Hello  
 
Ivybridge Community College has two young successful sailors and the youngest one - 13-year-old Bella Fellows - has just found out that she's also made the national junior squad.  I've attached a press release and images.

In addition, last weekend (28/29 September) Bella competed amongst 180 Olympic hopefuls at the RYA South West Zone Championship and won her class (it was held at the London 2012 Olympic venue of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy).  

Pleases let me know if you need anything else.

Best wishes

James

 

RELEASE DATE: 3 October 2013

Ivybridge teenagersmake national sailing squad

GB selection marks start of students' Olympic dreams

Two Ivybridge Community College teenagers have boosted their dreams of Olympic success after being selected in successive years for the national junior sailing squad.

13-year-old Bella Fellows and 14-year old Ella Methven - both of whom were introduced to sailing at the age of four by their parents - qualified for the national squads as a result of exceptional performances at qualifying events.

"I've just received the notification and I'm so excited," said Bella, who began her sailing career at Yealm Yacht Club. "This means I'll get the chance to go away on national squad weekends, get tips from different coaches, and improve my skills even more."

Bella, who sails a ‘topper' - the stable but ‘racy' boat for junior sailors - now trains mainly at Plymouth Youth Sailing, practicing twice during the week and also throughout the weekend. She was recently 13^thout of 250 sailors in the national championships, and her desire to compete in the Olympics was fuelled when she met Ben Ainslie at the Isle of White's ‘Round the Island' race earlier this year. "He was so inspirational," she added. "He's an unbelievable sailor and just being around him made me want to be better at my sport. I'm determined to keep training hard to make it happen."

Friend Ella, who has been sailing for an additional year and has just completed two years as a national junior squad member sailing toppers, has now made the move up to sailing a ‘29er' - a light and fast ‘skiff boat' that is seen as perfect preparation for sailing Olympic vessels.

"It's a big step for me," said Ella. "I have been at the top for two years and I now feel as though I am starting again from the bottom, but I know it will be worth it. I've also gone from sailing on my own to sailing in a team with my sailing partner Emily Lloyd, and with some hard training this year I'm confident that we will do really well."

"In addition to our sailing practice I also keep running and cycling. My hero is Ben Ainslie too and it's my ambition to compete for Great Britain in the Olympics one day."

Over the next few weeks the two hard-working students are competing in the zone championships followed by the South West Traveller and the Autumn Regatta. Their sights are then firmly set on national events and competing at the 2015 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships.

As elite sports people, both Ella and Bella are also part of Ivybridge Community College's ‘Talented and Gifted' scheme. The programme is designed to assist aspiring young Ivybridge sports stars by supporting their extra-curricular activities while providing increased assistance for their academic endeavours.

"Ella and Bella are an inspiration to their school friends," said John Ryrie, Ivybridge Community College's Talented and Gifted co-ordinator. "They are both exceptional students who demonstrate that it is possible to not only follow your sporting dreams but also succeed academically."

-Ends-

Photos

1. National sailors 13-year-old Bella Fellows and 14-year old Ella Methven at Ivybridge Community College

2. Ella Methven, a national junior sailing squad member for two years, has now moved up to sailing a ‘29er' boat.

3. Bella Fellows who has just been selected for the national junior sailing squad

Notes to editors

About Ivybridge Community College

Ivybridge Community College is a success-orientated establishment, which has always prided itself on supporting students to achieve to their highest potential.

With more than 2,200 students, it is one of the largest schools in the UK and has an OFSTED rating ofOutstanding.

The college's goal is to motivate and challenge its students. Talented and dedicated staff, disciplined students, supportive parents and an enthusiastic governing body, all work for a common purpose - allowing students to flourish. The college offers great alternatives to students drawn from an increasingly diverse populace and from a large area of Devon. Tertiary growth has been spectacular over the past ten years currently reaching over 550 students.

Press contact

For further information, photos, or to interview Rob Haring contact James Reddy on 07967 835947,james@jamesreddy.co.uk.