Funding Future Olympians Grant

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Five Olympic hopefuls have been given a financial boost to realise their dreams after receiving funding from Wiltshire Council on 5 March at a presentation event in Devizes with London Olympic gold medallist Ed McKeever..

The young sports stars successfully applied for Wiltshire Council's Future Olympians' scheme which awards £1,000 grants to five successful applicants each year to help cover costs associated with their sport.

The 2013 grant recipients are:

Joseph Coombs - Canoe Slalom

Joseph is 21 years old and from Salisbury. In 2012 he finished seventh at the Lee Valley Premier race and tenth at the British Open and was part of the team that came first at the British University Championships. Joseph was selected as the reserve for the Team GB Olympic Senior Team. His British Ranking is U23 number 5 and senior number 11.He is a member of GB Canoeing’s Slalom Development Squad.

Hannah Drewett - Triathlon

Hannah is 20 years old and from Salisbury. She is relatively new to triathlon but has made great progress over the last few years. She has already become an elite international triathlete racing in Europe in the French Grand Prix series against the world’s best triathletes and finishing ninth in La Boule. Her results have led to her becoming a member of the British Triathlon Federation Performance squad where she is training with the Brownlee brothers.

Jemima Duxberry - Judo

Jemima is 19 years old and from Devizes. She is the current British U20 Champion and ranked U20 number 1 and British senior number 7. In 2012 she won gold at the Lithuania European Cup, Scottish Senior Open Championships, and became the U20 Commonwealth Champion. Jemima is a member of England Judo’s Talent Development Squad and is now training at Team Bath.

Laura Halford - Rhythmic Gymnastics

Laura is 16 years old and from Cricklade. Laura finished second at the British Championships overall competition and in the apparatus finals she came first in the ‘Clubs’ and second in the ‘Ribbon’. She also competed in the Hungary Obuda Cup – first overall, New York State Coaches Cup - sixth overall and the Solvenian Challenge Tournament – sixth overall. Laura has also been selected for the British Olympic Association’s Olympic Ambitions Programme as a 2016 hopeful.

Hannah Grubb - Athletics: Pole vault

Hannah is 17 years old, from Trowbridge and trains with Team Bath. In 2012 Hannah became the South West Champion and Midland Champion. She was second in the U20 English Indoor championships and fourth in the English Senior Championships. Hannah represented Team GB at the U20 International at Loughborough finishing second.

This grant is now closed for application. It will re open on 1 September 2013.

For information on this grant contact Tamzin Ewers, Funding and Events Officer Tel: 07824414507

Francesca Fox performance at the opening of Wiltshire Council's refurbished County Hall

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Last updated: 7 March 2013