Hyundai Pinnacle Programme produces another champion as Murdoch takes out Laser title

The New Zealand National Laser Championships, sailed out of Timaru Yacht Club, was won yesterday by Andrew Murdoch, Hyundai Pinnacle Programme athlete.

Going into the final day Murdoch had a 5-point lead over his nearest rival with the rest of fleet close behind. The final day’s three races saw Murdoch finishing with two wins and a fourth placing, enough points to clinch another national title.

“My aim for that last day was to secure my lead and in turn the national title. I sailed a couple of tidy races and managed to close it out in the second race of the day which was great,” says Murdoch.

Andrew was one of the first two inductees into Hyundai’s Pinnacle Programme which provides skills and backing to help young New Zealand athletes reach the world stage.

Ranked world number two in Olympic Lasers Andrew is just one of the success stories to come from the programme since its introduction. Other stand outs are World Champion rowers Storm Uru and Peter Taylor.

Highlights from Andrew’s career include representing New Zealand at the Beijing Olympics and having captained the winning world champion ‘team racing’ teams twice.

“We are incredibly proud of Andrew and congratulate him on his latest achievement,” says Tom Ruddenklau, Hyundai New Zealand National Sales Manager.

 We’ve been following the nationals, and with tricky conditions on Saturday not delivering the racing wind they were hoping for we could almost feel Andrew’s frustration. However, he didn’t let that stop him and has pulled off another great win.”

The Pinnacle Programme is a sports support group backed by Hyundai, with a very specific task - to help young New Zealand sportspeople become world champions.

To achieve that goal, Pinnacle provides both financial and vehicle support; yet its most important role is to supply young sportspeople with a wide range of skills outside the point of competition. It is these skills that consistently prove crucial for Kiwis seeking success at the highest international level.

"The support from Hyundai and the Pinnacle programme has been great; they teach you how to manage the business side of sport, become your own spokesperson and deal with all the other pressures that come with being a top athlete” Andrew says.

As with any top athlete, there’s no time off, and as he headed back home today he finished off by saying;

“For now, it’s time to return to Auckland and prepare for the Sail Auckland event in two weeks time off Kohimarama beach.  Fingers crossed for another great result!”