Sailing is not a sport many would associate with the centre of England - but one Warwickshire 18-year-old is aiming to blow that perception out of the water.
Hugh Brayshaw, from Shilton, is making waves in the sailing world after he and 19-year-old helmsman Mike Wood, of Hinckley, recently claimed the National Youth Championship crown in the 420 class.
The success prompted the pair to step up to the Olympic 470 senior class and start their journey towards achieving the dream of representing Great Britain at an Olympic Games.
So what inspired a boy in the land-locked county of Warwickshire to become involved with a sport traditionally associated with coastal towns?
“When I was about 10-years-old I went to a 24-hour race with my family,” said Hugh.
“I couldn’t sail at the time so I was put in a boat with somebody who could and I absolutely loved it.
“My dad is the commodore of Hollowell Sailing Club, in Northamptonshire, and I sailed with him at Draycote Water, near Rugby, for a few years after that.
“Eventually I decided I wanted to take it a bit further so I started sailing on my own.”
Since that time the Lawrence Sheriff pupil has been named Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire’s Young Sportsman of the Year in 2010 and has attracted attention on the national and international stage with his sailing performances.
This prompted the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to take him under their wing, effectively putting him on the first rung of the ladder to the GB Olympic Sailing Team.
That means he has an outside chance of making it for 2012, but has to keep training and competing to the full in case any other crews ahead of him fall by the wayside.
Preparing for international sailing events and working towards the goal of competing at an Olympic Games requires commitment and dedication at the best of times. But this is made even more challenging when forced to balance training and competing with studying for A-Levels.
“There is usually a two week period before any major event where I aim to peak my fitness at the right time – so I will be in the gym after school working on the bikes and rowing machines,” said Hugh.
“I also spend a lot of weekends down in Weymouth training, so that pretty much rules out Friday nights!
“We try and put in as much time on the water as possible ahead of an event, trying new things and practicing.
“In fact, we spend so much time training on the South coast some of the guys even have second homes down there.
“We have an added challenge here too because we have shorter days and the cold weather to contend with out of season but in other countries with warmer climates they have better conditions.
“But we all have the warm gear and we just have to get used to it so we can sail as much as possible.
“We get support from the RYA in terms of psychological and physical training techniques as well as advice on diet.
“Weight is a major factor in sailing, so one of the main challenges is getting stronger without putting on any extra weight.”
Hugh and sailing partner Mike have been sailing together since 2009 and 2012 is set to be a big year for the pair as they prepare to line up against the world’s best sailors in the run up to London 2012.
“We have a lot of competitions lined up next year such as the Sail For Gold Event in Weymouth which will see the world’s best who will be in our class at London 2012 competing,” said Hugh
“It will be a great chance to test ourselves against the best and to hopefully learn a few things from them.”
To keep up to date with the progress of all of Coventry and Warwickshire’s London 2012 Hopefuls visit www.coventry.gov.uk/london2012.
Media enquiries:
Simon Gilbert
Advent Communications
2 Edison Building
Electric Wharf
Sandy Lane
CoventryCV1 4JA
Tel: 024 7663 3636
http://www.advent-communications.co.uk |
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