Windsurfer Noelle Finch made a strong start to the year with victory at the RYA Olympic Spring Series.

CLEVEDON windsurfer and member of Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club at Cheddar, Noelle Finch, made a strong start to the year winning the 2014 RYA Olympic Spring Series in the 8.5m RSX Class.

Noelle, aged 19, who won silver at the Youth Europeans in 2013, was selected for the RYA Podium Potential Squad (sponsored by UK Sport) in October and is now competing for the British Sailing Team at adult level.

The Spring Series consists of three National events between March and May and determines RYA grants for international regattas later in the year.

“It was a tough last event particularly,” said Finch, “and I was pleased to finish first woman in the 8.5 metre sail class.”

Noelle, who has just completed her first year at Chichester University studying sports science, has also reached the last 40 in the Jack Wills Young Brits 2014 Awards - Endurance category.

To vote for her please visit: www.jackwills.comen-gbfeaturesyoung-britsvote and search for her in the endurance category. Voting is open until June 15.

She is now training hard towards Sail for Gold in Weymouth in a few weeks time and the RSX Europeans in Turkey in July.