Talented young athletes from the Bradford district have benefited from up to £100,000 of funding, thanks to a partnership between sports charity SportsAid and the Bradford Council’s Leisure Services.
Working with SportsAid Yorkshire and Humberside, the Council's Leisure Service will provide financial support for athletes identified as having the potential to go on to compete at senior international level.
This is an exciting way to work together to give Bradford’s gifted athletes a better chance of realising their sporting potential, Bradford has a long history of sporting excellence and this partnership is ensuring the right support gets to the right athletes at the tight time in their development.
With the 2012 Olympics now fast approaching, we were very keen to direct some funding towards local athletes who have the potential to become the best in their particular field.
“SportsAid is the perfect vehicle to allow us to do this. They are already working with sports governing bodies to identify talented athletes in the district. Our additional money will provide those athletes with even greater financial assistance to achieve their potential, representing the district on the national and hopefully international stages.”
The Bradford SportsAid b active awards are a follow-on from Bradford Council's b active awards which recognises people in the district who through their outstanding achievements, encourage others to be more physically active.
They were introduced with the b active campaign, which was launched by Leisure Service in 2003, to raise awareness of the benefits that regular participation in physical activity and sport can bring.
Diver Sam Thornton 14
Sport: Diving
 | Diver Sam Thornton has clinched a medal in his first European championships. Fourteen year-old Sam from Baildon is the first diver from Bradford to represent Great Britain in eight years at the European Junior Diving Championships in Belgrade and was delighted to gain a bronze medal in the one metre final. Sam is a member of the City of Bradford Esprit Diving Club, the competitive outlet for Bradford Council's Sport and Leisure Services' coaching and training scheme. Visit Sam's blog here and find out what he's up to. |
Sam first learned to dive when he was six and was encouraged to take further lessons by a swimming teacher who saw potential is his diving. he was then spotted by a city of Leeds diving coach and when he was 7 Sam was asked to attend diving lessons at the Leeds international pool, and has developed from there.
He usually trains six days a week and has to fit this around school on weekdays. As well as his diving commitments, Sam also enjoys rugby at school and plays cricket for Thackley cc on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Sam is one of a new group of emerging talented athletes set to benefit from the support being offered through the SportsAid b active Sporting Excellence Programme.
Key Achievements:
First gold medal, at the age of 7 in the National Novice Competition
Bronze Medal European Championships in the one metre final
Silver medal on the high board at the British Junior Elite Competition
Three gold’s in Barcelona last year in the 1m, 3m and high board.
Aims:
He has his sights set on the GB team, goals which, given his exceptional start to his diving career, seem very much within his reach as he continues to develop.
Introducing some of the young Olympiads...
Richard Booth 15 (Featured in picture at top)
Sport: Canoe Slalom
 | Fifteen year old Richard, from Bingley, is a talented competitor in Division one of the canoe slalom, who is currently in the top 5 of his age group and he has represented Yorkshire at regional championship level. Richards’s hero in the sport is Daniel Molmenti, and he first got into kayaking when he was exploring the river near his new house one day. He saw people kayaking on the river and wanted to give it a try, and has been involved ever since. Visit Richard's blog here and find out what he's up to. |
He trains at least three times a week, including weight lifting and he travels to different rivers most weekends in order to train on the water.
Richard competes in both the Individual Kayaking (KI- event and the Canadian Individual (CI) event at under 16 levels. His goal for the coming season is to compete in the Canoe Slalom Premier Division, and in the longer term he aims to compete successfully in the Junior World Championships.
Richard had a successful 2009 season which included a 2nd place finish at the Washburn KI tournament in July, 5th place at the Bala Mills Wales KI officials run in June and 7th at the Abbey Rapids Tees CI tournament in October.
The sports governing body, the British canoe union, rate Richard as having the talent and determination to achieve his short and long term goals.
Richard intends to use his SportsAid funding to help cover the considerable costs of buying a new boat.
