George Juniors & Youths celebrate 2022 sailing achievements
Over 120 junior and youth sailors along with their parents gathered at the Royal St George for the annual prize giving. It was the first time since the covid years that the dinner and awards ceremony had been run and there was an electric buzz in the air with many junior sailors having their first experience of a big club dinner.
Robbie Walker Junior Organiser opened the evening with a huge thank you to all the club volunteers, instructors, coaches, parents, and staff that helped to run exceptional events this year including the Elmo Cup, the Optimists National, the ILCA Nationals. Special thanks went to Kate Fogarty (Rear Commodore Sailing) and the other flags for their super support of youth sailing. To avoid a long-drawn-out prize giving, a set of prizes was awarded before and after each course.
Summer course success
First up were the Summer Course prizes. Start Sailing saw Michael Maher, William Naughton and Sarah Jane Healy scoop to the top awards with Basic Skills sailing awards going to Rebecca Murdock, Hugh O’ Flaherty and Ava Molly. Improving Skills winner were Oisin Healy, Jackson Clarke and Holly Cantwell with the final category of Advanced sailing awards going to Finn Byrne, Max O’Hare and Kate Molloy.
The big winners
The Manna Cup was next presented to a team or person for the best asset to the club. The winners were ‘Team George’ who collectively represented the club at the Irish Sailing Junior Champions Cup competition recently held in Schull, where junior National champions all raced each other. 12 gold medals and the cup were awarded to the team which included the event Champion Fiachra Geraghty Mc Donnell. The George team placed:
1st Fiachra & Caoilinn Geraghty -McDonnell (LICA6)
3rd Archie Daly & Michael Crosbie (Team Racing)
4th Trevor & Russell Bolger (Team Racing)
7th Patrick Foley & Seth Walker (RS Feva)
8th Lucia Cullen & Alana Twomey (RCYC) (29er)
11th Conor Cronin & William Walsh (NYC) (Optimist)
16th Georgia Goodbody (RIYC) & Emily Conan (Waszp)
The Clare McKenna Cup was awarded to the best club coach. Peter Fagan was the recipient recognising his great success and efforts in leading an Optimist training programme aimed at those looking to compete Internationally. 10 George sailors qualified for senior Optimist teams: Worlds – Caoilinn Geraghty McDonnell and Carolina Carra. Europeans – Patrick Foley, Thea Daly, Jules Start, Grace Gavin and Conor Cronin. IDT – Hannah Scott, Abigail Murphy, and Juliette Ryan. Luan McKenna son of Clare McKenna a previous Junior Organiser presented the cup and shared some lovely words about his late mum.
Peter Fagan presented with Clare McKenna Cup by Luan McKenna
Rounding out the award of the major trophies were the Millennium Trophy for best club sailor at an International Optimist Event – Caoilinn Geraghty McDonnell (Oppie Worlds), the Cox Trophy for best international result went to 29er under 17 World Champions Lucia Cullen and Alana Twomey (RCYC) and the Reggie Lee Trophy for best international Laser performance went to Fiachra McDonnell (22nd Worlds in Texas)
The Incredible ILCAS
As the evening moved to the fleet prizes the sugar and food were taking full effect in the junior audience and the decibels were rising! The ILCA class led by class Captains Michael Ciborowski and Gus Legge awarded prizes to best boy and girl in each rig size.
In the ILCA 6, best Boy was Fiachra McDonnell, and best Girl – Sophie Kilmartin. ILCA 4’s had
Best Boy – Daniel O’Connor and Best Girl – Ava Ennis, while in the ILCA 7 there were only male sailors and 1st was Kei Walker and 2nd Mark Henry. Spirit of ILCA was one of the most popular awards with huge cheers for both Zita Tempany, new to the fleet and showing great promise, and Brian Carroll everyone’s favourite ILCA sailor.
Best Girl Basic Skills L-R Megan Foley, Ava Molloy, Jess Walsh
All those who did ILCA Worlds were recognised with a medal:
ILCA 4 Worlds
1 = Ava Ennis – 93rd
2= Christian Ennis – 124th
3= Daniel O’Connor – 131st
4 = Krzysztof CIBOROWSKI – 192nd
5 = Seth Walker – 201st
6 = Max Cantwell – 228th
ILCA 6 worlds
1 = Fiachra McDonnell = 22nd
2 = Sophie Kilmartin – 29th
3 = Oisin Hughes – 81st
4 = Archie Daly – Bronze Europeans
5 – Brian Carroll – Emerald at Europeans
‘Team George’ Champions Cup sailors L-R Lucia Cullen, Conor Cronin, Seth Walker, Patrick Foley, Caoilinn Geraghty McDonnell with Junior Organiser Robbie Walker.
The Optimist Toptimists!
The noisiest and the most fun class was up next with the Optimists. Class Captains Brendan and Sarah Foley, supported by Gavan Murphy, Barry Murdock and Paul Molloy called out the following for prizes in what was an exceptional year for Optimist sailing in the club which included the highlight of hosting the National Championships. Winners were:
- The Donagh Sisters for their performance at the Ulster’s (1/2/3 in Junior Fleet).
- Emily Donagh for winning Nationals (Junior Main).
- Caoilinn Geraghty McDonnell for winning Female Senior Championship & qualifying for Gold Fleet at Worlds.
- Jules Start for winning Connaught’s & Ulster’s (Senior).
- Conor Cronin for winning Nationals Senior and champion of Ireland.
