Up and coming windsurfing talent Kieran Martin is the latest recipient of the British Sailing Team’s Marlow Ropes Award, which will give him free rope for a year as he makes the step-up from Youth to Olympic classes racing.
The Marlow Ropes Award was introduced in 2002 with the aim of rewarding Britain’s most promising young sailors for their determination, focus and talent.
After being invited to join the British Sailing Team’s Podium Potential Squad in 2013 following an exceptional year in the RYA Youth National Squad, the Marlow Award kick-starts an exciting new year for Martin who will now test his mettle in the men’s RS:X senior windsurfing fleet after bowing out of the RYA Youth Racing programme in impressive style.
The 18-year-old from Cheadle had an exceptional final year in the RS:X Youth class, winning the 2013 RYA Youth National Championships in Largs, Scotland in impressive style to secure his place in RYA Team GBR for the second consecutive year – the GBR team to compete at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Limmassol, Cyprus.
With a point to prove after finishing ninth at the 2012 Youth Worlds regatta in Dublin Bay, Ireland, the young Olympic hopeful went out all guns blazing and clinched the RS:X ISAF Youth Worlds title by a staggering 20 points to etch his name on the prestigious trophy alongside past winners including Sir Ben Ainslie, Iain Percy and Sarah Ayton.
On winning the Marlow Ropes Award, Martin said: ‘It feels really good to have been awarded the Marlow Ropes Award and to be recognised for all the hard work and commitment I have put into my sailing over the past year.
‘I think the main reason for me winning the award would be for my result at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Cyprus. It was a tough week of racing and to walk away 2013 ISAF Youth Worlds Champion was a fantastic achievement and such a great feeling!’
The Marlow award entitles the Carsington Water Sailing Club starlet to free Marlow rope for a year, which Martin says will be invaluable as he launches himself into his first Olympic cycle.
RS:X windsurfer Kieran Martin accepts the Marlow Ropes Award at 2014 London Boat Show – RYA Click Here to view large photo
‘Having an unlimited supply of Marlow Rope which is known for being top quality rope will be invaluable throughout my new Olympic campaign. Knowing that I will now be able to set up my equipment with new systems and with new rope at each event and knowing that nothing will break will be a great confidence boost when racing at future regattas.’
Martin continued: ‘After winning the ISAF Youth Worlds last summer I have now moved into the Men’s RS:X Olympic classes which has been a big step up but something which I am really enjoying. I now need to train hard over the next few months with the main aim of trying to qualify for the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships in September.’
Barrie Edgington, British Sailing Team Podium Potential Squad Manager, commented: ‘The support by Marlow Ropes of the young talent in the British Sailing Team Podium Potential programme continues to make a real difference to those starting out on their Olympic campaigns.
‘Kieran is a great example of identified and supported talent whose performances have singled him out as a worthy recipient of the 1st Marlow Award of 2014.’
Edgington concluded: ‘Confidence in your equipment is key and having the best available rope will certainly assist Kieran to focus on the bigger picture as he moves exclusively from RS:X Youth into the more rarefied environment of the senior RS:X Olympic class racing this year.’
via Sail-World.com : British Sailing Team’s Marlow Ropes Award to Kieran Martin.