NeilPryde Sailing Team Riders announced for 2020

2020 Neil Pryde Sailing Team Riders at the RYA Dinghy Show 2020 © Amy Grealish

NeilPryde Sailing, the choice for high performance watersports clothing and accessories, is pleased to announce its Team Rider sponsorship line-up for 2020.

A panel of expert judges, amongst them Laser National and Masters Champion Jon Emmett, has selected some of the UK's and Europe's most proven and promising sailors, both new talent and seasoned champions, to join NeilPryde Sailing as Team Riders for 2020. In this prestigious ambassadorial role they will represent the iconic NeilPryde Sailing dinghy clothing and accessories brand. While the position of Team Rider highlights the celebrated status of each sailor, they also get to wear the NeilPryde Sailing kit that best suits their sailing, protecting them and enhancing their performance as they strive to reach their ultimate goals on the race course.

The new NeilPryde Sailing Team Riders line-up represents a broad cross section across dinghy classes from the UK and Europe. The 2020 stars include:

• Ted Ball, currently in Topper National Squad, and heading to the 2020 Worlds in Italy.

• Drew Barnes, Laser Radial member of British Youth Squad. Competing in Radial Europeans and Worlds 2020. Part of TASS, Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme.

• Steve Blackburn & Tim Brownell Steve is a multiple Enterprise National Champion crew and aims to be only the second person to become a champion as both a helm and a crew. 2nd at 2019 Streaker Nationals, Weymouth. As Enterprise crew Tim has won numerous local and regional events. The pair is focused on the Enterprise National Championships at Looe in July 2020, and multiple events around the country.

• Emma Breese, 2019 British Junior Optimist National Champion, ranked 3rd girl in UK Optimist rankings, Optimist National Squad member. During 2019, Emma finished 1st British Junior in Optispring at Port Zealand.

• Alan Davis, Laser Masters sailor with over 40 World, European and National titles. 2020 programme includes Florida Masters, US Masters Mid-Winters, Australian Laser Masters and the Laser Masters Worlds. Winner of UK Masters circuit every year since 1998 (standard rig).

• Eve Kennedy, Selected as one of three under 19 girls in the Laser Radial UK Youth squad 2019/20. Laser Radial Worlds Kingston, Ontario 2019, 7th under 17 and 17th overall. Laser 4.7 National Junior Squad in 2017.

• Noah Rees, RS Aero Youth World Champion 2017/2018 and 3rd overall in recent 2020 Worlds

• Tom Storey has joined NeilPryde Team Rider Ben Willett in his 29er campaign for 2020. Former RS Tera Sport World Champion 2015. During 2020, Tom and Ben will be heading to the 29er Worlds in Weymouth and 29er Europeans in Copenhagen.

• Freddie Sunderland, National Tera Squad and Midlands Feva Squad. 6th at 2019 World Championships, Sweden. Eric Twinane Team Racing and Great British Sailing Challenge Finals. Gold Fleet at the Feva Worlds sailing with his eldest brother. Heading to Tera Worlds in South Africa this April

• Harry West, RS Tera National Squad, 1st in Tera Zonal fleet 2017/2018.

Emma is really excited about being selected as a 2020 NeilPryde Sailing Team Rider. She says "All of the sailing kit is super comfortable and warm, and the boat covers and bags are amazing. I can't wait to represent NeilPryde Sailing in Optimist events around the UK and Europe during this coming year.

Alan is equally enthusiastic. "I am delighted to join the NeilPryde Sailing Team for 2020," he says. "Comfort, warmth and flexibility are key things I look for in my sailing gear and NeilPryde Sailing delivers on all fronts. Apart from the lifejackets, my favourite is the 1mm Elite Firewire top - a must have in all sailing bags."

The new line-up joins a number of Team Riders returning for another season with NeilPryde Sailing. They include Optimist sailor Jacob Davidson-Guild, 11, who holds 3rd place Welsh Ranked 11 year old boy and 5th Welsh Junior Regatta Youth Squad. Youth Squad 29er sailor Ben Willett and his former sailing partner Aled Llewellyn-Jones, both continue their 29er campaigns. RS Tera Champion Max Steele, achieved 2nd at the 2019 Worlds in the Pro Boys division and is the 2018 European Cup and Inland National Champion, and has been selected to join the RYA British Youth Sailing Laser 4.7 Squad for 2020, while top German International 14 pair Georg Borkenstein & Eike Dietrich and International 14 ladies helm Katie Nurton complete the line up for 2020.

"Welcoming this wealth of extraordinary talent to our NeilPryde Sailing Team Riders is very exciting for the company," comments Andrew Richards of NeilPryde Sailing. "We are looking forward to sharing news of the progress and achievements of both our newcomers and established Team Riders during their world class 2020 sailing programmes." He adds "Our Team Riders will be wearing the very best kit available to keep them warm, protected and active. Meanwhile their collaboration and feedback will help NeilPryde Sailing to continuously refine our products."

The NeilPryde Sailing brand includes a broad inventory of wetsuits, base layers, rash vests, buoyancy aids, harnesses, drysuits, footwear, accessories and dinghy covers. NeilPryde Sailing gear is used by Olympic dinghy sailors and at national and international championships throughout the UK and Europe.

The NeilPryde Sailing range is available to purchase online at neilprydesailing.com and in outlets across the UK.

For more information visit neilprydesailing.com.