Irish pair overturn world champions at Star Eastern Europeans

by Gerald New on 24 May 2009
Irish Star sailors, Peter O'Leary and Tim Goodbody, took the Star Eastern European Championships in Hyeres in a famous last day performance that overturned the reigning world champions, Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada of Brazil.

Scheidt and Prada were OCS in the first race of the final day, and with O'Leary and Goodbody finishing second behind Xavier Rohart and Alexis Ponsot, to take the overall lead, it was all down to the final race.

Scheidt and Prada did everything they could, winning the final race but the third place for O'Leary and Goodbody, behind Rohart and Ponsot, was enough to give them the title by two points.

Commented O’Leary on the Irish victory, 'We’re coming along. All of the work in the gym is starting to pay off and it is nice to sail at the weight as everyone.' Goodbody sailed the Finn at the Olympics and has been working out an gaining muscle weight for the pair’s Star efforts.

Britain's John Gimson and Ed Greig had their best day so far with an 8 and a 8 to be 14 overall.

Star Eastern European Championship - Final positions (29 entries)

1 IRL 8261 O Leary Peter Goodbody Tim 24pts
2 BRA 8255 Scheidt Robert Prada Bruno 26pts
3 USA 8273 Szabo George Peters Rick 30pts
4 SUI 8364 Marazzi Flavio De Maria Enrico 34pts
5 FRA 8237 Rohart Xavier Ponsot Pierre Alexis 41pts
6 BRA 8392 Grael Lars Moura Renato 54pts

14 GBR8025 Gimson John Greig Ed 91pts