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Better than Ben?

17/ 9/2008

SAILING prodigy Elliot Hanson has surpassed the achievements of fellow Maxonian Ben Ainslie at his own age by winning a unique grand slam of prestigious Topper championships.

The King’s Boys’ Division star, who sails at the Redesmere Sailing Club, has won the World Championships, the National Championships, the Inland Championships and the Nationwide Series in the Topper class, in a golden summer for the hugely talented Prestbury 14-year-old.

This sailing grand slam in Toppers has never been achieved before, not even by any of Great Britain’s Olympic heroes, including the legendary Ainslie, and it establishes Hanson as one of the sport’s rising stars and future Olympians.

Elliot is already a key member of the Royal Yachting Association’s elite development squad and has an outside chance of making the London Olympic Regatta to be held in Weymouth in 2012.

Hanson, of Ashbrook Drive, Prestbury, is relentless in his pursuit of perfection, and when he isn’t studying he is either competing, practising or training every weekend.

His greatest achievement at the World Championship, held between July 19 and 25, was against 176 other sailors at the Tralee Bay Sailing Club in Ireland, while his win at the Inland Series at the Grafham Water Sailing Club saw a record entry of 255 boats.

The youngster said: "Ben Ainslie is a local, national and international legend and I would love to achieve a fraction of what he has achieved. Progress will become more difficult from now on, but I am ready for the challenge."

He added: "Successful sailing demands a mixture of athletic prowess, tactical acumen and competitive instinct. It’s a great sport enjoyed by a worldwide community of sportsmen and women."

Dedicated parents Mark and Julie, who organise their family holidays around competitions, said: "He is incredibly focused and deeply passionate about his chosen sport.

"We are delighted that he has just been nominated for a Sports Aid grant to enable him to prepare professionally for Olympic success."