GBR take Gold at Australian Youth Olympic Festival

by Sam Crichton/Sail-world UK on 20 Jan 2007 After some tough competition on the water at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival over three days. Great Britain won the gold, the Australian team from Western Australia the silver and New Zealand took the bronze.

The fourth Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) runs from from 17 to 21 January, in Sydney, with over 1600 athletes aged 13 – 19 years representing each continent across 16 Olympic sports. In 2007, there are four new sports, sailing being one of these.

The AYOF’s mission is to discover future Olympic Champions, provide them with an environment reminiscent of an Olympic Games and promote the Olympic ideals of fair play, honesty and pride in your country. Britain has the fourth largets team at the games. 112 competitors, taking part in; Badminton, Canoe/Kayak, Diving, Gymnastics, Hockey, Rowing, Shooting, Short Track Skating, Sailing, Table Tennis and Taekwondo.

The British team comprised: Clare Lasko, Kate MacGregor, Matt Rainback, Ben Saxton, Tim Saxton and Imogen Stanley.

For the sailing this was a competition in the form of a team racing event, sailed in Pacer dinghies, rather than individual events using the existing Olympic dinghy classes. The sailing competition wrapped up today with a 10-15 knot east nor easterly breeze in Farm Cove on Sydney Harbour.

In race one, Great Britain was in the number one position when they rounded the first mark and their luck continued for the rest of the day. Ben Saxton, skipper of one of the GBR teams said 'We hoped we would win and the team implemented a strategy of being tactical on the start line and sailing fast.

'The whole team felt relief and were elated when we finally won the gold medal' he added.

Western Australia had been neck and neck with Great Britain for the duration of the competition. 17 year old Nadia Punselie, from Perth, commented, 'The team was slightly disappointed not to win the gold medal but as this was my first international competition, I am happy to walk away with a silver medal.'

Punselie continued, 'It was also great to see some patriotic spectators on the foreshore watching the action.'

The final day of competition saw New Zealand slip from overnight position of first to third place. Stephanie Hazard, originally from Perth, said 'The racing has been so close and the festival has been awesome. I have learnt a lot about crewing, tactics and made some really great friends along the way.'

The medals will be presented tonight at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (RSYS). The gold medals will be presented by ISAF Vice President - David Kellett, the silver medals will be presented by Stephen Leahy- Yachting NSW CEO and the bronze medals will be presented by Bill Woods – RSYS Commodore.

Twelve teams took part- Final results are as follows:

1. Gold - GBR won 3 out of 5 races (Finals)
2. Silver - AUS won 1 out of 5 races (Finals)
3. Bronze - NZL won 3 out of 5 races (Petit Finals)

4. NSW - won 10 out of 17 rounds
5. VIC - won 9 out of 17 rounds
6. QLD - won 9 out of 17 rounds
7. TAS - won 8 out of 17 rounds
8. USA - won 8 out of 17 rounds
9. SA - won 6 out of 17 rounds
10. CAN - won 2 out of 17 rounds