26 August 2009

Paul Goodison, the reigning Olympic champion, has won the Laser World Championships on St Margaret’s Bay in Nova Scotia to claim the one major title that had previously escaped his grasp.

In the end, it was an emphatic victory for the Be Number 1 sailor, who won by 6.5 points from New Zealander Michael Bullot. Nick Thompson, Goodison’s 23-year-old compatriot, finished a most creditable third to bag his first senior World Championship medal and spark a double British celebration.

Goodison, who remains unbeaten on the international circuit since triumphing at the Beijing Olympics almost a year ago to the day, said: "It's fantastic and such a relief. Having won all my other events this year, and with the Worlds having been the big focus for me this year, there was quite a bit of pressure to do the business and I'm just so happy that it's all done and dusted." As well as claiming the European title earlier this month, Goodison took gold at all three events of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in which he has competed.

The Rotherham sailor then went on to praise the efforts of team-mate Thompson. Goodison said: “I’ve got to watch my back! But all credit to Nick – he’s had a fantastic week and I’m really pleased for him.”

Coming into the competition, the chief rival of 31-year-old Goodison, whose previous best Laser Worlds result came in 2002 where he finished third, was 21-year-old Australian Tom Slingsby, who won the 2007 and 2008 World Championships.

Slingsby, however, struggled throughout the Championships and eventually limped home in 17th position. Argentina’s Julio Alsogaray took fourth behind Bullot and Thompson while the top Canadians in home waters were David Wright in seventh and Michael Leigh in tenth.

"The final race was classic, with Goodison and Bullot hunting each other at the start," said event manager Duncan Enman. "It was a mesmerizing dance along the start line as each athlete tried to outplay the other. Amazing sailing, amazing sport - just as one would expect at the World Championships."

Both Goodison and Thompson will next compete at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta – the seventh and final leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup – at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (14-19 September), where a top-15 finish for Thompson should see him take the overall series victory.

Meanwhile at the 470 World Championships in Rungsted, Denmark, Pippa Wilson and Saskia Clark, the Be Number 1 athletes who have only recently teamed up, are in fourth place overall while defending champions Nic Asher and Elliot Willis are in a disappointing 16th position in the men‘s regatta.