Sport
1 August, 2019
Local sailors soar to new heights
Sister and brother sailing duo, Breanne and Travis Wadley, have been named Queensland’s junior sailors of the year
QUEENSLAND'S newest Sailors were announced at the 2019 Australian Sailing State Awards gala dinner at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Brisbane on Saturday, July 20.
The awards recognise outstanding performances and celebrate the sporting achievements of Queensland athletes.
There certainly must be something in the water at Tinaroo because both the Male and Female Junior sailor of the Year awards went to the Wadley family.
The Female Junior Sailor of the Year was awarded to 12 year old Breanne Wadley from Tinaroo Sailing Club following her stellar performances during the year and her contribution to the sport of sailing as a qualified assistant instructor.
Breanne said “It was amazing to see my name on the perpetual trophy with such other well-known sailors; including that of my older sister Kristen and also my brother Travis who have been past winners of the Simba trophy.”
Breanne’s achievements recognised during the awards included; State Championship titles in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
International Championship titles in Spain and New Zealand, World Championship titles in Spain and New Zealand, and National Australian Championship.
14-year-old Travis Wadley was awarded the male Junior Sailor of the Year for a second year in a row.
Travis said “It was such a great honour to be awarded the perpetual trophy by Olympic Gold Medallist, Matthew Belcher.”
Travis has had podium finishes at the World Championships in Spain and New Zealand, State Championship win in Queensland and an International Championship win in New Zealand.
Travis is an assistant coach at the Club and also received the TRC Junior Sportster of the Year. He is now part of the RQYS Youth Squad and travels to Brisbane monthly to attend training.
He recently won the male category at the Queensland Youth Week Regatta with eldest sister Kristen winning the female category and the event overall.
Kristen is busy juggling her Queensland Academy of Sport commitments this year and University in Brisbane.
Having both Wadley's standing on top of the podium at the regatta was pretty special for parents Roger and Annette Wadley.
Travis is training hard for the Qld Youth Championships in September and NSW Youth Championships in October and Breanne is training for the Queensland State Titles in September.
With other championships in Sydney and Melbourne before the end of the year, they have a busy travel schedule ahead of them.
They are also gearing up for the Australian National Championships in Melbourne, with Travis in the Laser Class and Breanne competing in the Open Skiff class.
