SAILING Contenders line up for Schull for the ISA Youth Nationals & Junior Pathway Championship 2010

Philip Doran, the current Under 17 Laser Radial World Champion, to compete in the ISA Youth National & Junior Pathway Championship 2010, which takes place in the Fastnet Marine Outdoor Education Centre, Schull, Co Cork from 6th - 9th April.

This event is part one of the qualification process to represent Ireland at the ISAF Youth World Championship, along with selection for the ISA Topper and ISA Laser 4.7 squads to attend their respective World and European Championships. The Mitsubishi Youth Championship (1st - 3rd May Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin) is part two of this qualification process.

ISA Youth & Development Manager Rory Fitzpatrick commented: "There's a lot at stake for the more senior sailors and the competition will be hot. Many have shown good form at international spring competitions, while others have focused on winter training."

In the Laser Radial class Alan Ruigrok has recently achieved a number of top ten results at the UK Laser Radial qualifiers. Also registered are last year's main contenders Matty O'Dowd and Oliver Loughead who will travel straight from Baltimore, where the Irish Laser Association Munster Championships (3rd-4th April) takes place.

The Laser Radial girls are also providing a good line up with Saskia Tidey and Ruth Harrington on track for another head to head battle. However it may not go their way as Youth Olympic prospect Sophie Murphy is expected to compete this year.

In the double handed 420 class the field appears more open. The recent helm/helm pairing of Cian O'Regan (helm) & Scotty Flanagan (now crew) has proven itself with an 11th place overall at the UK 420 Qualifier and will be a team to watch.

In the 420 girls, Jane Butler & Jenny Andreasson are back again but will have competition from sisters Laura & Louise Mc Carthy and Diana Kissane & Hazel O'Neill.

Rory Fitzpatrick, ISA Youth & Development Manager explained: "There are some new pairings for 2010 in the double handed classes, which may surprise the rest of the fleet."