Partridge in a fair sea lands top prize

May 16 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

ROB PARTRIDGE has followed in the footsteps of some of Britain’s top Olympians by winning the North West Sailor of the Year award.

And now he wants to further emulate the likes of Ben Ainslie and Joe Glanfield by securing a spot at the 2016 Games.

A bronze medal winner in the boys double-handed class at the International Sailing Federation World Youth Championships in Kingston, Canada, Rob was just pipped to the national prize by 12-year-old Plymouth sailor Laurence Greenough, who lost a leg in a boating accident.

But despite missing out Rob shows no sign of giving up on his goal of reaching the Olympics. “Sailing in this country is at an extremely high level, but I definitely think I can plan for the long-term and reach the Olympics in 2016,” he said.

Rob, from Cheshire, has already proven his dedication to the sport. For the past year he has been making a 500-mile round trip on a weekly basis to the south coast to train with his former partner James Ellis.

Winning bronze finished off two seasons in the 29er class but he is now stepping up to the more challenging 49er series and added: “It’s a faster, more exciting boat and it’s proving more difficult to sail – so at present I’m spending more time swimming than sailing.

“But capsizing is just part of getting used to the new boat – and I think when I get a new partner we can train for next season and really start planning for the future.”

Graham Partridge, Rob’s father, explained that his consistency through the years is unrivalled.

His overall performance has been head and shoulders above any youth sailors in any mono-hulled youth class,” he said.

Rob’s passion for the sport began as an eight-year-old when he was introduced to the sport by Graham.

And having worked his way up through the ranks he proved his potential in 2006 when, partnered by Dylan Fletcher, he won the World Youth Championships along with a silver medal at the European Championships. The 19-year-old also took gold at both the National and the GBR National Youth Championships.

Later that year, the RYA partnered Rob with James Ellis from Plymouth who switched from the 420 class and had not previously sailed asymmetric boats.

They were the first juniors at the World Championships in Argentina in January 2007 – a mere four months after getting into the boat together.

They also become the first male team at the 2007 GBR National youth championships in April and therefore be selected for the ISAF World Youth Championships, in Kingston, Canada and to medal at the ISAF Youth Worlds.

In Argentina, Rob won silver in the youths (first junior male and 11th overall), at the National Youth Championships he was first male youth (bronze overall) and at the ISAF World Youth Championships he won a bronze medal.

Among his hectic lifestyle Rob has also found time to complete his A-Levels to earn a place at Exeter University’s Premier Science and Sports Science Department.

Exeter is an ideal University for me,” he said. “There’s a bias towards sailing down on the south coast, so the University provides the ideal environment to study and also concentrate on my sailing.

“I’m now in the position were I am looking for a new partner, hopefully then we can make an eight-year plan and look forward to the Olympics in 2016.”