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Ruben Lansley medals first at North Sea Cup event in
Ostend, Belgium
The RYA Eric Twiname Championships 2011
The RYA Eric Twiname Championships 2011 at Rutland Sailing Club (Leicester) marked
the opening of the 25th anniversary of the Championships. The battle of the Zones
got off to a flyer on day one of this highly anticipated annual event (07 May).
The
weekend of racing offers the UK’s finest young sailing talents the chance to compete
at a major, multiclass regatta which is regarded as the pinnacle of the Junior racing
calendar for the RYA Zone and Home Country squads.
327 sailors took to the Water in
the Optimist, Topper, Mirror, Feva and Cadet dinghy classes, and with the windsurfers
racing on Bic Techno boards with 4.5m, 5.5m, 6.8m and 7.8m rigs.
With difficult conditions
greeting the sailors upon launching, the weather soon brightened up and a south easterly
breeze ranging from five to ten knots enabled a full days racing to take place at
Rutland Water, on two of the three course areas.
The Bic Techno windsurfers enjoyed a full day of racing as they completed four races. Harry Davis (North Lincs & Humberside S.C.), 12, finished the day leading the pack in the Bic Techno 6.8 class while 2010 Bic Techno 4.5 champion Sarah Labourne (North Lincs SC), 12, was second sharing the same amount of points as her fellow North Zone team member.
Day two proved to be just as testing as day 1 but for different reasons – too much wind !
North Zone windsurfers were impressive in the 6.8 fleet with Harry Davis (North Lincs & Humberside S.C.), 12, being crowned champion whilst fellow team member, 2010 Bic Techno 4.5 champion Sarah Labourne (North Lincs SC), finished five points behind in second place.
Davis, 2011 Bic Techno 6.8 Champion, commented: “The ET Championships have been great as I have had a couple of races wins which gave me the overall lead. I am feeling very happy and am over the moon to have won.”
Other competitors taking part from North Lincolnshire were, Lewis May – 3rd 7.8m, Charlotte Seal 2nd female 7.8m. Jack Bramley, Jordan Howram, Jack Lennon, Jacob Newton and Jed Davis
MEDAL FOR LABOURNE IN FRENCH NATIONALS
With temperatures reaching 27 degrees Celsius on the Saturday, the techno fleet consisted of 72 sailors, representing the 6.8, 7.8 and open class, competed in very tidal and varying wind conditions. There were sailors from France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK.
Ruben ended the weekend coming first in the under 15 category. Cameron Coghill was 3rd and Rob Griffiths came 4th . Ruben Lansley commented: “It was a very challenging weekend, especially as at these international events it is hard to know who you have to watch out for as you don’t know the other nations’
windsurfers that well. I am absolutely delighted I won the competition, I still can’t believe it really, but it is a great start to the season for me”
Emma Labourne recently travelled as part of the RYA Team GBR trip to the French Nationals - Spring Regatta in Dunkerque, France. The event took place from the 23rd - 25th April in challenging and very tidal conditions. Emma was accompanied by 5 other up and coming stars from the National Junior Squad Programme. The event was the ideal opportunity for Emma to test herself in the 7.8 fleet, having moved up following her silver medal at last years World Championships. Coach Ian Roberts, who supported Emma on the trip stated; 'the temperature at the venue was un-seasonably warm and created challenging conditions for all sailors involved. Emma performed admirably, demonstrating she can win races against some of the best sailors from France, and from the UK'. The season now kicks in, in earnest, with many of our local talented sailors from North Lincs competing at Weymouth in the opening UKWA Cup event of the season.