Midlands Team15 glory as Pitsford Pirates head to national final 

Pirates win place in national final.

Pitsford Pirates’ team of young windsurfers are celebrating after being crowned 2010 RYA Team15 Midlands regional champions and sealing their place in the national RYA Team15 Champions Cup grand final.  

Little time wasted

Having previously won two of the three RYA Team15 Midlands Inter-Club Challenge events this season, the Pirates wasted little time wrapping up regional series victory as they triumphed at the fourth and final Challenge round of the season at Carsington Water, Derbyshire on Saturday (4 September).  

Their Midlands series victory now means Pitsford Pirates will do battle against the nine other RYA Team15 regional champions from across the country for the 2010 RYA Team15 Champions Cup when the national showdown takes place on the Pirates’ home waters of Pitsford Reservoir, Northampton on 9-10 October.  

First time in five years

Pirates’ success is also the first time in five years the RYA Team15 Midlands title has not gone to dominant Derbyshire outfit the Carsington Comets, who finished as series runners-up.  

Jon Sweet, Pitsford Pirates’ Team15 co-ordinator, admitted his talented Pirates team now have their eyes on RYA Team15 Champions Cup glory.  

He said: “To be crowned the 2010 RYA Team15 Midlands champions is a massive, massive achievement for the team. The progress the windsurfers have made this year has been huge and that’s all down to the dedication and commitment not only of the sailors to want to improve but also so many volunteers who make it possible for the team to train and compete regularly.  

 “Many of the kids have been sailing for less than 12 months so to be in a position where we’re going to be taking on the best RYA Team15 clubs from around the country at the RYA Team15 Champions Cup is a bit surreal. You can guarantee that between now and the Champions Cup we will be working really hard to make sure we give a really good account of ourselves and who knows what can happen.”  

Stand out performances

Among the stand-out performances at Carsington Water were the ever-reliable Joe Patrick (Pirates) in the 5.8m2 class and Tom Munro (Comets) in the 6.8m2 class, both boys having dominated their respective fleets for the whole season while Pirates’ Robin McAllister, who has only been a Team15er for six months, won the 4.5m2 class. Dominic Stevenson also claimed a Pirates victory in the 3.5m2 class.   Meanwhile Tallington Tornadoes’ Thomas Care and Ian Leiper from Edgbaston Eagles both picked up merit awards for their outstanding commitment and attitude at the event as Lincolnshire outfit Tallington Tornadoes also finished third team overall in the series in what was their first ever Team15 season.  

All trophies were presented by RYA Volvo Youth Squad windsurfer and ex-Carsington Comets Team15 member Kieran Martin, who recently won windsurfing bronze for Team GB at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore.  

Close competition

No fewer than 32 sailors contested the fourth 2010 Midlands Challenge event at Carsington Water and Ben Hodgson, RYA Team15 Midlands Regional Co-ordinator said: “There has been such close competition all season and it was fantastic for the regional series to come down to the final event. Everyone has been on tenterhooks wondering whether it would be Pitsford or Carsington that would represent the Midlands at the Champions Cup so congratulations must go to the Pirates.  

“The support for this season’s Midlands Challenge series has been so good and not only has it been great to have had so much closely-fought competition at the top of the fleets but also we have seen four new teams take part in the series in 2010 which bodes really well for the development of top class windsurfing in the region.”  

 Team15 was set up to make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters aged 15 and under. There are more than 80 Team15 clubs nationwide which allow kids to learn new skills and develop their racing talents under the guidance of specialist RYA coaches while having fun with their mates.   

The ultimate goal

More than 100 young Team15 windsurfers will descend on Pitsford Water for the 2010 RYA Team15 Champions Cup final in October and Gillian Wright, RYA National Windsurfing Development Officer, explained: “The Champions Cup provides the ultimate goal for Team15 clubs. It is the only kids’ team championship event that exists for windsurfing and it is a real friendly, family event with fun competition.”  

Team15 is supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Windsurf magazine, Boards magazine, Neil Pryde and Boardwise.   To get involved with Team15 and to locate your nearest club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA on 0845 345 0400.

Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.