Promising fresh 470 duo Phil Sparks and Chris Grube have received an additional boost to their new Olympic Classes campaign by being awarded the coveted Marlow Ropes Award.

In winning the award, Skandia Team GBR Development team sailors Sparks and Grube follow in the footsteps of previous winners including double World 470 champions Nic Asher and Elliot Willis and 2008 Olympic Yngling gold medal-winner Pippa Wilson, which entitles the sailors to free Marlow rope for a year.

The Marlow Award kick-starts an exciting new partnership for 17-year-old helm Sparks, and 22-year-old crew Grube who only began sailing together in September after Grube spilt from partner Luke Patience, and Sparks moved out of the 420 having ended his RYA Volvo National Youth Squad innings in fine style winning the ISAF Youth Worlds earlier this year.

The pair, Sparks from Christchurch, who is the youngest member of the Development team, and Chester’s Grube were presented the bi-monthly award in recognition of Sparks’ potential, supporting new talent in the squads’ highly competitive 470 class.

Grube commented: “Phil has a natural talent for sailing the boat, he learns things very quickly and that along with my experience is going to make us a good team.

“We have already come a long way since our first regatta together (Skandia Sail For Gold) spending more time on the water. We’re much more up to speed with sailing the boat together and it’s going really well,” continued.

Withstanding the pressures of juggling his A-Levels with his sailing, Sparks’ ambition for the new partnership is vast.

“My school are pretty supportive meaning I can fit my work in around our training and events which is good as we want to be up with the others by next spring in time for the Europeans in Turkey at the end of the summer.

“Our ultimate goal though is to go to the Olympics in 2016,” Sparks commented.

Having just bought a new boat, winning the award will mean the pair can kit themselves out to the highest possible quality.

“This is going to be a great boost as we’ve actually got two boats now and as well as our new one the old one desperately needs re-rigging. It costs a lot of money to kit out a whole boat so we’re very grateful for the Marlow Ropes award.  It means we can be in tip top condition going into our events next year – a great stating block for our debut year,” Grube concluded.

Marlow Ropes introduced the award in 2002 with the aim of rewarding Britain’s most promising rookies for their determination, focus and talent - 2007 49er World champions Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes were the first winners.

Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Manager Barrie Edgington said: “Phil and Chris are deserving recipients of this award. The Marlow Award has always been used to reward up and coming talent in the Skandia Team GBR Development Squad and they have been coming on in leaps and bounds together just in the last few months. This team will definitely be one to watch and if they fulfil their potential we can expect to see some great results from them in future.”

As well as supporting up-and-coming sailors, Marlow Ropes are also the official supplier and exclusive team ropes partner to Skandia Team GBR thanks to its industry-renowned reputation for producing products tried, tested and trusted in the world’s harshest environments.

Marlow Marketing & Yachting Sales Manager and company director Paul Honess said: “We find that working with team members such as Phil and Chris helps us to develop our products. In turn we at Marlow can educate team members on the latest materials and rope constructions to help keep British sailors at the leading edge.”

Ellie Williamson

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 November 2009 )