John Beatty has been awarded the prestigious NI Young Sailor of the Year prize and now goes forward to the National competition.
John Beatty (left) with Maeve Bell (RYANI Chair) and Curly Morris (Performance Committee Chair).
John's sailing CV is impressive. He has been a member of the RYA National Youth Squad for 2004 and 2005 and an RYANI Youth Squad member since 2003. He was also in the RYA National Junior Topper Squad for 2002 /3 and the RYA National Optimist Intermediate Squad for 2001/2.
John's recent racing achievements include 3rd place in the Laser Radial Class 2005 European Youth Championships in Croatia , 1st Youth in the 2005 UK Laser National Championships and 3rd in the 2005 RYA National Youth Championships.
John receives sponsorship from Sports England through support for the National Youth Squad, a Sports Council NI Talented Athlete award for equipment, attendance at training, and additional competition opportunities, and from P&O Irish Sea discounted travel under a sports sponsorship scheme.
He was awarded RYA Travel grants for this season's Europa Cup in Germany and the European Championships in Croatia and for the forthcoming Laser Radial Youth World Championships in Brazil in December.
John belongs to East Down, Ballyholme, and Strangford Lough Yacht Clubs as well as Weymouth and Portland Sailing Club. He is currently a student at Plymouth University.
Issued by Betty Armstrong, Regional Communicator, RYANI. 028 9146 5372/07879 645332
Note
The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please refer to our web sites www.rya.org.uk or www.ryani.org.uk
RYANI comprises all the affiliated clubs and organisations of the national organisation in Northern Ireland and can be contacted at the House of Sport, Belfast on 028 9038 3812