School sports: More Brown Cup success for Hermitage sailors

SAILING: How fitting. Just weeks before Scotland’s Luke Patience takes part in the London Olympics, his old school, Hermitage Academy, retained the Brown Cup at Lochearnhead, the premier Scottish schools sailing event.

The winning line-up comprised Jennifer Abraham, younger brother David, Jack Aitken, Adam Forsyth, Calum Rosie and Alan MacIntosh.

The Helensburgh School has a proud heritage in the sport. Mike McIntyre won gold at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and another former pupil, Emma Richardson, is a round-the-world sailor.

McIntyre is uncle to the two Abraham youngsters and Jennifer said: “This is the second year that we have won the Brown Cup and it’s great to do it again.

“It’s a wonderful event because it brings all the schools together. It is very competitive and there is some super racing. There are more schools taking part in sailing and they all want to get involved.

“My parents and grandparents sailed. David and I are in different classes. I sail a 420 and David sails a Topper.

“But, hopefully he’ll soon move up to a 420. At the moment I’m sailing with Alan MacIntosh.”