Outdoor Sports News - with PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

Beckett stars in Pembrokeshire win

Pembrokeshire sailors finished as the top county at the 26th Welsh Schools and Clubs Championships held in Mumbles.

Solva's Micky Beckett was the star performer as he won overall first place in the Laser class, the Ysgol Dewi Sant pupil winning five out of the six races for a near perfect record – the third place in the sixth race was discarded anyway.
Fishguard's Ellie Meopham was the top girl and third overall in the same class – the Ysgol Bro Gwaun pupil was the only girl to finish in the top eight and she clinched her place with a second and third in the last two races.

Excellent performances

Tenby's Jonathan Morris was fifth to add to Pembrokeshire's strong scoring in that event.
Neyland's Danielle Rowe was third in the general handicap fleet, sailing alongside Flint's David Clark in a 29er boat.
Megan Boorman, also from Neyland yacht club and Ysgol Preseli, was the top junior in the Topper boat, while she finished an impressive fourth overall.

Steve is delighted

They all helped Pembrokeshire to the triumph as top county, while Bishopston Comprehensive in Swansea was the top school and Cardiff Bay was the top club, with almost 100 entrants taking part from all over Wales and the West of England in excellent conditions for sailing.
“Once again this event has been a huge success with some very close racing seen out on the course,” said Welsh Sailing chief executive Steve Morgan.
“Mumbles Yacht Club has hosted the event very successfully and I convey my thanks to all the volunteers and coaches that help to make the event what it is.
“There was a high standard of racing and we know that many of those who came out on top are already part of the Welsh Sailing system and making their mark outside of Wales, while there were also a few more who showed what they can do.
“The event helped to show the good health of Welsh Sailing at the moment.”

Onboard regattas

However it was not just about the high end of sailors competing for places in the Wales squads and higher, there were also OnBoard regattas for those who have recently taken up sailing through that scheme to give more people the chance to try out the sport.
Sam Healy, Swansea & Neath Port Talbot OnBoard Development Officer, added,
“After taking up post only a couple of weeks ago it was fantastic to see so many young sailors battling it out on the regatta fleet. They all did fantastically well and I think we have un-earthed the next bunch of Welsh National Squad sailors, and maybe even a future Olympian!”

 

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Fishguard's Ellie Meopham was the top girl and third overall in the same class.