Event 1
Venue: Manley, West Zone
Date: 19th May 07

Four wins but its still woe for warriors

If you missed this event for the Cup Final you should kick yourselves!

25 sailors from 3 teams had quite a challenging time in the strong gusty conditions. Fortunately the sun was out and the reasonable air and water temperatures made the spills that people had, good fun. Home team Manley Mere Katz faced challenges from current West Zone Team 15 champions, Team Astbury, and their fierce rivals the West Kirby Warriors.

Manley fielded their biggest ever team of eight sailors, to help them cope with the onslaught from the visitors. At the morning briefing, under the new T15 marquee, it was good to see that teams had encouraged a pleasing number of newcomers to turn up.

The gusty conditions did limit the choice of course which was laid. Keeping it simple was the key here and the first 3 races set, were a slalom start out to a gybe mark then a blast down to the finish – survival was the key to success. After lunch a couple of gybe marks were added to form a giant downwind slalom for a further 4 races. The “pit crews” in action on the finish line were very impressive: rather than sail back upwind parents and coaches all pitched in to get the boards back to the start – great fun but tiring!

Top performances came from Manley sailors Seb Kennedy and Joe Murphy. Both boys recorded a creditable 5th in their fleets in this their first event. James Bloor and Charles Smith from Team Astbury, must also be congratulated on their efforts. At just 7 years old, Warriors sailor, Zac Bradley-Baker found things a bit too demanding but watch this space, he’ll be back!

West Kirby Warriors looked like they were set to sweep the board, taking first places in four classes, the 3.5 metre, 4.5m, 5.5m, and 6.8 metres. Tom Coldham, Oliver Bradley Baker, Chris Chavasse and Jay Gwynn took these four classes for the Warriors.

Astbury stopped the clean sweep as Cameron Finney took the Bic Techno 6.8m class, while Astbury and Manley Mere Katz weighed in with several second and third places. Best of the Mere Katz home team was Xenia Spencer-Milnes who took second in the 5.5m class.

With four out of five class wins in the bag, the Warriors were confident that their team would get the verdict, but when the scores were totted up, they added up to a win by just a single point for current champs Team Astbury.

Astbury’s consistent scoring, with a string of top three places, meant death by a thousand cuts for the Warriors, who retired home to West Kirby to lick their wounds.

They are sure to be ready to rejoin battle at the next Team15 Interclub Event, at Hollingworth Lake on 9th June. As things get underway this year it will be good to see a challenge from the Hollingworth Hunters, the Salford Sharks and Sale Stormers. .

Team winners 

Photos courtesy of Mike Roberts

Report written by:
Mike Roberts
T15 CO - West Zone Zone

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

Congratulations!

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T15 Coach-Red courses
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For information
(previous courses in 2008)

Mount Batten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 27/28 September 2008
Closing date: 5 September
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Lakes Leisure - Windermere
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Fully booked

James Hamilton Heritage Park - Glasgow
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Gwent Adventures - Wales
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 9/10 August 2008
Closing date: 25 July
5 candidates on course


Grafham Water Centre - Cambridgeshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 5/6 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
Spaces available
6 candidates on course

Wimbleball Lake - Somerset
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek course: 3/4 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
4 candidates on course


Roadford Lake - Okehampton
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 4/5 June 2008
Organised by South West Lakes Trust
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Freestyle
Weekend Course: 3/4 May 2008
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 1/2 May 2008
6 candidates on course


Mountbatten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend Course: 12/13 April 2008
Cancelled: lack of candidates

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