Drifting away

STILL FIGHTING... Paul Brotherton (left) hasn’t given up on representing Great Britain at next year’s Olympics.

But Brotherton refuses to let Olympic dream die

SAILING: PAUL Brotherton’s London 2012 Olympic deam has taken a dent — but while he knows he’s not getting any younger, the Oldham sailor isn’t about to call it a day

At 44, Brotherton is the elder statesman of the British 49er fleet and with the help of crew Mark Asquith has been a picture of consistency in the ISAF World Cup series this year, securing three top-10 finishes.

His good record was put to the test at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth. An event which acted as the penultimate World Cup leg, the top British boat earned qualification for August’s Olympic test event.

Brotherton was reliable as ever. However, he and Asquith could only manage to finish sixth and third-best Brits, with Beijing Olympians Stevie Morison and Ben Rhodes satisfying British selectors with bronze.

Morison and Rhodes now appear to be in the box seat for next year’s Olympics in Weymouth.

But with Brotherton’s sixth place good enough to keep him and Asquith at the top of the ISAF World Cup standings, he will keep fighting.

“It is great to be a part of this team and it is an honour to be wearing the jersey and a privilege to be a part of it all,” said Glossop Sailing Club member Brotherton, who finished sixth sailing the 470 boat at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics.

“Obviously, we would have loved to have won a medal in Weymouth and at times we felt as though we sailed well enough to do that.

“And although the other guys are younger than me, I do have the experience and there is some benefit to that as long as I can keep my body in one piece and keep strong and keep fit.

“If they asked me to go one more year for London 2012 I would bite their hand off but there is so far to go. All that will take care of itself and we must just concentrate on what we need to do.”

Six British boats occupied the top 11 of the final 49er standings in Weymouth and even if he falls short in his Olympic ambition, Brotherton believes he would have still played a part in potential success.

He added: “It is an exciting team to be a part of and there is some great talent and it would be wonderful if we could help that cycle along and push the team forwards.”