Warriors under siege at glorious Glossop
Warriors clinch victory
44 young windsurfers flocked to Torside Reservoir, Glossop on 27th June for the year’s second T15 West Zone interclub competition. T15 is the network of windsurfing clubs for youngsters age up to 15, organised by boating’s governing body, the RYA.
The event attracted a formidable line up of five teams, including the 2007 and 2008 National T15 Champions, Team Astbury and West Kirby Warriors. They were joined by up and coming teams Manley Mere Katz from Chester and Hollingworth Hunters from Rochdale. The home team, Glorious Glossop, only got going two months ago, so it was a baptism of fire for the local youngsters against the experience of the top teams.
But the reigning champs suffered a reverse in the first class, showing that it was quite possible to upset the form book. Zed Spencer Milnes, aged only 9, took the 3.5 metre class in style against many older rivals, winning five of the six races for the Manley Mere Katz. William Mooney and Oliver Eastwood, both of the West Kirby Warriors, followed Zed home.
In the 4.5 metre class, it was another outstanding performance from one of the Mere Katz, as Beckie Thompson romped home, matching her team mate Zed’s winning scoreline of five wins from the six races. Isaac Bradley Baker took second for the Warriors, while Jonathan Bailey took a first podium place for Team Astbury.
In the 5.5 metre class, Scott Collins made it a shock hat trick for the underdogs, taking a third class for the Manley Mere Katz, while Team Astbury picked up more points with second and third places for Max Webb and Adam Beeby.
In the fastest class, the Techno 6.8 metres, West Kirby Warriors finally took a class win through Oliver Bradley Baker, backed up by team mate Joash Knight in second. In the light breezes there had been many excellent performances, and the two newest teams, Hollingworth Hunters and Glorious Glossop showed great promise, with many of their youngsters taking part in their first ever races. Home sailor Jessica Morris took a well deserved Merit award for her performance in the 3.5 metre class.
The Mere Katz had their best ever showing, with the event organiser, Mike Roberts of the RYA revealing, “The Mere Katz really benefitted from sailing at the recent National Junior Championships, at Rutland, a much larger stretch of water.” One of the Mere Katz class winners, Zed Spencer Milnes, summed up his team’s appetite for the fray, when after winning his final race he asked the organisers, “Please can we have another race?” But even this performance was not enough for the Mere Katz, as the strength in depth of the West Kirby Warriors helped them accumulate enough points in all classes to take the team prize overall, with the Mere Katz in second, just ahead of Team Astbury.
The Warriors have now won both of this year’s events, but they now know they are in for tough competition at the next event, at Astbury on 11th July, when the Mere Katz will be determined to convert their individual wins into an overall team victory.
Supported by industry leaders Neilson, Tushingham/Starboard, Windsurf magazine, Boards magazine and Neil Pryde, Team 15 (T15) was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level. Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches.
The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills. Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low – to find your local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.