Gwent windsurfing team the Llandegfedd Reservoir Dogs are on their way to the national finals of the RYA’s Team15 Youth Windsurfing Championship after proving themselves the best in Wales at the developing sport.
Team member Josh Greenhaf, aged 12, won all bar one race in the 4.5m class of the weekend’s closing event of the regional championship held at West Wales Windsurfing, Dale, on Saturday (25 July).
Greenhaf’s wins, combined with the points the Dog’s scored for claiming event victory in the first round of the competition, secured their place at the National Final held at Rutland Water in October.
The 12 year old’s win comes just two years after taking up the sport and just 12 months after entering his first competition at the club based on Llandegfedd Reservoir.
“Josh is certainly one I am going to be keeping an eye on in the future,” said Scott Harrison, T15 event organiser for Welsh windsurfing.
“He won every race apart from one where he got a bit confused at the start – at the age of just 12 I think we can let him off that, so it will be interesting how he gets on.
“Josh showed a real competitive streak constantly pushing to see what he had to do to win his class and the event overall.
They all did really well as it was a really gutsy effort as many had not been windsurfing long at all.
“It was great to see more people taking part in the windsurfing competition in Wales, it is a sport which has not been as popular here as some parts of the South of England so it is good to see it developing.
“The competitors saw that it could be a laugh, hopefully everyone who came along would have gone away having been pretty inspired by it all.”
The key battles were in the third and fourth races when Dale’s William McLean, also aged 12, pushed Greenhaf all the way to the finish, but the Gwent boy came out on top by narrow margins in both races to seal his overall victory.
Supported by industry leaders Neilson, Tushingham/Starboard, Windsurf magazine, Boards magazine and Neil Pryde, T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.
Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches. The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills.
Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low – to find out how to get involved and your local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.
Pictured above: L-R, Mike Walklin, Reservoir Dogs coach, Josh Greenhaf (Llandegfedd), Ronan Smith (Dale), Joe Worr (Dale), William McLean (Dale), Charles Lamb (Dale)