Sailing the waters with lottery funding
Friday, 26 March 2004
sportscotland is delighted to announce their support to the Scottish Royal Yachting Association (RYA) with an award of £39,690 from the Lottery funded Junior Groups Programme. This investment will ensure the RYA remains firmly anchored at the pinnacle of grassroots development, helping youngsters to achieve their potential at a junior level.
Fresh from their success at the 2003 UK Championships in South Hampton, Scotland’s junior sailors are keen to improve and achieve even higher results for 2004. At the previous UK Championships Scotland had three youngsters winning their class as well as gaining selection for International Sailing Association Federation (ISAF) World Championships. The team’s success has demonstrated the current strength and depth of the sport at a junior level and has also raised the standard of competition performances. Sailing the Scottish flag high at the forthcoming UK Championships in Wales will be youngsters Luke Patience, Adam Wagner, Peter Bird and Charlotte Dobson who are all in medal contention.
"The programme has made a significant contribution... shown actual improvements in results on the race course"
To assist sailors in their preparation for future competitions, the Junior Groups Programme will offer increased and improved coaching and competition opportunities to the six classes: Optimist, Topper, Laser, Standard, Laser radial, 420 and Windsurfing. Each discipline will also benefit from at least six single non-residential coaching sessions at the Scottish Sailing Institute as well as specific fitness training and testing to help maximise performance. The programme will aim to develop technical knowledge of sailors and create performance pathways for them to progress from a junior squad level onto a World Performance Plan.
Roy McCubbin, Royal Yachting Association said: “The programme has made a significant contribution to not only the development of our coaching and training but has shown actual improvements in results on the race course. sportscotland’s Lottery Fund Junior Group Programme has played an important part in the success of our sailors which include various National and World titles.”
Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland said: “The Scottish public value seeing sporting success on the international stage and we are determined to invest in grassroots development to achieve future world class performances across a range sports. By providing our youngsters with quality training facilities, professional coaching and appropriate competition opportunities we can help them fulfil their potential and achieve a positive outcome for sport in Scotland.
“As Scotland’s senior sailors focus their attention towards securing a place on the GB team for 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the country’s future representatives will hopefully be inspired to continue along the path to achieving world success.”
- The Junior Groups Programme provides support to groups of talented young people participating in a co-ordinated programme of coaching and competitive events over a minimum period of six months.
- Applications for the following costs are considered for funding: facility hire, coaching fees, accommodation, travel, equipment and competition entry fees