Champions honoured at RYA award ceremonies 

 

Another Award for Andy as Stone World Champ is honoured by region

 

Stone sailing World Champion Andy Bridgman added another award to his increasingly crammed trophy cabinet on 4th February as he received a special honour from the RYA West Midlands in recognition for being named a 2009 RYA Regional Young Sailor of the Year.

 

Having received his RYA West Midlands Regional Young Sailor of the Year accolade from Skandia Team GBR star and three-time Olympic champion sailor Ben Ainslie at the London International Boat Show last month, Andy returned to the more familiar surrounds of Blithfield Sailing Club in Abbots Bromley where RYA West Midlands Regional Chairman Bob Holmes presented him with a special trophy from the region.

 

Andrew Bridgman receives his RYA West Midlands award from RYA West Midlands Regional Chairman
Bob Holmes at Blithfield Sailing Club, 4 February 2010.

 

The 15-year-old Alleyne's High School pupil shot to prominence last summer as he was crowned Topper class World Champion in Austria. The Topper junior class is the boat in which Beijing 2008 Laser champion Paul Goodison started his career.

 

Bob Holmes said: “We felt very strongly that Andy’s achievements should also be recognised by the RYA West Midlands region and we’re delighted to present him with this award. Andy has a tremendous focus and is a great young role model for young sailors throughout the West Midlands who want to do well in their racing.”

 

Andy, who started sailing after his dad Stephen took him and his older sister Amy to Blithfield to try out the sport, added: “I want to try to take this as far as I can. I just love sailing and there’s no better feeling than when you’re halfway through a race and you know you are sailing well and doing everything you can to win.

 

“I’m very grateful to the RYA West Midlands for this award and want to say a special thank you to my parents who are my biggest supporters and take me all over the country every weekend for training and competitions. I’m also very grateful to Andy Felthouse and everyone at Blithfield for helping me.”

 

As a member of the RYA’s National Junior Squad programme, Andy has access to the RYA’s highly-subsidised World Class National Training Programme designed to help Britain’s top young sailors achieve future international success. He has also received support from Solihull-based Merry Marine, the Stone Festival, Stafford Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council.

 

In April, Andy will compete at the Laser 4.7 World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand before sitting his GCSE exams this summer.

 

For more information contact:
Karenza Morton
RYA West Midlands Regional Communicator

T: 07837 707630
E: press@tenpointstick.co.uk

W:www.rya.org.uk

 

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Staffordshire Powerboaters honoured at RYA National
Powerboat Awards

 

A young British powerboating champion and a group of professional scuba divers who specialise in powerboat racing rescue from Staffordshire, were among the talents whose 2009 achievements were celebrated at the annual RYA National Powerboat Racing Awards on Saturday 6 February.

 

Held at the prestigious De Vere Royal Bath hotel in Bournemouth, 50 of the UK's best racers from the disciplines of jet sport, offshore and circuit racing claimed their awards at the ceremony, which was hosted by Shelley Jory Leigh, the World's leading female powerboat driver.

 

 Alex Gilbert receives awards at the RYA
National Powerboat Awards, 6 February 2010

 

Gailey's Alex Gilbert moved up from junior to senior racing last season and he quickly sounded his arrival to his adult rivals by claiming the National T750 class Sprint championship title at Stewartby Watersports Club in Bedfordshire before heading to the Lake District in November and setting new World and National speed records of 49.21mph for the T750 class at the Coniston Powerboat Records Week.

 

Alex Gilbert in action

 

Meanwhile the Stafford-based Osprey Powerboat Rescue Team received the Brand Crombie Family Salver at the awards for their dedication, support and for being unsung heroes within the sport.

 

 Dr Ian Wilson & Dr Ray Dawes collect the Brand Crombie Family Salver for Osprey Rescue
at the RYA National Powerboat Awards, 6 February 2010.

 

Started by an enthusiastic group of Stafford Sub Aqua Club member some 35 years ago, the Osprey team provide safety cover at powerboat racing events both nationally and internationally and are also one of the main training teams that put powerboat racers through their 'Dunk' capsize preparation tests.

 

John Puddifoot, RYA Powerboat Racing manager, added: "Year after year the UK's powerboat racers excel both nationally and internationally doing their country proud, and we hold our awards to celebrate these successes. It is also the one opportunity that our champions from every discipline get the chance to get together."

 

To find out more about how you can get involved with any of the power racing disciplines visit the RYA website www.rya.org.uk or call the RYA Powerboat Racing team on
0845 345 0378.

 

Karenza Morton
RYA West Midlands Regional Communicator

T: 07837 707630
E: press@tenpointstick.co.uk

W:www.rya.org.uk