Three out of four Bic Techno 293 crowns to Brits at Europeans

by Karenza Morton on 22 Apr 2009
RYA Team GBR’s top junior windsurfers secured an awesome hat-trick of titles at the 2009 IWA Junior, Youth and Masters Windsurfing European Championships last week. Winning three out of the four Bic Techno 293 crowns, the Under 15 Girls, Noelle Finch - Under 15 Boys, Kieran Martin and Under 17 Boys, Sam Sills.

The Brits dominated the event in Lacanau, France winning three out of the four Bic Techno 293 crowns and snatching almost half of the total number of medals available - five from a possible 12.

It was a very Happy Birthday for Launceston’s Sam Sills – who turned 16 on the final day of the Championships – as he claimed the Under 17 boys’ title while Clevedon’s Noelle Finch led a British clean sweep of Under 15 girls’ silverware and Saltash’s Kieran Martin struck Under 15 boys’ gold.

Roadford Lake SC’s Sills narrowly missed out on the top prize at both the Techno Worlds and Europeans last year, having won the Under 15 World title in 2007.

But he was not about to let that happen again as his consistency throughout the week kept him in the hunt before getting the best birthday present he could have hoped for – being crowned 2009 European champion – on the last day.

Sills’ sisters, 12-year-old twins Saskia and Imogen, ensured it became a real family affair as they won Under 15 girls’ silver and bronze respectively but they couldn’t touch Finch, 14, who dominated from start to finish winning seven of her 10 races to sprint to the top of the podium.

Meanwhile 14-year-old Martin enjoyed the most comfortable last day of all the Brits as he wrapped up his title in emphatic style with a day to spare.

Oli Woodcock, RYA Techno Class Head Coach, said: 'It was an awesome week and all the sailors did themselves proud. With over 180 competitors it was an excellent turn out and all the main players were out in force in each class. We looked really strong in all the fleets and even those sailors who didn’t win medals turned in performances to be pleased about over the course of the week.'

All eyes will now turn to replicating this success at the 2009 IWA Junior, Youth and Masters Windsurfing World Championships, which take place at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy from 22 – 29 August.

The 2009 Worlds are being delivered by the RYA Events Team as part of the RYA’s ongoing commitment to bringing World Class events to Great Britain.

Full list of British results in Lacanau:

Bic Techno Under 15 Girls:
1st Noelle Finch
2nd Saskia Sills
3rd Imogen Sills

Bic Techno Under 15 Boys:
1st Kieran Martin

7th Joe Bennett
10th Adam Purcell

Bic Techno Under 17 Girls:
6th Chloe Bennett
10th Jade Rogers
14th Laurel Townsend
15th Amy Kenmuir

Bic Techno Under 17 Boys:
1st Sam Sills

14th Josh Leadbetter
20th Jack Plummer
26th Stu Hards