Sailing
A YOUNG sailor from Teesdale has been invited to be a part of a team representing the UK at the Irish National Championships in August.
Last weekend, Toby Waggett, of Eggleston, took part in the Optimist Early Summer Regatta, at Grafham Water, in Cambridgeshire.
This was his first national level event and he finished a very creditable 14th in the junior category.
The invitation to join the national team arrived the following day.
Whilst being very diminutive in size, the Optimist is the largest single class of racing dinghy in the world. It is the type of boat in which four time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie learnt to sail and race, so Toby is following in very distinguished footsteps.
Naturally he is very excited at the prospect of representing the UK in an international competition.
At Teesdale Sailing and Watersports Club Teesdale SWC), where Toby learnt to sail, everyone is very pleased that he is progressing so well and keeping their fingers crossed that he will be able to travel to Lough Derg in August.
After the setbacks of Covid his selection is a great fillip for both Toby and the club.
Despite his busy schedule of regional and national events and training, Toby is often to be seen on the water at Grassholme Reservoir, and enjoys helping those new to the sport in the club’s OnBoard Club.
Indeed it was through the juniors club that Toby first tasted the water just two years ago.
Imogen Gibb, the training centre principal at Teesdale SWC, said: “Toby has done really well, and he is a great example to our current crop of young sailors.
“Anyone interested in learning to sail whether young or old should email [email protected] as we have a few opportunities available over the next few months,” she said.
Richard Hewitt
