News - 2012

15:11 Thursday 16 Aug 2012 Annie O'Sullivan wins 2012 Ladies Day Trophy

Tina Scott, last year's winner, presents the 2012 Ladies Day Trophy to Annie O'Sullivan

Annie O’Sullivan was awarded  the Ladies Day Trophy at the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week Ladies Day ceremony earlier today.

O’Sullivan was chosen as winner of this prestigious Ladies Day award from a strong line-up of nominees, but it was her selfless contribution to women in sailing that impressed.

O’Sulllivan set up the charter company Girls For Sail in 1999 with the aim of encouraging more women to take up sailing. This passion for getting more women into yacht racing arose following her own difficult experience of trying to become accepted in a male dominated environment. Things have changed a lot over the last decade, and at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week where she regularly competes, the number of female skippers has increased by 150%. O'Sullivan continues to support women with the aim of getting women of all ages sailing safely while having maximum fun.

Shirley Robertson, double Olympic gold medallist, presented this afternoon’s ceremony at the Talisker Boathouse, in Cowes Yacht Haven, while last year's winner Tina Scott awarded the trophy to O’Sullivan. She was joined on stage by fellow nominees Pip Hare, Karen Rawson, Samantha Flint, and Sally Everitt.

Sue Tibbals, the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation CEO was also present to talk about the foundation’s association with Ladies Day and the objectives of the charity. Also showing support were former Ladies Day winners Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, Kerry Gruson, and Louise Morton, plus Lucy Rivers Bulkeley who completed the Four Desert Challenge, Shelley Jory, the British Powerboat Champion, and Julia Immonen, record breaking rower who crossed the Atlantic earlier this year.

A delighted O’Sullivan commenting on winning the Ladies Day Trophy, said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed, and speechless which is very rare for me. I always come and support this event so to actually win it is amazing. This is a great event and the introduction of Ladies Day has really helped raise the profile of women in sailing.”