WORLD OF SPORT
WINDSURFING
British windsurfing sensation Islay Watson was yesterday crowned Youth World Champion as compatriots Vita Heathcote and Milly Boyle secured 420 silver on the final day of the prestigious regatta.
Watson, 18, from Aviemore, went into the final race in Corpus Christi, Texas, with an unassailable lead and victory already sown up, but finished on a high with a third in the 17-strong fleet.
Over the course of the regatta, the pinnacle of youth racing and where Olympic talent is developed, Watson finished in the top three in 12 of the 13 races and counted fourth as her worst score.
She ended the competition two points ahead of the runner up, New Zealand’s Veerle ten Have, and seven ahead of third-placed Gio Speciale of Italy.
Her victory continues Great Britain’s legacy in the RS:X windsurfing class at the Youth World Championships following Emma Wilson’s back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017.
ANGLING
With the sedges hatching out in good style, the Miller’s May pattern is well worth a swim.
The hook is a size 8-10 Kamasan B170, the tying thread is tan UTC70, while the tail is a few hen pheasant centre-tail fibres.
The body is hare’s ear, ribbed with flat oval gold, and palmered with either a hen cree, badger or furnace hackle. The wing is hen pheasant centre-tail and the shoulder hackle is brown partridge.
n It was a good week at the Harelaw Trout Fishery, near Neilston, although the fishing could be a little slow during the day due to the hot humid conditions, the fish are rising at night feeding on sedges.
The best areas are around the Big Island, and bank anglers are doing well in Hector’s Bay and the Green Bank. The best flies were CDCS, Sedge Patterns and the Crippled Midge. Notable catches included Wullie Munn with 12, Billy Testo (10), Richard Shields (5), Gerry Forrest and son (4) and Thomas Mcnaughton had six.