Junior Boat Nationals 2011

By guest reporter Heather Owens

Whilst the cable team were out in Serbia fighting for medals at Europeans all eyes in the boat world were on Quayside where the 2011 Junior Boat Nationals were being held. With British weather having been particularly poor earlier in the week it all came good for Saturday and the riders had the luxury of flat water, and sunny skies for a day of riding which was set to impress.

Eight girls battled it out in 2 divisions – Junior Women and Girls. In the Junior women Megzy Barker, with her trademark mohican helmet didn’t fail to impress getting huge pop off the Mastercraft wake, with some seriously poked out grabs and inverts that were putting some of the boys to shame. Megzy went on to get the title with Charlotte Millward as runner up. Nancy Creedy and Morganne Shone proved there were girls riding with solid hits to a wake that many of the boys were looking at with trepidation, and showed that anything they could do, we can do just as well.

The younger age group of Girls went up next and not to be out done, handled the big wake with ease. Laura Christian was on form and landing everything cleanly, including her toeside front rolls which she’d only picked up the week before. This girl is all about clean technique and was proving it with every hit of the wake. All the girls in this group were out to impress; Charlotte Penny going for her HS 360 and so nearly claiming it whilst Charlotte Bird definitely had the biggest smile of the day after sticking a huge wake to wake 180.

For me however, it was Melissa Lock, runner up in the girls category that is a name to keep your eyes on in the future. Aged only ten, Melissa chose to ride up from the groms category which she could have entered and showed the judges just why she wanted to ride in with the girls. Having started riding at age five this youngster has huge pop, clean wake to wakes and legit grabs, which, at such a young age are great indicators for the next generation coming to chase on the tails of Laura and Megzy. 

Fantastic day all round, well done to all involved in making it happen, and a huge congratulations to the 2011 British National champions Megan Barker and Laura Christian.

Friday 09 September 2011 | Permalink

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