Key Achievements
2nd at Washburn Individual Kayaking tournament U16 July 2009
5th at Bala mills competition (U16) June 2009
Aims
Short-term:
Qualify for premier division
Long-term:
Selection for the junior world championships
Alana Walker 17
Sport: Disability – Athletics
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| Alana is a determined athlete from Bradford. She competed with great success in the discus and is currently tanked No1 in her age group, in England. She is currently a member of the Yorkshire athletics performance squad and has her sights set on making the GB squad in the coming season. Her long term target is to compete for Great Britain in the 2012 Paralympics and if she continues to develop at her current rate she could realise this dream. With disability sport growing in the UK at a fast rate Alana is the one of the athletes set to benefit from a greater number of elite level competitions and improved coaching.
Alana intends to use the grant for the high cost of competition fees, coaching and travel expenses. Visit Alana's blog here and find out what she's been up to. |
Key Achievements
Ranked England No.1 at U17 level
Aims
Short-term:
Throw over 16 metres
Break into GB elite squad
Long term:
2012 Paralympics
Hannah Shenton 15
Sport: Cycling
 | Hannah has continued to develop into a well rounded cyclist over the last year. She competes with success in all cycling disciplines and does particularly well in Cyclo-Cross, where she is currently ranked Britain No.2 for her age group. Visit Hannah's blog here to find out what she has been up to. |
Hannah has aspirations of continuing to medal at National Trophy events over the coming season and in the longer term wants to be selected for the Olympic Development Programme.
Hannah also competes well in Mountain Biking and Road events and is exactly the type of rider British Cycling are prioritising.
Last year’s grant was vital to her success as it allowed her to continue to compete in four different cycling disciplines, vital to her development as a rider.
Key Achievements
British U16 No.2 Cyclo-cross
Aims
Short-term:
Podium – National Championships
Long-term:
Olympic Development Programme
GB Jersey
Jamie Nicholls 15
Sport: Snowboarding
 | Jamie is indisputably the brightest talent in GB Snowboarding at the moment. At just 15 he is the British Open Age No.1 in a variety of disciplines including, Slope style, Half Pipe and Big Air. SnowSport UK have identified Jamie as their number one priority youth rider and have included him in the British Freestyle Snowboard Team. |
Even without the facilities at the disposal of riders in Europe and America, Jamie has shown that he has the raw talent and is currently ranked 40th in the World in the Ticket to Ride rankings.
His long-term ambition is to compete in the Olympics and with 2010 just around the corner Jamie has a good chance of making the GB team.
As equipment, overseas travel and training costs are so high in snow sports Jamie spends approximately £8,000 per year on his sport.
Key Achievements
British TTR No.1 (Open Age)
World TTR No.40 (Open Age)
Aims
Short-term:
Improve World Rankings
Long-term:
Olympics 2010 & beyond
Harry Mattick 16
Sport: Figure Skating
Harry is currently a member of the national Ice Skating Association Under 19 Performance Squad and is the number 1 ranked U19 skater in Britain at the moment.
He has competed in three international competitions in Poland over the last year, coming 12th, 12th and 3rd, helping gain his current world ranking of 45th, a good position considering the competition.
Figure Skating’s governing body rate Harry as an athlete who has ‘the potential to reach his targets. ‘
Harry’s immediate goals are to make a successful transition to senior competitions as soon as possible, and then, further down the line, he hopes to be successful at European and World Championships as well as the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Key Achievements
British U19 No.1
World U19 No.45
Aims
Short-term:
Successful progression into senior competitions in the next couple of seasons
Long-term:
Reach the 2016 Olympic Games
Josh Allan 16
Sport: Athletics
Josh is currently tanked an impressive 7th in the UK in the 400m at U17 level.
Josh who was also a talented Rugby Union player has chosen to concentrate his efforts purely on the 400m.
As the number one in Yorkshire for the 400m Josh has high hopes for his sporting future, he aims to compete at the Junior Commonwealths and hopes to be able to go on to compete in the 2016 Olympics.
An extremely consistent competitor England Athletics hopes to see Josh continue his already successful career at international level.
Key Achievements
Ranked UK No.7 in U17 category
1st at Yorkshire Champions U17
1st at North of England Championships U17
Aims
Short-term:
Competed at Junior Commonwealths
Long-term:
Olympics 2016
For more information about these young people or others like them, visit the links below.
