John Minnis Youth Championships 2025
A Weekend of Talent and Teamwork, Celebrating Northern Ireland Young Sailors and Volunteers.
Ballyholme Yacht Club played host to over 150 of Northern Ireland’s most promising young sailors this past weekend (13–14 September) for the John Minnis Youth Championships 2025. With a high number of entries and some new race formats on the cards, the event delivered thrilling competition, camaraderie, and a showcase of the region’s sailing talent from grassroots to aspiring Olympians.
This year’s championships introduced a more demanding format, expanding from the traditional six races to a goal of ten shorter races across the weekend. That, combined with a potential double-points, non-discardable medal race hanging over the sailors, would test sailors’ endurance and mental game, mirroring the conditions of larger, international regattas.
Racing took place across three racecourses:
- One dedicated to the OnBoard Regatta Fleet, blending racing with coaching for newcomers.
- A junior course for the Topper, Optimist and RS Feva classes.
- And a Youth course for the ILCA and 29er fleets.
The event also doubled as the Sailing Schools Cup and the Club Shield.
With Summer on the way out and Autumn looming, the sun made short appearances as wind and rain swept the weekend. Race officers Aidan Pounder and Sheela Lewis and their teams put in a sterling effort to secure multiple races each day, but given the conditions, the medal race trial was postponed until next year.
Ballyholme YC and Parent volunteers put in a a huge effort, whether keeping sailors fed, mark layers hauling anchors, or in the rescue fleets with a watchful eye on sailors, some even spending an hour waist deep on the slip to help the sailors get off the shore quickly. These events could not happen without these individuals giving up their weekends, thank you all very much.
Standout Performances Across the Fleets
Optimist Fleet
- 🥇 Boy – Oliver Gundersen (SLYC/Campbell College)
- 🥈 Boy – Ollie Cooke (SLYC/Campbell College)
- 🥉Girl – Livia Westhead (SLYC/Friends School Lisburn)
Topper
- 🥇 Boy – Adam Green (LEYC/Banbridge Academy)
- 🥈 Boy – Ben McCaldin (LEYC/Enniskillen Royal Grammar)
- 🥉Boy – Leo West-Hurst (BYC/Campbell Collage)
- 🥇 Girl – Caroline Byrne (BYC/Methodist College Belfast)
- 🥈 Girl – Emma West-Hurst (BYC/Sullivan)
- 🥉Girl – Penny Doig (EABC/Larne Grammar)
Topper 4.2
- 🥇 Boy – Max Boyd (BYC/Campbell Collage)
- 🥈 Boy – Ross McDiarmid (MYC/Pope John Paul’s National School)
- 🥉Boy – Daniel Long (Grosvenor Grammar)
- 🥇 Girl – Kitty Mcanlis (DSC/Regent House Grammar)
- 🥈Girl – Aoife Pollard (CAYC/Carrickfergus Grammar)
- 🥉Girl – Lucy Reynolds (DSC/Strangford College)
RS Feva
- 🥇 Emily & Annabel Ridout (BYC/Sullivan)
- 🥈Ellie Nolan & Niamh Coman (RNIYC/Sullivan)
- 🥉 Jessica Dadley-Young & Sally Nixon (BYC/Strathearn School)
ILCA 4
- 🥇 Boy – Calum Pollard (CAYC/Carrickfergus Grammar)
- 🥈 Boy – George Doig (EABC/Larne Grammar)
- 🥉 Boy – Jacob Browne (RStGYC/Blackrock College)
- 🥇 Girl – Zoe West-Hurst (BYC/Strathearn)
- 🥈 Girl – Alex Eadie (BYC/Strathearn)
- 🥉 Girl – Polly Robinson (BYC/Glenlola Collegiate)
ILCA 6
- 🥇 Daniel Palmer (BYC/Bangor Grammar School)
- 🥈 Cormac Byrne (BYC/Methodist College Belfast)
- 🥉 Harry Dunne (HYC/St Fintants High School)
- 🥇 Emily MaCafee (BYC/Glenlola Collegiate)
- 🥈 Isabel Nixon (BYC/Bloomfield Collegiate Belfast)
- 🥉 Alita Taylor (CAYC/Larne Grammar)
ILCA 7
- 🥇 Rory Pollard (CAYC/Carrickfergus Grammar)
- 🥈 Ronan Hodge (SSC/Lecale Trinity Grammar)
29er
- 🥇 Gemma Brady & Grace Keating (NYC/St Mary’s Nenagh)
- 🥈 Theo Madigan & Daniel McDaid (NYC/Gonzaga)
- 🥉 Rory Whyte & Patrick Butler (NYC/Kilkenny College)
The Championship also forms the club programmes finale as the ‘OnBoard’ Regatta fleet take to the water in front of the club. This is a group of young sailors new to the sport who are supported in their first championships by RYANI & Ballyholme Coaching Staff. Over 40 entered this fleet showing positive increase in the grassroots of our sport at club level.
A special mention for Sophia Gundersen, our youngest competitor at just 6 Years Old.
A Platform for Progress
The event is a cornerstone in the Northern Ireland Sailing Team programmes and forms part of the team selection process, particularly for the Topper and ILCA. With the season nearing its end, sailors brought their best form, making for tight racing and impressive displays of skill.
This year also marked the beginning of a multi-year sponsorship by John Minnis Estate Agents, whose support is set to elevate the event’s profile and impact in the years to come.
The Schools Cup
The Youth Championships also plays hosts the Schools Cup and Club Shield.
Grassroots sailing plays a huge part in our Perfomance Pathways in NI and we want to celebrate the efforts of our clubs in supporting their sailors but also encourage schools to see sailing as a viable sport and to grow their participation.
The Schools cup was a tight scoring with less than a point between the winners Bangor Grammar and runner up Campbell College.
1st Bangor Grammar
2nd Campbell College
3rd Carrickfergus Grammar
If you would like to find out how your school can get more involved in sailing please contact Jess Penney
jess.penney@rya.org.uk
Overall RYANI Youth Champion, Daniel Palmer with Amy Kimber from John Minnis Estate Agents and Gavin Watson RYANI Vice Chair
Ballyholme Yacht Club – winners of the Club Shield
Congratulations to all competitors, coaches, and volunteers who made the weekend a resounding success.
