UP-AND-COMING Holsworthy windsurfer Izzy Hamilton was in clinical form as she successfully defended her RYA Volvo Youth National Champion­ship crown on Scotland's West Coast last week.

And the 16-year-old had double cause for celebration after discovering her girls' RS:X class victory in Largs had led to her being selected to represent Great Britain at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships for the second year running with this year's event being staged in Buzios, Brazil in July.

Having clinched her first RYA Youth Nationals title on her event debut at Pwllheli this time last year, Izzy went on to be integral part of Britain's 2008 ISAF Youth Worlds Volvo trophy-winning team — for the top performing nation — in Denmark last July, finishing a very creditable sixth in the girls' RS:X event.

Sitting in pole position at the top of the RS:X field at the end of day two in Largs and with unpredictable and often gale force winds making sailing impossible for the windsurfers on the final three days, Izzy was once again crowned RYA Volvo Youth National champion and booked her seat on the plane to the ISAF Youth Worlds.

Izzy's victory and selection means she again joins an elite band of sailors who have won RYA Youth National titles and represented Britain at the ISAF Youth Worlds, including three-time Olympic champion Ben Ainslie and all three of the famed Yngling 'Blondes in a Boat'.

A delighted Izzy said:  "I was really pleased to win the title again in some really testing conditions. Because we only raced for two days it showed how important it is to make sure you get off to a good start. At last year's ISAF Youth Worlds in Denmark I learned a lot of important lessons about competing at big events and particularly about fleet racing.

"Because it was my first Youth Worlds I went with no expectations and really no expectations on me but this time there may be more expectation on me so I have just to concentrate on making sure I perform to the best of my ability. A medal would obviously be great but I don't want to start setting that as an aim.

"I've had some great support from a lot of people in the past 12 months including the John Merricks Sailing Trust, Rotary Club Holsworthy, the Lord Lieutenant's Fund, North Cornwall District Council and TASS as well as Musto who have helped me with clothing and Animal who have helped with products. Everything would be a lot harder without that backing."

Meanwhile, there was also great news for Bude's Sophie Bailey who put to bed the disappointment of missing last year's RYA Youth Nationals through injury by winning RS:X silver behind Izzy.

Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager, said: "The conditions over the week were fickle and unpredictable and huge credit must go to the sailors and organising team for their patience and their commitment to trying to get as much racing on as possible.

"Although this event has acted as the selection trial for the ISAF Youth Worlds, the Championships have not been all about the Youth Worlds. There are many talented sailors on the Programme and we plan to work very closely with them in the next few months to develop their medal-winning potential for the various forthcoming class European and World championships."

For full results and list of winners visit http://www.ryaracingevents.org.uk">www.ryaracingevents.org.uk.