Leigh and Lowton Club of the Year Finalists

Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club were one of five finalists for the 2012 RYA Club of the Year amid strong competition.

The plaque is in recognition of the range of quality and safe activities club members provide, how they encourage people to get out on the water and how well they engage with the local community.

As well as providing a year-round programme of racing for experienced sailors, the club has added a more inclusive outlook to make it an enjoyable experience regardless of age, ability and sailing aspirations.

There are links to groups working in the community. The club hosts sessions in which youngsters with social problems are brought from Salford to learn water-based sports including sailing and kayaking which helps to develop their social skills and improve their behaviour.

The club's annual Open Day typically attracts around a hundred people interested in trying out sailing. Many go on  to become members and learn how to get the best from the sport. This year those efforts will be linked to the RYA Sail for Gold Initiative that aims to increase participation in sailing, which is one of the nation's most successful Olympic sports.

New members are able to borrow club boats for the first year so they can take time to get into the sport and decide what boat they want to sail.   Social sailing sessions, held on Saturday mornings, offer support and advice from experienced sailors and provide a safe environment away from the pressure of racing for people to develop their skills and experience.

The club have consistently run a strong junior training and race programme which feeds into the RYA Performance Pathway with sailors attending the Zone Championships as well as being selected for the Zone Squads.  

The clubhouse was recently improved and extended, adding to the excellent facilities that members and visitors can enjoy.

Commodore Cathy Partington has no doubt of the value the competition has brought to the club: "It was a fantastic thing to do and I am sure we have learnt from the other clubs. Being named as a RYA Club of the Year finalist is a great way to recognise the efforts of everyone involved in the club." 

The club had a contingent of 25 at the awards ceremony held during the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show. The club  received their plaque from  Team Volvo and Skandia Team GBR's Saskia Clark and Hannah Mills and RYA CEO Sarah Treseder.

For more information about RYA Club of the Year please check out coverage of the final.

For more information about Leigh and Lowton SC have a look at their website