Three medals for NZ

Jo Aleh has won silver in the Laser Radial at the Pre-Olympics regatta in Qingdao, China. New Zealand achieved a three medal haul at the event which concluded yesterday at the 2008 Olympic sailing venue, with a gold and two silvers.

Aleh, from Auckland was assured of the silver medal at the outset of yesterday’s medal race and was also in with a chance for gold. If Aleh was able to put five boats between her and leader, Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) in the final medal race it would earn her the gold, however the American knew exactly what was required.

The race got underway at 1pm in China and was sailed in 12 to 18 knots of breeze, overcast skies and lumpy, choppy sea conditions.

“I went into the race with my primary goal being to slow Jo Aleh (NZL) down as much as possible, and I succeeded in doing that,’ says Tunnicliffe. “My start did not go as well as I would have hoped, but Jo had a slow start as well. I worked up behind her, and started forcing her to tack out.”

“I ensured that we stayed far enough from the rest of the fleet that she could not catch up at all. Although Jo managed to make up some room on the downwind side, I worked up behind her again and continued to carry out my plan.”

Aleh crossed the line in 7th place with Tunnicliffe crossing last in 10th, which was enough to earn her the gold medal, leaving Aleh with the silver.

Aleh also won silver at the 2006 Qingdao Test Event and has had a solid season so far in 2007 with a further three top three finishes at major international events, including a win at Kiel Week. She has already been nominated to NZOC by Yachting New Zealand for inclusion in the 2008 Olympic team

The next Laser Radial World Championships will be sailed off Takapuna Beach in Auckland where Aleh sails regularly, however her focus for training for the next year will be to sail as much as possible in the conditions experienced in Qingdao.

The Laser fleet also sailed their medal race in China yesterday in which kiwi Andrew Murdoch placed 6th to finish in 7th place overall.

With three medals, New Zealand finishes an impressive third nation on the medals table at the Qingdao International Regatta 2007. New Zealand was represented in seven of the eleven Olympic classes sailed, all the kiwi team making the top ten and sailing their respective medal races.

With medals for New Zealand in board sailing, single-handed dinghy sailing and in the double-handed men’s keelboat class and solid performances elsewhere amongst the team preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games is progressing well. For the kiwi team this was a dress rehearsal for next year from which they are able to learn and improve over the next twelve months

Great Britain was the stand-out country with a total of six medals in all including five gold medals and one silver. Their gold medals came in the Laser, Ynlging, Finn, Women’s RS:X and 49er classes.

Australia came in as the second country overall with a total of four medals just ahead of New Zealand with three. They won two gold medals both in the 470 class – men’s and women’s, with a silver in the Tornado and a bronze in the women’s RS:X.

Qingdao International Regatta 2007
New Zealand’s Final Results

Tom Ashley – Men’s RS:X – GOLD
Hamish Pepper & Carl Williams – Star – SILVER
Jo Aleh – Laser Radial – SILVER
Barbara Kendall – Women’s RS:X – 6th
Dan Slater – Finn – 7th
Andrew Murdoch – Laser – 7th
Carl Evans & Peter Burling – 9th

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