Cormac Byrne Wins RYANI Youth Title for Ballyholme

17th September 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Youth Champion: Ballyholme Yacht Club's Cormac Byrne celebrates winning the 2026 RYANI Youth Champion and Male Youth Champion titles Credit: Ballyholme YC

Ballyholme Yacht Club’s Cormac Byrne has been crowned RYANI Youth Champion 2026 after winning the ILCA 6 fleet at the RYA Youth Championships. Byrne also collected the Male Youth Champion title, while clubmates Emily and Annabel Ridout were named Female Youth Champions after taking second place in the 29er fleet.

The strong showing across seven fleets also saw Ballyholme retain the Club Trophy, with 34 young sailors representing the Belfast Lough club.

Byrne Leads ILCA 6 Results

Byrne topped the ILCA 6 fleet, where Ballyholme sailors filled five of the top eight positions.

Emily Macafee finished fifth overall and was the first girl, followed by James Eadie in sixth, Alex Eadie in seventh and Matthew Holden in eighth.

The ILCA 4 fleet saw further success, with Caroline Byrne finishing second overall and first girl. Aaron Moore was third, Polly Robinson fourth and second girl, and Matthew Glasgow fifth.

Ridout Sisters Take Female Youth Title

In the 29er fleet, Emily and Annabel Ridout finished second overall to secure the Female Youth Champions title.

Double Delight – Emily and Annabel Ridout celebrate being crowned Female Youth Champions 2026 after taking second place in the 29er fleet. Photo: Ballyholme YC

Hugo Boyd crewed to third place, while Jessica Dadley Young and Sally Nixon finished sixth. Eva Pringle and Becca Reddy took fourth in the RS Feva fleet and were second girls.

Ballyholme also featured prominently in the Topper fleets. In the Topper 4.2 Main Fleet, Evie Bailie finished fifth and first girl, with Rhémy Polly sixth and second girl. Freddie Robinson was seventh and William Fletcher 12th.

Max Boyd led the club’s Topper 5.3 challenge in fifth, followed by Jake Mullan in 10th, Rory McTurk 14th, Peter Ridout 15th, Islay Barrera 28th, John Miles Crossen 31st and Tom Fletcher 35th.

Strong Regatta Fleet Showing

Ballyholme sailors also collected several leading places in the Topper 4.2 Regatta Fleet, headed by Alexander Ritson in second and Olivia Jessup in third.

Zoe Johnston was fourth, Greta Gallagher sixth, Leah Moorehead eighth and Ethan Moorehead 10th. Flo Boyd finished eighth in the Optimist Regatta Fleet.

The championships were held in difficult conditions, with some fleets kept ashore on Saturday before very light winds on Sunday. Race Officer Sheila Lewis completed the championship programme.

Trophy Haul – Ballyholme Yacht Club’s youth contingent celebrate after the club retained the Club Trophy at the RYA Youth Championships. Photo: Ballyholme YC

The results capped a strong championship for Ballyholme, with the club retaining the Club Trophy alongside the individual male and female youth titles.

Published in RYA Northern Ireland, Youth Sailing

Published in RYA Northern Ireland

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