Kids Club relaunches at award-winning Leicester Sailing Association
by Karenza Morton 22 Jan 2019 16:12 UTC
LRYSA founders, John Buckingham and Colin Magee, receive the 'Outstanding Contribution to Sport in Leicestershire' award from the Mayor of the Borough of Hinckley & Bosworth, Cllr Jan Kirby, at the Hinckley and Bosworth Sports Awards © Ted Cottrell
Leicester youngsters can enjoy award-winning sailing teaching when the Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association (LRYSA)'s Kids Club gets back afloat for 2019 on Saturday 16 February.
LRYSA was honoured with the 'Outstanding Contribution to Sport in Leicestershire' award at the Hinckley and Bosworth Sports Awards in November, having introduced thousands of young people and adults to sailing over the past 50 years. Based at John Merricks Lake in Watermead Country Park, Syston, LRYSA is an inclusive charity focused on providing opportunities to local people who might not otherwise have the chance to get on the water.
There are no membership fees, all boats and safety kit are provided and sailing is taught by RYA-qualified volunteer instructors. One of those volunteers, 17-year-old Heather Smith was named 'Junior Volunteer of the Year' at the awards too. LRYSA is also a recognised RYA Sailability site, helping people with disabilities get on the water and sail regularly.
Open to anyone aged 8 to 18, the Kids Club runs every Saturday from 9.30am-1pm (depending on the weather) and costs £10 per session. Once they have learned to sail, all youngsters can start to race and get the chance to represent Leicestershire at prestigious national schools' sailing events around the UK during the season.
The LRYSA's alumni includes 1996 Olympic silver medalist, John Merricks, and 2007 Topper class World Champion, Mike Wood, while Chairman and RYA Training Principal, Colin Magee, was the BBC East Midlands Sports Unsung Hero in 2013.
As well as the Kids Club, LRYSA's first 2019 adults RYA six-week Start Sailing course begins on Saturday 9 March. To find out more or to book your place visit www.lrysa.org.uk or email Jill Magee at