PUPILS from Arnold School sailed away with awards galore at the recent Combined Cadet Force North West Area Regatta at the Joint Services Centre, Plas Llanfair, Anglesey.

Sixth formers Kate Wooding and Helen Edwards, and brothers Ben and James Thornton, represented the Lytham Road school in the four Topper, or single-handed, races and the four Bosun class races.

Helen and Ben gained third and first places in the Topper class, and the Arnold team were declared Combined Cadet Force Area Sailing Champions of 2001.

A school spokesman said the youngsters had overcome strong opposition to triumph in the regatta. "The cadets sailed in a series of races around a course set in the Menai Straits where they had to cope with extremely variable winds and a tidal stream of five knots," he said.