A Remarkable Week for Budworth's Junior Sailors
Published 17:46 on 9 Jul 2026
It has been an extraordinary few days for Budworth Sailing Club's junior and youth sailors, with outstanding performances at two prestigious events showcasing the talent, determination and teamwork that is flourishing within the club.
Southport Junior 12 Hour Champions
The week began with Budworth's junior team claiming victory in the Southport Junior 12 Hour Race, one of the most demanding and rewarding events in the junior sailing calendar on 27th June 2026.
Representing Budworth SC in a GP14 were:
- Fin Waterhouse
- Sophie Thoroughgood
- Nayth Twigz
- Matt Baird
- Savannah Henshaw
- Will Sinclair
- Iago Hughes
- Poppy Raybould
After twelve gruelling hours of racing, finishing at 8:00pm, the team battled through strengthening south-westerly winds, multiple crew changes and increasingly challenging conditions.
The battle for victory was fiercely contested throughout the day, with Budworth and a strong team from Winsford Flash Sailing Club exchanging the lead on numerous occasions. As conditions became more demanding, several teams were forced to retire, making the Budworth team's resilience and determination all the more impressive.
Their efforts were rewarded with a superb victory and the title of Southport Junior 12 Hour Champions 2026.
Budworth Bandits Shine at National Team Racing Finals
The success didn't stop there.
At the British Schools Dinghy Racing Association Team Racing Finals held at Bough Beech Sailing Club between 24th and 26th June, the Budworth Bandits produced another exceptional performance, finishing an incredible 4th overall in a highly competitive national field.
The team of:
- Poppy Armstrong
- Isla Armstrong
- Tristan Shaw
- Reuben Lawrence
- Freya Antonelli
- Benjamin Smallwood
enjoyed a remarkable regatta, finishing joint first after day one before progressing all the way to the Petit Final, where they eventually finished just outside the podium following a closely fought contest with Rutland.
As a relatively new team, the Bandits earned widespread praise from competitors and organisers alike, not only for their excellent sailing but also for their sportsmanship, teamwork and professionalism throughout the event.
Special thanks go to Natasha and Angus Armstrong for encouraging the team to enter the competition and to Rachel Lawrence for supporting the team throughout the event.
The Future is Bright at Budworth
To achieve success at both an endurance event and a national team racing championship in the same week is a remarkable achievement and highlights the strength of junior sailing currently developing at Budworth.
These performances are a testament to the commitment and enthusiasm of our young sailors, the support of parents and volunteers, and the fantastic coaching and opportunities available within the club.
Congratulations to every sailor involved you have done yourselves and Budworth Sailing Club proud.
The future of Budworth Sailing Club is looking incredibly bright.
