44 junior windsurfers descended on Torside Reservoir on Saturday to challenge the local Glossop team. Aged from 9 to 15, the teams were sailing to decide which team should go to the national finals. The teams completed 6 races before the wind died away.

The Glossop team was set up only two months ago, and was challenging very experienced windsurfers, including two from the National Team. Team Astbury, from Congleton, won the National title in 2007 and West Kirby Warriors from the Wirral won in 2008. Two other well established clubs, Manley Mere Katz from Chester and Hollingworth Hunters from Rochdale also sent teams.

7 plucky Glossop sailors accepted the challenge. This put a big strain on the club’s equipment, which at the moment is more suitable for teaching beginners than racing.

Luckily Juice Boardsports, a recently opened water sports shop in Huddersfield, offered to lend the club a new Tushingham race sail. With this sail Jessica Morris, the club’s top performer cruised to 5th place in her class, winning her a merit award as first girl. Jessica started windsurfing 2 months ago.

The rest of the team all improved during the day, and most of all enjoyed themselves.

The event was run by an experienced team from the sailing club, all volunteers, who ran the safety boats, provided food from the kitchen and made the visitors welcome. Although exhausted at the end of the day, all hoped the event would become a permanent fixture in the club’s calendar. The visitors went home happy, particularly West Kirby Warriors who won the team prize, and would like to return next year.

T15 is run by the RYA to encourage children to take up Windsurfing. Glossop sailing club is a RYA approved training centre for Dinghy sailing, Windsurfing and Powerboating.

Glossop Sailing Club:            www.gdsc.org

Team 15:                                    www.team15.org.uk

For more information please contact Tim Snellgrove  0161 427 5150  [email protected]