The 34th All Ireland Inter-Schools Sailing Event took place in Sutton Dinghy Club on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September. 147 Sailors representing 33 secondary and primary schools competed in the event. Malahide was represented by sailors on teams from Malahide Community School, St. Andrews National School, Pope John Paul II National School, Belvedere College and St. Fintans High School. Racing took place in two fleets, Optimist dinghies and a Mixed Fleet, which competed on handicap.
Malahide Yacht Club member Scott Flanigan & crew Peter Gleeson were 1st in the Mixed Fleet and their team from Belvedere College was also 1st in the Mixed Fleet team competition. Malahide Community School, represented by Brendan Costello, Ciaran Costello and Caoimhe Rainey was placed 5th in the Mixed Fleet team competition.
There was a strong local representation in the Optimist Class with 15 sailors from Malahide Yacht Club. In the Individual Competition, Malahide Community School had 4 sailors in the top 10, with Sean Anglim in 3rd, Lizzy McDowell 4th, Michael Donnelly 5th and Alex Shackleton in 9th place. However, there was an anxious wait until it was confirmed that the Malahide Community School team of Sean, Lizzy & Colm Roche had won 1st place in the team competition by the narrowest of margins. A second Malahide Community School team comprising Michael, Alex and Shane Cox finished 4th in the Optimist team competition and a Belvedere College team, which included Thomas Natin was 5th.
Perhaps the most notable achievements at the event came from the local national school sailors. Conor Cunning, Cian Buckley and Patrick Hensey represented Pope John Paul II N.S. and Gemma McDowell, Colin O’Sullivan, Cara McDowell & Philip McDowell sailed for St. Andrews N.S. These sailors were all competing in this event for the first time and were racing against secondary school students up to the age of 15 in the Optimist class. Despite these challenges, St. Andrews finished 8th and Pope John Paul’s 11th out of 20 teams in the Optimist team competition.
This year Malahide Yacht Club has started a programme to introduce primary school children to the sport of sailing. Since the beginning of June approximately 400 children from three local schools have completed a one-day taster session. This programme is supported by Fingal County Council, Kelloggs and DMG Sailsports. The club also runs Irish Sailing Association junior training courses for club members during the summer and provides race coaching throughout the year.
Attached photos:-
IMG_4383 Scott Flanigan and Peter Gleeson receive the individual trophy for the Mixed Fleet
IMG_4407 Michael Donnelly, Shane Cox, Alex Shackleton, Colm Roche, Lizzy McDowell with the Optimist team trophy and Miss Ciara Peelo from Malahide Community School
Malahide Yacht Club member Scott Flanigan & crew Peter Gleeson were 1st in the Mixed Fleet and their team from Belvedere College was also 1st in the Mixed Fleet team competition. Malahide Community School, represented by Brendan Costello, Ciaran Costello and Caoimhe Rainey was placed 5th in the Mixed Fleet team competition.
There was a strong local representation in the Optimist Class with 15 sailors from Malahide Yacht Club. In the Individual Competition, Malahide Community School had 4 sailors in the top 10, with Sean Anglim in 3rd, Lizzy McDowell 4th, Michael Donnelly 5th and Alex Shackleton in 9th place. However, there was an anxious wait until it was confirmed that the Malahide Community School team of Sean, Lizzy & Colm Roche had won 1st place in the team competition by the narrowest of margins. A second Malahide Community School team comprising Michael, Alex and Shane Cox finished 4th in the Optimist team competition and a Belvedere College team, which included Thomas Natin was 5th.
Perhaps the most notable achievements at the event came from the local national school sailors. Conor Cunning, Cian Buckley and Patrick Hensey represented Pope John Paul II N.S. and Gemma McDowell, Colin O’Sullivan, Cara McDowell & Philip McDowell sailed for St. Andrews N.S. These sailors were all competing in this event for the first time and were racing against secondary school students up to the age of 15 in the Optimist class. Despite these challenges, St. Andrews finished 8th and Pope John Paul’s 11th out of 20 teams in the Optimist team competition.
This year Malahide Yacht Club has started a programme to introduce primary school children to the sport of sailing. Since the beginning of June approximately 400 children from three local schools have completed a one-day taster session. This programme is supported by Fingal County Council, Kelloggs and DMG Sailsports. The club also runs Irish Sailing Association junior training courses for club members during the summer and provides race coaching throughout the year.
Attached photos:-
IMG_4383 Scott Flanigan and Peter Gleeson receive the individual trophy for the Mixed Fleet
IMG_4407 Michael Donnelly, Shane Cox, Alex Shackleton, Colm Roche, Lizzy McDowell with the Optimist team trophy and Miss Ciara Peelo from Malahide Community School
