2007 Champions - Team Astbury

Champions Cup 2007 
6/7 October 2007 
Rutland Watersports, Whitwell.

Over 100 kids gathered at Rutland Water, (6-7th October) for the culmination of the RYA's Team15 National Championship - The Champions Cup - for one of the most closely contested finals in the championship's history.

With light winds and few races to demonstrate their skill, tactics and stamina proved vital and after a slow but skilful five races the final points table was extremely close with just seven points separating the top 4 teams.  The nine teams competing hailed from as far afield as the Highlands of Scotland to the depths of Cornwall, having all qualified to represent their zones at the event after winning their regional heats over the summer.

After a greatly anticipated wait, as points were calculated and checked, it was the west zone's Team Astbury from Congleton who were crowned National Champions after posting consistently good results across the five classes. They finished just five points ahead of second place Roseland Wave Riders from the south west zone, with Covenham Cyclones from the Midlands zone just one point behind in third place.

2005 and 2006 National Champions the Hythe Hotshots were planning to make it a hat trick this year however had to settle for fifth place.

Ali Yates, Team Astbury coach said: "I am extremely pleased for the team as they've put in so much hard work to get here.  Having come 3rd for the last two years we were determined to come home with the cup.

"With different teams qualifying for the final this year we didn't know what to expect, so we went for every single point we could and just did our very best. We're all over the moon."

The Hotshots did still managed to clinch two class victories with Alex Barry in the 4.5m and Tom Addison in the 5.5m class, whilst Team Astbury's Steven Tyson dominated the 6.8m class winning all his races after discards.

New Champions Cup finalists Roseland Waveriders from Cornwall and Loch Inch Monsters from Scotland also picked up individual victories in the 6.8m Techno (Jack Warren) and 3.5m (David Taylor) classes respectively. 

Gillian Wright, founder and manager of RYA Team15 said: "It's been a fantastic weekend with a great atmosphere and an extremely high standard of sailing, all of which uphold the spirit of Team15.  Everyone involved puts in such great effort so my thanks go to the kids taking part, the coaches, parents and Team15's generous sponsors.

"Everyone has really enjoyed themselves, despite conditions being far from perfect and we look forward to doing it again next year."

2007 Champions, Team Astbury take home to their club a brand new board, rig and sail thanks to Riks Windsurfing, Tushingham and Naish. The same sponsors along with event sponsor, Neil Pryde, provided individual goodie bags for all class winners.

Photos for the 2007 event will be uploaded to the gallery in the near future.

 

 

For a report on the 2006 Champions Cup event, visit the inter-club archive.