Now that he will be representing the club in the National Finals he is really excited.
David Hodgkinson, Marketing Communications Manager for event sponsor Honda said: "We are extremely proud that in 10th year of sponsoring the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, we continue to inspire and encourage more young people than ever before to pursue their passion for boating, and also give them the skills to do so.
"It allows us to underline our commitment to safety and best practice, something which we take extremely seriously as a major manufacturer of engines and inflatables"