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RYA PRESS RELEASE

June 23^rd

Northern Irish Junior and Youth Rib Champions Crowned 

RYA Honda Youth Rib Regional Finals were held on Saturday June 21^st at East Down Yacht Club in Strangford Lough where 23 young powerboaters competed in difficult  conditions with gale force winds and driving rain to add to the excitement of earning a place at the UK National Finals being held September 21^st 2008 at the Southampton Boat Show. The competition consists of each competitor taking the controls of a 4.8 metre  Rigid Inflatable Boat with a 50 hp engine. They are expected to negotiate a slalom course, a simulated man overboard recovery and reverse around marks against the clock. Safety is an important element and each boat has an experienced adult onboard.  Winners of the UK National Finals will take home a new Ribcraft 4.8m RIB, Honda BF50 outboard, Indespension trailer and ICOM VHF radio for use at their chosen club. 

In the younger age group (8-12 years) 12 year old Gary Fekkes from East Antrim Boat Club in Larne fought off fierce competition to win this year’s title. Gary is a student at Larne Grammar School and has competed four times previously in this event .   When asked how he felt about winning  Gary commented “I was amazed at winning the NI finals . I didn’t think that it was possible as there was so much great competition. I am really looking forward to the Southampton trip.” (runners up in this age group were Laura Crozier from Antrim Boat Club 2^nd with Ben Regan from East Down Yacht Club 3^rd.) 

In the older age band (13-16) winner Paul Magowan from Quoile Yacht Club  has been on the podium before  having won in both age groups and the UK National titles previously. He will once again head over to Southampton to take on the UK’s best young RIB drivers. Paul is an accomplished powerboater and holds several RYA qualifications.  He attends Bangor Grammar School.  This is his last year in the event and he is happy to get to the finals again as he now knows a number of the finalists from other areas in the UK. (runners up were  Fraser Wright 2^nd East Down Yacht Club and Gordon Baker 3^rd from Quoile Yacht Club ). 

Martin Moll, Head of Marketing for event sponsor Honda said: "We are very proud and pleased to be associated with the RYA Youth RIB Challenge for another year because it allows us to create links with the wider community - giving a younger generation access to our products and helping them engage with interactive, team based, social activities.

Furthermore, as a manufacturer which puts safety at the heart of everything we do, the RIB Challenge gives us a great opportunity to underline this commitment." 

Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda, Ribcraft, ICOM and Indespension Trailers.   

For more information about the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, details on how to get involved and a list of regional finals scores visit www.rya.org.uk  

 -Ends-

For further media information:

Lisa Waugh

RYA NI regional communicator

Tel: 02890 383812