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TWO junior sailors proved themselves the best of British, beating hundreds of competitors to get the biggest victory of their yachting careers at one of the top national events.

Myles Jackson and Rebecca Thomas from Monmouth helped Wales win the team event for the first ever time in the Optimist class of boat in the 2008 Eric Twiname Championships at Rutland Water - one of the biggest Royal Yachting Association events of the season.

Jackson was sixth in the individual event, Thomas 51st, as the Wales team were comfortable winners ahead of the South of England with a 21 point cushion.

The event was raced in light winds with Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish teams all competing along with six English regions. More than 330 sailors between the ages of eight and 15 in 270 boats took to the East England lake.

Welsh Yachting Association high performance manager Iwan Basten said: "It was great to see Wales win, they sailed excellently. With hard work anything is possible, but they have shown they have the ability to do it.

"This event culminates a winter training effort for the Welsh National Squad, it's great to see the Sports Council for Wales support for junior sailing in Wales paying off and Wales proving to be the best Optimist Sailing Zone in Britain.

"It was a tricky day of racing for our team of Welsh sailors, it was really good to see their hard work pay off as they fought their way to the front of the fleetin each race."

Jackson and Thomas' team-mates were Mumbles sailor Josh Burgess, who won the individual event, Anglesey's Rowan Edwards, Cardiff-based trio Sara Doust, Will Creavan and Oliver Harrison, plus Connor MacNamara, from Llandudno.

RYA's junior racing manager Duncan Truswell said: "After what was a really tricky day one everyone really made the most of the breeze we had today and we were delighted to get some high-quality racing."

12:43pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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