- Juliet for winning Connaught’s, Munster’s & Leinster’s (Junior)
- Max O’Hare (Best Attitude)
- Finn Foley (Most Improved – Junior)
- Marcus Shelley (Most Improved – Senior)
- Most improved Regatta Fleet sailors: Adam Anderson & Jessica Walsh
- Oliver Ryan, Amy Shelley & Louie Murphy for their performances in the Ulster’s last month in Regatta racing fleet and dedication over the season.
The Fabulous Fevas
The RS Feva class is undergoing a revival with sailing in the class now happening all year and plenty of ex-Oppie sailors joining those already established in the boat. Coaches Henry Higgins and Henry Start have really upped the levels and great results are being seen. Under the support of Class Captain Keith Start – great plans are afoot for this very important double handed class. Winners on the night were;
- Best RSGYC boat in Nationals – 2nd place Patrick Foley and Seth Walker, who were also awarded the class nomination to the Junior Champions Cup.
- Best RSGYC boat in Regionals -2nd place at Easterns were Jules Start and Grace Gavin.
- The Spirit of Feva Award went to Amelie Hennessy and Molly McGlew.
- Persistence Award and winning Sept. Series went to Tom Boret and Lorcan Golden.
If she can see it, she can be it – 29er class
The 29er fleet from the club were represented in spectacular style by some outstanding results from our female sailors. Demonstrating their talent on the international stage the female teams raced around Europe to come back with many prizes including;
- Lucia Cullen and Alana Twomey (RCYC) – u19 Female World Champions
- Emily Conan – Performance in Youth Nationals, Nationals and achieving an ISAF invitation.
- Emily Riordan and Jessica Riordan – Notable performance for RSGYC team in 29er Worlds and Europeans.
Tremendous Teamracers
Finally, the team racers which are a huge part of the history and the culture of the Royal St George were well represented by many youth teams that competed in the ELMO cup hosted by the club. This event saw over 120 sailors all under the age of 18 compete and socialise. An award was made to
St Conleth’s team 2nd place in All Irelands – including RSGYC Members: Russell Bolger, Louis McGovern, Daniel O’Connor, Fergus O’Reilly, Richard Caldwell
A special prize for developing team racing was awarded to Max O’Hare and Jules Start.
At this stage of the ceremony, the ice creams had been served and the sugar levels put paid to any further attention. The DJ kicked in and general fun was had by all.
Well done to all involved!
The Royal St George Youth Sailing Committee are;
Robbie Walker – JO
Keith Start – Feva Class Captain
Michal Ciborowski & Gus Legge – ILCA Class Captains
Brendan and Sarah Foley – Optimist Class Captains
Gavan Murphy & Barry Murdock – Oppie Leaders
Paul Molloy – Sea Squirts, Tigers and Lions
Marc Little – Transition Year Programme
David Bolger – 29er
Fleet Captains Prizes 2022
ILCA 6
Best Boy – Fiachra Mcdonnell
Best Girl – Sophie Kilmartin
ILCA 4
Best Boy – Daniel O’Connor
Best Girl – Ava Ennis
ILCA 7
1st Kei Walker
2nd Mark Henry
Spirit of ILCA
Zita Tempany
Brian Carroll
Recognition to all world champs’ participants:
ILCA 4 Worlds
1 = Ava Ennis – 93rd
2= Christian Ennis – 124th
3= Daniel O’Connor – 131st
4 = Krzysztof CIBOROWSKI – 192nd
5 = Seth Walker – 201st
6 = Max Cantwell – 228th
ILCA 6 worlds
1 = Fiachra McDonnell = 22nd
2 = Sophie Kilmartin – 29th
3 = Oisin Hughes – 81st
4 = Archie Daly – Bronze Europeans
5 – Brian Carroll – Emerald at Europeans
OPTIMIST
- The Donagh Sisters for their performance at the Ulster’s (1/2/3 in Junior Fleet)
- Emily Donagh for winning Nationals (Junior)
- Caoilinn Geraghty McDonnell for winning Junior Champs & qualifying for Gold Fleet at Worlds
- Jules Start for winning Connaught’s & Ulster’s (Senior),
- Conor Cronin for winning Nat’s (Senior),
- Juliet Ryan for winning Connaught’s, Munster’s & Leinster’s (Junior), Max O’Hare (Best Attitude),
- Finn Foley (Most Improved – Junior),
- Marcus Shelley (Most Improved – Senior).
- Most improved GODS sailors: Adam Anderson & Jessica Walsh.
- Oliver Ryan & Amy Shelley & Louie Murphy for their performances in the Ulster’s last month in Regatta racing fleet and dedication over the season.
FEVA
- Best RSGYC boat in Nationals, overall #2nd place Seth Walker and Patrick Foley
- Best RSGYC boat in Regionals/Easterns => overall #2nd place – Grace Gavin and Jules Start
- Sprit of Feva Award and winning Silver fleet in the nationals – Molly McGlew and Amelie Hennessy
- Persistence Award and winning Series Class – 1#st place – Tom Boret and Lorcan Golden
29ER
- Lucia Cullen and Alana Twomey – u19 Female World Champions
- Emily Riordan and Jessica Riordan – Notable performance for RSGYC team in 29er Worlds and Europeans
- Emily Conan – Performance in Youth Nationals, Nationals and achieving an invitation to ISAF
TEAM RACING
St Conleth’s team 2nd place in All Irelands –
RSGYC Members:
Russell Bolger
Louis McGovern
Daniel O’Connor
Fergus O’Reilly
Richard Caldwell
Developing team racing
Max O’Hare
Jules Start
