Local lads Matt and Ben Lulham-Robinson started the year as they ended the last as they added to their European sailing crown by becoming Mirror Class world champions in Australia.

The Burley-in-Wharfedale brothers had to contend with some choppy conditions throughout their 15 races to claim the junior world title.

They finished tenth overall in a field of 61 boats containing some experienced sailors.

Helmsman Matt, 13, said: “We were hoping to get a medal and we’re really happy it was gold in the end. We’ve learned absolutely loads this week.”

The Olympic prospects first took to the water together more than three years ago.

Both go to Ilkley Grammar School and are members of three sailing clubs: Yeadon, Otley and the Yorkshire Dales.

They are also members of the Great Britain Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Mirror junior squad, while their father Peter is the Mirror Class Association secretary.

Eleven-year-old Ben said: “It feels great. We had to work very hard in the wind and it was really tiring doing that all day. The sea was really choppy too but it was great fun surfing down the waves and our open-sea training really helped us with that.”