Cracking Start for Kieran at IWA Windsurfing Worlds
24 August 2009
Young Brit Kieran Martin made an early statement of intent as he leads the charge for the Bic Techno Under 15 World title after day one of the 2009 IWA Junior, Youth and Masters Windsurfing World Championships at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA).
But the level-headed 14-year-old from Cheadle, Cheshire insists he will not be taking any notice of the overall standings until after the end of the RYA Racing Events-run regatta on Saturday (29 August) as those are the only scores that count.
Martin got his Championships off to a flyer today (Monday 24 August) as he landed a race one victory before following that up with a second race third to sit a point ahead of Israel’s Ben Hayoun in the boys’ fleet.
However, the youngster, who took Under 15 bronze at last year’s Worlds before being crowned 2009 Under 15 European champion in April, admits he was just pleased to get underway with two good scores.
He said: “I just wanted to make sure I got a couple of good counting races so I was really pleased with what I ended the day with. I don’t really want to be worrying about the overall scores until after the competition is over because then you can end up taking your mind off the things that you should be thinking about.
“To relax before racing I like to socialise and hang out with my friends and that wasn’t any different today. I did have a few nerves this morning but at the same time I felt confident I had done all I could do to prepare so when I actually got out on to the racecourse I was quite relaxed.”
Italy’s Marta Maggetti, 13, leads the Under 15 girls’ competition, a race two victory giving her a two-point advantage over May Witson (ISR) with Britain’s Emma Labourne enjoying a great start to the regatta in third.
A perfect victory double for Marcin Urbanowicz (POL) sees him lead the Under 17 boys’ event, while, with the fleet split into two groups for the qualifying stage, Mateo Sanz Lanz (ESP) and Sam Sills (GBR) lie tied in second with two second places apiece.
In the Under 17 girls’ fleet, the Israelis are dominating with three sailors sitting inside the top five, headed by 15-year-old Hadas Zaga in pole position ahead of Veronica Fanciucci (ITA) in second and Israeli teammate Kishon Lora third.
Portugal’s Joao Rodrigues scored a double bullet to sit atop the Raceboard Masters rankings, the 2008 RS:X World Championships silver medallist and four-time Olympian bossing proceedings after their opening two races.
Triple Olympian Slovakia’s Patrik Pollak holds down second place courtesy of his 3,2 return from today’s races.
Meanwhile there is a familiar name appearing third on the leaderboard rankings with Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Manager and coach to Britain’s top RS:X sailor Nick Dempsey, Barrie Edgington, dusting off his wetsuit and coming out of retirement for the event.
Edgington, who represented Britain at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and is also a former Lechner class World Champion, scored the reverse to Pollak to sit on the Slovaks tail at the end of day one.
At fourth overall, Tom Naylor (GBR) is the top placed Grand Master, Andy Lacy (GBR) the top veteran in 11th and Annette Kent (GBR) in 17th is the highest ranked female sailor.
In the Raceboard Youth division, French sailors are nestled in the top four spots with Fabian Pic leading, Morgann Behrel second and Jerome Pasquette third while countrywoman Delphine Cousin is the highest placed female.
Racing is scheduled to resume at 11am tomorrow.
The IWA Junior, Youth and Masters Worlds is the first of three back-to-back World Class events being run by the RYA, supported by UK Sport, being hosted at WPNSA over the next month with the RS:X World Championships taking place the week immediately following the IWA Worlds before the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta welcomes the cream of the World’s Olympic Classes sailors from 14 – 19 September.
To follow all the action from WPNSA visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk
