RYA Southern regional youth champion winner revealed

Anthony Parke, 18, of Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club is one of the first ever winners of the RYA Regional Youth Champion Awards.

Anthony Parke was named amongst some of the UK’s most promising young sailors, windsurfers and powerboaters today last Sunday (02 March) as the winners of the RYA Regional Youth Champion Awards were revealed at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show.   

Anthony was recognised for  his dinghy racing successes when during 2011 he was 2nd under 16 at the Laser 4.7 class in the World Championships and 2013, as a member of the Radial Youth Squad was top British boy at the Youth European Championships and the only British male representative in the Gold Fleet.  He also came 8th in the Eurosafs, and was top British male and 14th overall at the Youth World Championships in Oman.  

Anthony funds a lot of his events himself from instructing and coaching as well as being voluntary class captain and committee member at MRSC.

He said “I am really excited about receiving this award.  2013 was a very active year and a big learning curve for me.  My goals in 2014 are to gain a medal at the ISAF youth worlds, after first making it past the huddle of the youth nationals. This is great recognition for Mengeham Sailing Club who have always supported me.”

The awards were presented by the British Sailing Team’s Dylan Fletcher and recognise the outstanding achievement and performance of young people across the range of activities the RYA represents.  

Dylan Fletcher commented: “It was great to be here to meet everyone and to present these inaugural awards. It’s really important to recognise people on every level and these youngsters are all so passionate about their sport and they all put in the extra effort”.  

All awards winners have been selected by the RYA’s 13 regional committees.  More information.