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HYC Sailors at ISA Youth Nationals for Easter
Author: Richard Kissane Posted on: 23/4/09 Print Version


The ISA Youth Nationals & Junior Pathway Championship 2009 concluded in Schull, Co Cork on Friday 17th April after four days of exhilarating racing.

This followed the Easter weekend of racing for Lasers in Baltimore and 420's in Kinsale.

With large seas and windspeeds frequently over 20 knots and gusting to 30 knots at times in Roaring Water Bay, James O'Callaghan, ISA Performance Director commented: "I've been most impressed with the quality of boat handling and seamanship".

Several HYC sailors were in action between the two fleets.

Coach Ger Owens & Diana Kissane
 
Laser & Topper
Mark Condy, finished 4th in the 4.7 class. Both Mark and Chris Malcolm clocked up a race win apiece. Simon Lawlor was also in action in the 4.7 rig. Mark Condy will travel to Helsinki for the European Championships with the Irish Laser 4.7 squad in the Summer.

Alan Ruigrok and Andrew Tyrell competed in a very competitive radial class with Alan finishing in 7th overall.

Erica Ruigrok competed in the Topper class and then went on to compete in the Optimist Trials in RCYC at the weekend.

420
The HYC sailors had a particularly good week with several great performances reflecting the hard work put in over the winter in HYC with coach and double Olympian Ger Owens.

Timmy O'Laoire & Brian Kelleher won the ISA Youth Nationals with six wins out of eleven races. Scott Flanigan and Luke Malcolm finished 4th overall while Diana Kissane and Hazel O'Neill finished second girls in the event and sixth overall, winning two races in the process.

These three crews will also represent Ireland and HYC at the Junior European Championships in Lake Ballaton in Hungary and at the World Championships in Lake Garda later this Summer. This is a fantastic representation for the club and the sailors are to be congratulated on their performances in what has become a very competitive class.

Ali Dix and Holly Campbell, also from HYC, who have moved up from the Optimist class last year competed with crews in their first 420 Youth Nationals and gained some very valuable experience for the future.