Notts County's Junior windsurfing programme produced it's first success at the weekend when the first Team 15 event in the north Zone took place.

Paddy & Ollie Joyce came second and third on only their first day of racing, causing the North Zone High Performance manager to take note, with Tom Farmer & Matthew Thompson they were part of the winning team from Notts County Sailing Club at the event.

Team 15 is an initiative by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to increase participation in the sport and club level, especially in racing. By encouraging participation the standard of junior and youth windsurfing will improve, with greater success internationally. The RYA has sponsorship from Volvo and National Lottery funding for the Team 15 initiative.

Nearly twenty youngsters entered the event, on a cool and fairly windy day. The beginners class saw the majority of entrants with four races taking place in the sheltered area in front of Carsington Watersports. Tom, Paddy & Ollie won the first race, so were quickly promoted to the 4.5 sq m fleet. The racing was won by Simon Dobson who had travelled from Barrow upon Humber. Second and third beginners were Richard Jones and Fred Onn both from Carsington.

The smaller 4.5 sq m fleet was won by Zone squad member Chris Higham from Bosworth, second was Paddy Joyce and third Ollie Joyce. The racing took place on the main lake just off the island at Carsington.

The Team prize was won by the Notts County Team Paddy & Ollie Joyce, Tom Farmer and Matthew Stephenson

And on the subject of Notts County success, Catherine Potter came second overall at the National Youth & Masters at Weymouth in the Mistral Olympic fleet, nearly winning the fleet overall against both the girls & boys. Meanwhile brother Richard was first Junior and second overall in the Aloha class, he intemnds to move up to Mistral next year, and will no doubt be wanting to emulate his sister's run of success in the class. See RYA or Mad for Sailing for more information.