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Acting sports editor James Henley 01425 638638 | sport@adt.press

Friday 20th November 2020

EmmaWilson to make long awaited return to GB action

TEAM GB has selected Christchurch’s Emma Wilson for next week’s European Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal. The competition will end an eight-month break in major competition for the RS:X class. The last major regatta for the 21-year-old was back in February at the RS:X World Championships in Sorrento, Australia, before Covid-19 impacted competition across the globe. Wilson is aiming to get back into the racing groove as she looks to make an impact at the delayed Tokyo Olympics. The competition will be her Olympic Games debut and the final outing for the RS:X class. After much debate, World Sailing announced that governing bodies should make the switch from the traditional RS:X to foiling in preparation for Paris 2024. Foiling refers to the use of hydrofoils attached to the hull of fast boats, which provides additional lift at planing speeds, which is often enough to lift the hull out of the water. For Wilson, who will be joined at the Euros by Tom Squires and Alysia Gibson, it is a chance to continue learning

her craft and to check in on her rivals after such a long time apart. Wilson said: “My goals for the event are just to try and perform as well as possible throughout the week and keep learning ahead of Tokyo. I think it will be an interesting competition with everyone coming back together after a long summer in their own countries, so I’m looking forward to it.” Just like her competition, Wilson trained at home, but she got to see the best of British solidarity as friends and training partners came together to ensure they got plenty of time on the water. Wilson continued: “Training has been going pretty well. I spent all summer in Weymouth enjoyingmy windsurfing, doing both some foiling and some RS:X. It’s a bit of an Olympic balancing act at the moment. “We had a really nice group of people who came and helped out with some RS:X training which was really fun, and I am really grateful for because with the foiling now on the cards for Paris 2024 not many people want to sail the RS:X.” The competition will be tough with world and Olympic medallists like the

Emma Wilson

Netherlands’ Lilian De Geus and France’s Charline Picon in attendance. Still, Wilson is excited to take part. She added: “I’ve been in Vilamoura now since the start of October training with a nice international group and I’m looking forward to the Europeans, fingers crossed it happens, and we can finish this weird year with a regatta.” Racing begins in Vilamoura on 24th November and culminates on 28th November.

Wilson looking focused during competition last year

Football board begins fixture balancing act

Commonwealth Games

THE Wessex League board members have met to organise the resumption of premier and division one football in December. Provided lockdown is lifted and grassroots sport is given the green light, the first round of fixtures will be on Saturday 5th December. Since the government implemented lockdown on 5th November, local clubs have been unable to play competitive football or train. Restrictions are expected to lift by 2nd December. After conversations with several managers, the board decided to give clubs the option of postponing the first match and train instead. Before the postponement of football, there were no scheduledfixturesbetween19th December and 2nd January. Given the circumstances, the board unanimously agreed to a host of new fixtures dates including Boxing Day matches. Clubs have the option of mutually agreeing to move the 26th December fixture to Monday 28th, Tuesday 29th or Wednesday 30th. Sydenhams Wessex League chairman Nick Spencer said: “The enforced break has allowed clubs to recharge energy levels, and to think about how they approached the Covid-19 situation, namely what they have done well, and perhaps what they could have done differently or will change when they start playing again. “I am optimistic that the league will be permitted to resume when we come out of lockdown next month. “It will be essential that clubs support fixtures secretary Roger Allen, who has the Sydenhams

chairpersons, secretaries, volunteers, managers, coaches, physios, players and supporters, as well as our colleagues at The FA for their individual and collective contribution to date.” Christchurch, Bashley, New Milton Town and Brockenhurst are still waiting to learn when their FA Vase competition campaigns will resume after The FA failed to release any provisional dates. Sydenhams Wessex League fixtures secretary, Roger Allen, said: “Having to rearrange the fixtures is frustrating, but nowhere near as important as the seriousness of the pandemic. “At the outset we knew this season would be problematic and, given that a potential vaccine is unlikely to be rolled out to our players until late in the season, we anticipate that there will be further disruptions to the fixtures. “Without a clear indication of when we will be allowed to restart, I had to prepare a provisional fixture list for December. Given that teams will not have trained together for over four weeks, the board decided that clubs should be given the option of training, rather than being given a competitive fixture. We have now passed the date for rearrangements, and only five clubs have decided to play on 5th December. “The FA could have reduced the number of future rearrangements by naming provisional dates for restarting the FA Vase. However, they have declined to do so and, as their fixtures take precedence over all others, we will have to adjust fixtures when they make a decision.”

Tai to be the voice of Commonwealth athletes

New Milton’s Chris Long wins an aerial duel against Clanfield in one of the last local matches before lockdown began (Photo: Les Chase)

NEW Milton’s world record holder and multiple gold medal winner Alice Tai has officially been named as a member of an Athlete Advisory Panel for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The panel, which will be chaired by Denise Lewis OBE, has been created to ensure that preparations are athlete- centred and performance- driven. Para-swimmer Tai will join several experienced athletes, including Commonwealth, world and Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee to represent the interests of Team England athletes over the next two years. Tai will be a defending champion at the 2022 games after her gold medal in the

S9 100m Backstroke event at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also won a silver medal in the S9 100m Freestyle. Between now and the commencement of the Games in July 2022, the panel will meet quarterly to discuss and decide upon various topics. These will include performance services, kit design, athlete spaces, and the Team England Futures Programme, which aims to inspire young athletes. Tai said: “It’s my absolute honour to be named on the Athlete Advisory Group ahead of Birmingham 2022. “It allows me to share athletes’ voices and opinions around the Games. “Hopefully I can make

someone’s first Games as special as mine were and help make those amazing memories for them.” Team England’s chef de mission, Mark England OBE, highlighted the importance of the panel: “It is so important that the views of athletes are front and centre in our planning and delivery of the Games. “So I’m thrilled that we’ve formed this Athlete Advisory Group. “Everyone involved brings relevant experience and insight, and I’m looking forward to working closely with this group of athletes to deliver the best experience possible for Team England. “I’m confident it will be a terrific Games for everyone involved.”

onerous task of compiling the fixtures that will enable the season to reach a natural conclusion. There will be more midweek fixtures than usual, some of which may not be ideal in terms of travel, but I believe that by working together and supporting each other it is achievable.” In response to the pandemic, the league asked Bob Purkiss MBE to be the Covid-19 coordinator. When it became apparent the workload would be too great for one person, Nick Spencer, Roger Allen, Ian Harley and Greg Dickson began to support Bob. The league has also posted bulletins on the its website offering advice and information. Nick added: “Some clubs

have excelled in implementing Covid-19 guidelines, whereas others have needed help, advice and guidance. I appreciate that some behaviour is instinctive. However, it is not permitted under the guidelines published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports and The FA. Inappropriate behaviour has been and will be the biggest challenge that we all face. “I encourage clubs to share best practice. By taking ownership, displaying collective accountability and taking responsibility, I believe we can influence change. “I would like to thank all concerned with the league, including board members, match officials, club

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