The Axa Ambition Awards

News has reached us that Joanne has been selected by her school to be nominated for an Axa Ambition Award.   These bi-annual awards aim to recognise the talent, hard work and dedication of 12-18 year olds in sports, science, community, the arts and enterprise.

Paul Evans, CEO of AXA UK:

 “Recognising talent and developing people is something we place great importance on within AXA. We have created the Ambition AXA Awards to recognise, reward and develop extreme talent among 11 to 18 year olds. For five gifted individuals with the talent and the ambition to get to the top, this is a unique opportunity to win a bespoke mentoring prize of up to £40,000 each. Winning this prize could be life changing and we are proud to be able to offer this opportunity.”

http://www.ambitionaxaawards.com/

Fife Sports and Leisure Trust

Samantha has been busy this week working with the fantastic team at Pitreavie Athletics Centre and Fife Sports and Leisure Trust who have been helping Samantha to develop a personal strength and conditioning programme for the months ahead.

Fife Council - Individual Sports Grant

A big thank you to Fife Council for the award of an Individual Sports Grant to both Joanne and Samantha.  These small grant awards aim to support National and International level athletes with the costs of training and competition and are very welcome indeed.

G.

RYA Scotland Laser Squad 2011

Joanne

Samantha

Happy news as both Joanne and Samantha have been selected for the 2011/2012 RYA Scotland Laser Radial National Sailing Scotland.

The squad trains over the winter at various locations including the Inverclyde National Sports Centre, Scottish Sailing Institute and the National Watersports Centre on Cumbrae Island.

G.

Samantha 2011 Report Card-

The first year in the Laser Radial is what seems to make or break most female youth sailors in the single handed classes.  Moving on from an Optimist or a Topper it is not the size of the rig (in theory the sail is not much bigger than a Topper) but it is the combination of the power of the rig and the weight of the hull, especially around the beach and in the slow speed maneuvering of start lines which perhaps present the greatest physical challenge at a time when the female competitors are pitched against male youths who are growing bigger, stronger and physically more powerful every day but using exactly the same equipment.

Sail for Gold 2011, Weymouth

Looking back on 2010/11 it is clear that Sammi has had a challenging year and it certainly has not been all plain sailing.  It is clear that Sammi Could NOT have tried harder. Perhaps on reflection she has tried too hard.  Seven full sailing weeks over the summer across two classes, in four seperate countries including two world championships, an ISAF World Cup Event and both the UK Youth and UK Open Nationals and two full time coached training weeks with all the travelling in between was always an ambitious programme when added to school work and Scottish Qualifications Authority Exams.

Big Waves at Pwllheli Qualifier, May 2011

Perhaps a lesser programme would have flattered to deceive.  International and Olympic sailing is an incredibly tough sport, perhaps one of the most challenging of all.  International success demands performance not just on one day but repeatedly day after day in all conditions both at home and abroad.  Medals are not won in a single performance but across a whole week or more in a range of conditions and testing the very bounds of athletic skills, technical knowledge, and physical and mental endurance.

Fireworks at the Topper Worlds, Ireland August 2011

This year was not about achieving excellence in a single event, this year has been about building the foundations of a long term campaign.  Gaining every experience possible, being in the right place at the right time and building the toughness and endurance which is essential in international competition.

Sovereign Ski Topper
World Championships 2011
 

In a difficult year there have been high points for Sammi including a Gold Fleet place at the UK Laser Radial Inlands 2010, a top ten race place at the Laser Nationals, great overall results at the Topper Inlands and the Derwent Nationwide and 2nd place overall and 1st Lady in Silver Fleet at the Topper World Championships, 2011 and just finishing the extremely challenging sail for Gold Regatta, the UK Olympic Test Event Selection Trials, sailing all week in winds of up to 30 knots which tested even the most battle hardened Olympic veterans!

With good passes in all her highers and all our key objectives delivered I am scoring Samantha A+ for effort..

All change for Joanne

Following a challenging season in the Topper class where light winds have seen almost all events dominated by the smaller, lighter sailors it is time to reflect on lessons learned and plan for next year.  Despite having at least one more year in the Junior classes with the possibility of least a further year if pursuing the female singlehanded pathway into the Laser Radial Joanne is considering her options.

Despite some genuine high points and very strong performances both in training and at moderate and high wind events, the UK Inlands being a key example, it has been a season dogged by significant challenges.  Missing the Gold fleet cut at the Worlds was a particular disappointment as were the very light conditions which dogged the first two days of the UK Nationals. But sailing is a weather dependent sport and champions have to be competitive in all conditions. There are still issues to work on. Starting technique being a particular challenge, again especially in light winds when on a 100 boat start line it is vital to be able to match the acceleration of everyone around you.

With nature taking it's course Joanne is now fast approaching 6 feet and another season in Toppers would mean another season of dieting at a time when working on fitness and muscle mass is what is really needed for her longer term goals Joanne as faced a difficult choice.  Hang on in the Junior classes until the normal transition point and hope for a windy season next year and a chance to excel as a Junior or move up early (very early) to the Women's Olympic Class, the Laser Radial and accept a step outside the National Squad system for a year or more in pursuit of longer term goals.

After discussion with her coaches, her parents and the high performance manager Joanne has decided to take the plunge and move now in to the Laser Radial Class.  Having just turned 14 she will be one of the youngest female Radial sailors for the next year but by leaving the Junior classes early she will gain a full year of extra training before it is time to seek transitional training and Laser Squad places next year.

So it is with some considerable sadness that Joanne has packed away her Topper for possibly the very last time but with great determination that she will be out on the Laser Radial race course from the weekend of the Scottish Zone Championships at Largs which is also a Scottish Laser Radial event.