Ryan Seaton & Matt McGovern Claim Gold At Princess Sophia Regatta

With a day to spare, Providence Team IRL's Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern have secured Gold at the Princess Sofia regatta for Olympic classes in Palma, Mallorca this afternoon.

The 49er skiff class crew won the 15th and final race of the week to top the leaderboard in the 70-plus fleet. Normally the top ten boats go forward to a medal race final to decide the podium but Seaton and McGovern have a 27-point lead and cannot be beaten.

The pair from Ballyholme are still obliged to take part in the medal final but can finish in any place and still win Gold.

The result is still subject to any rules protest or claim for redress by another competitor that may affect the result.

Seaton and McGovern have already qualified Ireland for the Rio 2016 Olympics and scored a top ten result at the recent world championships in Florida. Their next major event is the European Championships in May.

"Ryan and Matt have demonstrated massive commitment all week in a regatta that was physically demanding against stiff competition," commented James O'Callaghan, ISA Performance Director. "They are progressing well in terms of preparation for Rio and have been an inspiration to our academy sailors taking part in their first major regatta this week."

Meanwhile, their counterparts in the 49erFX women's event finished the regatta with the best result of the week. In their first competitive regatta since an injury-enforced break, Andrea Brewster and Saskia Tidey had all top ten results including a third place and ended the regatta in 18th place overall.

In the Laser class selection trial for the single Irish place at Rio 2016, London 2012 veteran James Espey emerged best of the three contenders when he placed 53rd overall with Silver in the Silver fleet. Finn Lynch was five places behind after the ten races and is just six points behind Espey in the trials.

Fionn Lyden had two top 20 results on the final day to finish in 68th place and demonstrated clear talent during the regatta to remain a threat to the leading sailors' Rio 2016 ambitions. The third and final event in the selection trials will be the Laser World Championships in Mexico next month.

"All three Irish Laser sailors have given us a great spectacle this week as they chase selection," said O'Callaghan. "Despite the pressure of the trials, all three have sailed aiming for the best result in the regatta rather than racing one another which is heartening to see."

The medal race final in the 49er skiff class begins at 10.15am (Irish time) on Saturday 2nd April.