Tower Hamlets shine at Thames Water Regatta

Tower Hamlets recorded their highest ever placing of second in the biggest ever Thames Water London Youth Games Regatta at Docklands on Saturday 9 June.

Around 900 young people from 30 boroughs took part in the competition, more than three-times the number who took part in the re-launched Thames Water Regatta in 2008 across rowing, kayaking and sailing.

The borough’s stand-out result was when they finished first in the kayak slalom competition after strong performances in all the finals, seeing a Tower Hamlets paddler on the podium in every race.
William Walker, 15, won the senior male slalom race before 13-year-old Kaydeen Wilson also stood on top of the podium after winning the junior female slalom.

The senior female slalom was won by Jamie Grover of Greenwich with 17-year-old Aquilla Vitalis from Tower Hamlets snatching the silver medal. Ross Dixon, 10, ensured that the borough would have someone on the podium in every final when he finished third in the junior male slalom.

Delighted team manager, William Tytler, said: “For two and a half months we’ve been working them really really hard but the results show that’s what you need to do, it’s all down to the team, they did it.

“This is the most medals we’ve won so we’re looking on improving on that and hopefully taking this into other competitions as well, doing these events in more international and national competitions.

“I just want to thank the team immensely for all their determination and courage today against the conditions and they’ve done so well I’m really proud.”

Tower Hamlets also had a strong placing in the sailing competition, finishing second. The team came fourth in the Access 2.3 class, 1st in the Pico Mixed and 3rd in the Feva Mixed. Team Manager, Kirsty Rickard, said: “We’re very very pleased with our position today.

“There has been a lot of work. We do a continuous training programme with the children throughout the year, and with the Access class we’ve had to bring in children that wouldn’t normally have taken part, so it’s been very exciting.”

Alongside these results, the borough placed 6th in the kayak sprint and 13th in the rowing competition but their accumulated points from all four events ensured they would finish second in the overall regatta behind Kensington & Chelsea and ahead of Hackney.

Former competitors at London Youth Games include European kayak gold medallist Richard Hounslow who competed for Harrow, Paralympic rower Ryan Chamberlain of Wandsworth and Olympic rowing gold medallist Mark Hunter of Havering.

Chamberlain, who attended the Regatta, said: “It has brought back a lot of memories about my time in the London Youth Games. It was great to see all the kids having fun and seeing the sheer number of people involved has impressed me.

“I think the London Youth Games did install in me a love of sport that I have taken forward into my career. My advice to the youngsters would be to just enjoy their sport and have fun.”

Martin Baggs, Thames Water’s chief executive, said: "2012 is a massive year for sport in this country and we are really excited to be offering youngsters an opportunity to compete in the Capital a matter of weeks before the Olympics kicks off.

"The Thames Water Regatta gives every young person in London an equal opportunity to take part and provides a year-round focus to inspire them. It gives them a real goal to strive for."

The Thames Water Regatta forms part of the wider Balfour Beatty London Youth Games, including 80 school and community competitions across 30 sports that take place across the year, climaxing at the finals weekend at the National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace on 28 June – 1 July 2012.

Now part of the Government’s nationwide School Games programme and supported by Sport England National Lottery funding, the London Youth Games has expanded to feature more schools events within its competition programme, to build on the record-breaking 71,000 youngsters who took part in last year’s Games.

To get involved in the London Youth Games for Tower Hamlets, contact the Tower Hamlets team organiser David Molloy on 0207 987 4811 or email dmolloy.thysf@gmail.com
 to find out about local training or trials.