Islander Richard Clarke clinches spot at London Olympic Games qualifier

A pair of Canadian sailors with high hopes for this summer?s Olympics in London has surged closer to their goal by placing 10th at a qualification event in Australia over the weekend.

Salt Spring?s Richard Clarke and Quebec?s Tyler Bjorn had been in fifth place overall until a penalty incurred late in a multi-day Star-class race series in Perth dropped the pair to 10th spot.

Given their successful racing season to date, Clarke and Bjorn had mixed emotions when the two-week competition wrapped up on Dec. 17.

?We are quite happy to have the Olympic qualification out of the way. We never doubted we would do it, however, this event highlighted some of our weaknesses so we have some hard work ahead to make the podium in London,? Clarke said.

Qualifying for the Games more than six months before race day affords the sailors a chance to focus attention on tuning up those weaker spots and fundraising for training, travel and support staff.

?We are happy getting the qualification out of the way as early as we could here,? said national team coach Steve Mitchell. ?It?s one more step on the way to the podium in Weymouth (sailing venue for the London 2012 Games) and was always our main goal here in Perth.

?Our program has always been about the long game, with one goal at the end. Now the hard work really starts.?

Clarke and Bjorn will head home for the holidays, but there won?t be much relaxing before their 2012 training season starts in January in Florida.

?It?s important to not have large gaps in our training so we continue our evolution into a top-three team,? Clarke said.

?Unfortunately it all comes at a significant cost.?Boats are $90,000, shipping them across oceans is $10,000, charter fees are $8,000. Add to that flights, hotels, food, sails, masts and other equipment and you can see why it costs $500,000 in an Olympic year to compete at the highest level.?

Clarke and Bjorn are still $150,000 short of their 2012 training budget.

?We promise to make any support you provide count. No matter how big or small the contribution, we appreciate your generosity and have come up with a number of ways to show our appreciation to our sponsors,? he added.

London will be Clarke?s fifth Olympic Games as a participant.

To join the team and learn how individuals and corporations can help Clarke and Bjorn?s prospects for a gold- medal summer, check out their website:?www.clarkebjornsailing.com.

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Source: http://www.gulfislandsdriftwood.com/sports/135967548.html

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