T15 windsurfing championship - Newcomers excel in blustery conditions

by RYA on 3 Jul 2010 RYA East Team15 windsurfing championship took place at Lakeside Leisure, Peterborough on 19 June and the strong, gusting northerly winds did little to dampen enthusiasm of the youngsters taking part.

In winds up 26 miles an hour it took concentration and determination to stay up right and get round the course let alone win. “The conditions for the first race were really rough. It was probably the strongest breeze ever for a Team15 event in the East, certainly whilst I have been competition organiser. The guy’s coped very well, showing great determination to make it around the course,” said RYA East Team15 coach Graham Colum.

This year sees the entry into the competition of two new teams, Stanborough Stormers, based at Welwyn Garden City and hosts of the first round of this competition last month, and Grafham Flyers, based at Grafham Water, Huntingdon. This brings the number of Team15 windsurf clubs in the eastern region to six.

Grafham Flyers won their first ever event with home club Lakeside Loafers second and Norwich Force 8 third. Stanborough Stormers were fourth.

In the smaller sized 3.5 metre rig class Grafham’s Hugh Suffield (12) had three wins and two thirds to come first in class. Only one point separated him from second place youngster Ryan Jones (9) of Lakeside Loafers, while a further one point separated him from third placed Hayden Downing (11) of Grafham.

Maddie Truscott (15) of Norwich Force 8 had straight wins in all six races to win the class. In second place was Ben Thompson (13) of Grafham. This is Maddie’s last season in the competition.

Connor Jones (14), for a long time the only representative of Lakeside Loafers came a respectable second in the 5.8 metre rig class to new teammate Thomas Bailey (13), with Alec Goldstone (15) of Stanborough Stormers third. The larger 6.8 metre rig class saw Norwich Force 8 girls Harriett Fry (15) and Lucy Budge (15) of Norwich Force 8 sandwich Stanborough Stormers’ Jamie Earle (15) between them in second place – Harriett first and Lucy third.

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Windsurf Magazine, Boards magazine, Neil Pryde and Boardwise, Team 15 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 youngsters 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 get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

For more information on RYA, please visit: www.rya.org.uk