Crampton and Andrews cream of crop as WSSCA Sail for Gold 

55 Worcestershire school kids did battle at the 2012 WSSCA Sail for Gold Regatta

The parents of Worcestershire’s newest Olympian, Alison Young, were onhand to cheer on the stars of tomorrow as they presented the trophies at the Worcestershire Schools’ Sailing and Canoeing Association (WSSCA) 2012 Sail for Gold Regatta at Upton Warren (23-24 June).

Ali’s dad, Keith, and mum Pat, are no strangers to this annual event, their Bewdley-raised daughter having raced at the WSSCA regattas from 2000 to 2005, and represented Worcestershire at National School Sailing Association events while she was growing up.

So they were only too pleased to help celebrate the achievements of 55 of the latest young Worcestershire sailing talents making a name for themselves at the 2012 event.

Patrick Crampton (Worcester Sixth Form College) and Seb Andrews (Droitwich High School) were among those celebrating at the top of the podium after two days of challenging, shifty conditions at Upton Warren, winning the Handicap and Topper fleets respectively.

Patrick’s success came in a Laser 4.7 dinghy, while he was followed in second and third by Kai Louden (The Chase High School) and his older brother, James Crampton (Worcester Sixth Form) College, who both raced in more powerful Laser Radials. Rob Mallett (The Chase High School) and Dan Workman (Droitwich High School) claimed second and third spots in the Topper fleet. 

The Chase High School walked away with the best overall school team trophy.

Special trophies also went to Duncan Quickfall, (Aston Fields Middle School) for Most Improved Sailor over the last two years, Ambur Winspur (Witton Middle School) for Best Girl and David Rean (Droitwich High School), who was named Most Enthusiastic Sailor.

Westacre Middle School teacher, Dave Thomas, also picked-up a special ‘Services to WSSCA’ trophy, having voluntarily taken groups of young people to Upton Warren for around 15 years on weekday evenings, run canoe events at regattas and helped on the committee.

The event was the perfect rehearsal for the 21 WSSCA sailors who now head off to the 2012 Olympic sailing venue at Weymouth and Portland for the highly-prestigious National Schools’ Sailing Association Golden Jubilee Regatta 2012 from 8-15 July.

With the World’s top sailors, including some of Britain’s greatest sailing Olympians as well as debutant Ali, getting in some last minute fine-tuning on the waters off the Dorset coast the Worcestershire team could find themselves rubbing shoulders with the great and good just two weeks before the start of the Olympic sailing regatta.

Vivien Brookes, Chair of the WSSCA, said: “The competitors took part in very challenging conditions but there was excellent sailing right across the event. A particular mention must go to the novices who swiftly adapted to the difficult breeze and did themselves proud. Now we wish our Worcestershire team all the best in Weymouth and Portland. We hope they can make what is already a memorable year for Worcestershire sailing even more special.”

This year’s WSSCA regatta was staged under the banner of Sail for Gold, as part of the nationwide London 2012 initiative from sailing’s national governing body, the RYA, celebrating Britain's unmatched Olympic sailing heritage and inspiring more people to get out on the water more often in this Olympic year.

Ali Young competes in the women’s Laser Radial one-person dinghy class at London 2012, with her event getting underway on Monday 30 July.

For more information about Worcestershire Schools’ Sailing and Canoeing Association visit http://wssca.wordpress.com or contact Vivien Brookes on 01684 569253.