Sailing champions from a local club have won an international competition.
Sam Brearey and team-mate Tom Gillard, from Fishers Green Sailing Club, Nazeing, have won the International Fireball World Championship in the western Australian city of Mandurah.
It was the first time the pair had competed in Australia after previously winning the European title and second place in the world championships.
Sam said: “It’s been an amazing 12 months, having worked so hard to get to a position to challenge for the world title, and it’s a great feeling for it to have paid off.
“Adding the world title to become European and World Champion at the same time is an incredible feeling.
“It was an extremely tough competition. There was a fair bit of breeze each day, and with big seas, leading to hard, physical racing each day.
“That coupled with a fleet including numerous previous and current world, European and national champions led to fierce competition in every race – but it was great fun, and fantastic to have such tight racing.”
Sam, who is 22, has been sailing competitively since he was just six years old. He is also a member of the sports development team at Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and is responsible for developing and implementing the park’s legacy plans – including encouraging children and young people to take up paddle sports at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.
Daniel Buck, senior activation manager at the park, said: “This is fantastic news for Sam and is a reflection of the hard work and dedication he has put in outside of his work with the authority.”