RYA National Junior Squad

Congratulations to three Scottish Toppers who have been offered places in the RYA National Junior Squads this year. We are very proud of this achievement which rewards your commitment, dedication and hard work in training and excellent results in competition over the season.

The RYA squad system exists to feed our mast talented junior sailors into the Youth and Olympic programmes with the ultimate aim of continued success at International and Olympic events. The programme comprises around 190 of Great Britain's most talented junior sailors aged between 11 and 16.

Joanna Barrie (14) has been invited to join the RYA National Junior Squad coached by RYA Topper Head Coach Dave Cockerill. This selection recognises Joanna's excellent results at Topper Nationwide's and the Topper National Cahmpionships 2010 at Pwllheli.

Aaran Murray (13) and Joanne Foster (13) have been selected for the RYA National Intermediate Squad coached by RYA coach Adam Cockerill. For Joanne and Aaron this is a particular opportunity as with competition for places in the current system being so high, selection at age 13 is difficult to achieve and gives the potential for two full years training with the GBR squads. This is a rare opportunity and we believe Aaron (Scottish Topper Area Champion 2010) will be only the second Scottish junior sailor to achieve this in the Topper class and Joanne (ITCA (GBR) Topper 4.2 Nationwide Series Winner 2010) will be the first ever Scottish girl to do so.

All three sailors are members of the 2009/10 RYA Scotland Topper Squad coached by Head Coach Robin Paris.

A huge well done to Joanna, Joanne and Aaron. We are proud of you.

Attention now moves to Loch Tummel this weekend and then to the RYA Zone Championships at Helensburgh which will be the primary selector for next years RYA Scotland junior squads.