Styles makes Olympic vow

FINE STYLE: Hugh Styles and Adam May in action during the Sydney Olympics Tornado class.

YATCHTSMAN Hugh Styles has vowed to continue his Olympic crusade, despite bowing out of medal contention during the Tornado sailing series in Sydney.

Styles, who lives in Sandwich and is a former pupil at Dover Grammar School for Boys, and his crewman Adam May completed the Tornado class in sixth place.

After a promising start the result fell bellow Styles' expectations, but he is determined to keep his Olympic dream alive.

"We will be back next time," said the Downs Sailing Club member, referring to the 2004 Games in Athens.

"We're pleased that we were considered to be medal contenders, but we're disappointed that we had one bad day that didn't go according to plan.

"That took us out of the equation and dropped us down the pack."

Despite the low placing this time round, Styles is optimistic.

He said: "Based on the fact we've only been sailing together for one year in a totally different class to what we are used to sailing, sixth is a pretty respectable result.

"It's one of the best British Tornado Games results since 1976 (when Reg White won a gold medal). We ended the day on a high note which is a good sign."

Styles began the tournament well with a second in the opening race, followed by a fifth and a third.

That put them in the bronze medal position but they struggled to maintain their form.

They were 10th, seventh and sixth before two disastrous 17th places scuppered their hopes.

Both results were discarded, but it meant two 10th places had to be counted and they finished with a net 53 points.

Austria won the gold with 16 points, including five wins, Australia got the silver on 25 and Germany the bronze on 38.