Double Gold for Otley Sailing Club Junior Powerboaters!
The whole team with 4 winners!
(left to right: Olivier Greaves, Oliver Scott-Caro, Ben Rawson, Hannah Davison, Olivia Walker, Rebecca Clarke)
Weeks of practice paid off for the youngsters of Otley Sailing Club on Saturday 30th May when they won double Gold medals at the Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Regional Final of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship. Otley Sailing Club sent a team of 6 youngsters to compete.
The Honda Championship is divided into two age groups; 8-12 years and 13-16 years. Each competitor completes a slalom course driving a powerful RIB (rigid inflatable boat) and the fastest time with no penalties wins in each section. The winners qualify for the National Finals at the Southampton Boat Show in September.
30 young powerboaters from clubs around the region took part in the competition which was hosted by Welton Waters Adventure Centre near Hull. The youngsters from Otley Sailing Club showed the benefit of training as they left many of their fellow competitors in their wake, achieving some fast times even in the blustery, breezy conditions. Some fast times were set and 1st to 4th places were only separated by 4 seconds!
First place in the junior class for 8-12 year olds went to Otley Sailing Club and this group was won by 12 year old Oliver Scott-Caro from Ilkley. Oliver attends Ilkley Grammar School and his time was 1min 35secs.
At 1min 26secs, the best time of the day was set by 14 year old Ben Rawson from Rawdon, winning the 13-16 year old group. Ben attends Benton Park School in Rawdon and began sailing at Otley Sailing Club a year ago.
Otley Sailing Club swept the board in the 13-16 year old class, winning all the top three slots. Rebecca Clarke from Ilkley was second (Guiseley School), with Hannah Davison from Silsden third (Woodhouse Grove School).
