WAKEBOARDING: Fairford's Ellie Taylor wins British title (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

WAKEBOARDING: Fairford's Ellie Taylor wins British title

10:08pm Monday 9th June 2008

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CHAMPIONS have to seize the moment and Ellie Taylor did just that to win the UK National Cable Wakeboarding title in Sheffield over the weekend.

Knowing that she needed to produce something out of the ordinary to beat the favourite Sophie Cordery in the U15 Girls' Championship, the Farmor's schoolgirl introduced a risky and complicated stunt into her programme - and nailed it.

"I first tried the '313' trick only a fortnight ago and my success rate with it has been about one in four," said Ellie, "but after a safe first qualifying run, I knew I had to take a risk on my second run."

She pulled off the stunt magnificently and registered her highest-ever score for a single run of 54.67.

"There was a great atmosphere and I could hear the cheering from the dock when I pulled off the 313," said Ellie.

Under-pressure, Cordery crashed into the water when trying a similarly difficult 'raley' manoeuvre, and the title was as good as on its way to Fairford.

It was a great achievement for 15-year-old Taylor, who had finished fifth in the National Championships last year, just four months after taking up the sport seriously.

In this year's Sheffield final, Ellie saw off the other top three girls in the country at her age category and now she is looking forward to the European Cable Wakeboarding Championships at Bursa, Turkey in October.

"I think they will be selecting the British team for Turkey in the next few weeks," she said.

In the meantime, she is continuing her domestic schedule and will be competing on her home water of WM Ski in South Cerney at the Summer Jam on Saturday week.

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