The talented Axbridge Animals achieved the hat trick they were aiming for when they hosted the third event of the 2013 Team15 (T15) South Zone Inter-Club Championship at Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club in Axbridge on Saturday, 20 July.  

Having beaten their closest rivals, the Oxford Zoomers, by a massive 35 points in this event, the Animals now qualify for the national Team15 Champions Cup in October with an event to spare.  

The day’s racing involved 24 young windsurfers aged 15 and under. Frankie Brown (12) put in an impressive performance, taking first in the 3.5 class. Daniel Stewart (11) took second, and future Axbridge star, new to Team15, was 3.5 sailor Eleanor Powell, who put in a great performance in the afternoon finishing all of the races.  

In the 4.5 fleet, Kate Hatcher (12) beat the Zoomers’ Theo Armstrong-Covely (13) into second place by just one point, although Theo put in his best ever performance and also won the merit award for best dancing on a windsurfer whilst crossing the finish line! Animals’ Orlando Fraser took third.  

The Animals had clean sweep in the 5.8 class, with Mollie Densley Robins (12), Libby Rodgers (13) and Josh Hunt (14) taking the top three places, and in the 6.8 fleet, Lou Brown and Lauren Goodall (13) took first and second place honours.    

Event organiser Tessa Ingram was delighted with how the day went: “After the first race all the sailors were smiling and seemed to be enjoying themselves. We had three highly competitive races in the morning and another three in the afternoon. With the wind shifting, the sailors were really having to think about tactics and places were changing right up until the finish line.”  

And it wasn’t just the racing that got everyone excited. Tessa explained: “It was fantastic to see ex-team15 sailors from Axbridge James Hatcher and Jack Bassett out on the water supporting their younger sisters and offering handy tips to all of the sailors. I wish them all of the best at the techno 293 Worlds in Poland.  

“We were also very lucky to have the fastest lady in the world and European & British Speed Champion Zara Davis at the event to hand out the trophies to the winners.”    

T15 is an initiative set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at grass roots level. The Team15 Inter-Club Championships takes place regionally over the summer across the UK adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills.  

To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.