Published: Wednesday, 29th July, 2009 3:26pm

Success for Lough Ree quintet

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A team of five sailors from Lough Ree Yacht Club competed at the Optimist Connaught Championships 2009 in Galway Bay Sailing Club recently.

Jack Ryan, Robert Dickson, Tiernan Dickson, Peter Regan and Sinead Dickson all represented their club, winning both the silver and gold fleets. The event comprised of two fleets - a main fleet with one hundred and twelve boats entered, competing for the Junior and Senior Championship, and a regatta fleet of thirty two, which combined both coaching and racing.

The regatta fleet was coached by the more experienced sailors Cillian Dickson and Cormac Dickson, both Lough Ree Yacht Club sailors and champions in their own right.

The event was a two day event, consisting of five races under the stewardship of Athlone native John Leech who was Officer of the Day.

"Conditions were good for racing and a test for all the sailors," outlined Commodore Eileen Browne.

"The club has developed a team of junior sailors who are competing on a national stage in a range of classes, which is excellent for the club and for Athlone. Thanks goes to all their trainers and all the volunteers at the club that support the sport, which has a long tradition on Lough Ree", added Ms Browne.

First in Junior Gold Fleet - Robert Dickson; First in Senior Silver Fleet - Peter Regan; Out of a fleet of one hundred and forty four - 11th overall position Tiernan Dickson, 19th overall position Jack Ryan, 21st overall position Sinead Dickson.