VICTORY TO THE WARRIORS AT 2008 TEAM15 CHAMPIONS CUP
 
Battling through testing conditions throughout the weekend (4-5th October) it was the West Zones’ West Kirby Warriors who clinched the victory and raised the 2008 Team15 (T15) Champions Cup trophy.
 
Having beaten 2007 champions Team Astbury to claim their place at the final the Warriors were confident they could do well. Team Coach Simon Moore said; “We have worked really hard all year for this battling with Team Astbury the whole way through the regional heats just to get here. It feels amazing to hold the cup, it’s been a real team effort and it definitely paid off.”
 
Team member 12 year old Oli Bradley Baker echoed Simon’s thoughts saying; “It’s the first time we’ve made the final and to win is really exciting however, we did come to win.”
 
Held at Rutland Water, the event saw over 100 competitors hailing as far afield as Loch Insh in Scotland and Portscatho in Cornwall, take to the water in what proved an eventful weekend in terms of both results and weather.
 
Racing was split between 5 classes, 3.5m, 4.5m, 5.5m, 6.8m and 6.8m Techno with new comers to the Champions Cup final the North Lincs Invaders and West Kirby Warriors taking wins in four of the five classes.
 
Despite winds gusting up to 25 knots, racing was extremely competitive throughout the weekend with all competitors demonstrating great skill and dogged determination.
 
 T15 Manager Gillian Wright commented; “The conditions were extreme, even getting off the beach and to the start line was tough. However, everyone has learnt something from these challenges and should go away feeling very proud of themselves.”
 
The new champions bagged a whole host of great prizes including; a Naish ripper rig, from Naish and Tushingham Dino rig, from Tushingham.  Also a Bic Techno 293 board from Riks Sport and Starboard Kids Pro Sonic board from Tushingham.  And it didn’t end there with the whole team getting a Beijing 2008 Olympic buoyancy aid thanks to the RYA.
 
Special Merit Awards went to Zara Petts from the Hythe Hotshots and Annalee Hargreaves from the Loch Insh Monsters both of whom demonstrated a fantastic attitude and determination reflecting the essence of T15.
Special thanks to T15’s generous sponsors, Neilson, Tushingham/Starboard, Ultra Sport/Bic, Windsurf magazine, Boards magazine and Neil Pryde, without whom this great event couldn’t happen.
 
To find out more about Team15 visit www.team15.org.uk.
 
Champions Cup 2007 final results:
Place
Team Name
1^st
West Kirby Warriors
2^nd
North Lincs Invaders
3^rd
Roseland Waveriders
4^th
Hythe Hotshots
5^th
Loch Insh Monsters
6^th
Oxford Zoomers
7^th
Axbridge Animals
8^th
Alton Water Wipeouts
9^th
Carsington  Comets