Eleanor Grimshaw is a Year 10 student who is representing Australia at the 2016 420 World Championships in Italy. Ella kindly took some time to be interviewed about her passion, sailing.
You had a pretty big summer of sailing Ella, tell us a little bit about it. Over the summer holidays I was lucky enough to sail in the 2016 National and Australian Youth Championships in Sydney. My best friend, Laura Harding, and myself competed in the 420 class in both competitions. At the Nationals we competed in three races every day for five days and then had a day off before competing at the Youth’s for another five days. It was exhausting but fun. How did you go? Overall we finished in 8th position and 2nd girl team at the Nationals, and 7th position and 2nd girl team at the Youth’s. In the Youth’s competition we won one of the races, it was incredible to sail in the Sydney Harbour and cross the finish line first with the Bridge in the background. We were pretty tired after all that sailing, especially our arms and legs, but it was well worth the bruises. That’s incredible Ella, well done. How long have you been sailing for? I started when I was five but it wasn’t until I was 12 that I started to sail competitively. My nana got my dad into sailing and now all my cousins and I sail. One of my cousins, Tess Lloyd, is competing to qualify for the Rio Olympics in the 49fx class. I started off sailing at Parkdale Yacht Club and now I spend time at Blairegowrie and Sandringham as well. How often do you practice and what does training entail? On Friday afternoons, Laura and I drive down to Blairegowrie to train for the weekend. Depending on where our coach is working at the time, we may also train on Tuesday or Wednesday’s. Our training consists of checking the set-up of the boat, getting the technique right and practicing so that we can sail without having to communicate. What has been your proudest achievement to date? Our results at the Nationals and Youth’s is my proudest achievement. We entered the tournament with no expectations and were blown away by the results. Laura and I have had to do a lot of practice together because we only teamed up in October last year. It usually takes years of practice together to get the teamwork right, we clicked right from the start. What’s in store for the remainder of the year? What are your goals? During the July holidays, Laura and I will be competing in the Queensland Youth Week before coming back to Melbourne for 3 days. We then head overseas to Italy for two weeks to compete in the 2016 420 Team Racing World Championships. I have never traveled overseas so I am very excited. I’d also like to make the Victorian team at the States in mid March and compete again at the Nationals in Adelaide next January. Time for your favourites... Sport and athlete? Sailing of course. I don’t have a favourite athlete though. Food? M&M’s. Any particular kind of M&M’s? (Laughing) No, just all of them. Song and band? I usually just listen to Nova, so whatever is popular at the moment. Quote? (Laughing) My uncle used to say to me “If you’re not winning, cheat.” Class/teacher? Probably Visual Communications. Moment at MGSC? Probably the Year 9 camp to Wilson’s Prom in Outdoor Education. Would you rather? Be super fast or super strong? Super fast Be able to speak every language fluently in the world or be the best in the world at something? Best in the world Live a life that lasts 1000 years or 10 lives that last 100 years each? 10 lives that last 100 years each. Never be able to speak again or always say everything that is on your mind? Whatever is on my mind Get up early or stay up late? Stay up late. Thanks for taking the time to answer the questions Ella. We are extremely proud of you and good luck in Italy and beyond. Go Mentone. |
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Mentone Girls' Secondary College, VIC
Mentone Girls' Secondary College, VIC