Young swimmers award launches Sporting Legends Fund
Huddersfield swimmer Katy Venters (16), who has been chosen for the 2012 Olympic Games potential squad for swimming, is the first young sports person to receive funding from Kirklees Sporting Legends Fund.
And who better to present the cheque than Kirklees very own golden girl Anita Lonsborough MBE whom Katy will be hoping to emulate by winning an Olympic gold medal.
"I am delighted that Kirsty Locker a swimmer is a recipient of an award from the Sporting legends fund," said Anita. "I know from my own experiencesd just how much financial pressure it puts on parents for their child to compete at a high level in sport.
"I sincerely hope that this award will go towards helping Kirsty achieve her ambition and compete in the 2012 London Olympics."
Anita who was born and trained in Huddersfield, won the 200m breaststroke in the 1960 Rome Olympics. She is the last British woman swimmer to win Olympic gold.
The Sporting Legends Fund, instigated in April with a gala dinner that raised £4,000, has been set up to help up and coming sports stars by awarding grants of £100.
The first award is going to Katy, who swims for the Borough of Kirklees and is also one of Sport Englands talent development programme athletes. The money will assist with the additional training expenses she will incur as she tries to fulfil her ambition of swimming in the London Olympics.
Now the fund organisers are hoping to identify more talented youngsters to receive financial help.
Money is always a problem for young sportspeople trying to get to the top of their chosen sports and this fund is designed to give a bit of the financial assistance needed to help them get there, commented Cllr Liz Smaje, Kirklees Cabinet Member for Leisure and Neighbourhood Services.
To qualify for a Sporting Legends Fund award, applicants must be between 11 and 19 years of age and live, attend school or play for a sports club in Kirklees. They must be of performance ability, competing at above normal club level.
For further information about the Sport Legends Fund awards, contact Jim Beattie, Kirklees Sports Development, tel: 01484 234093, email: jim.beattie@kirklees.gov.uk
Another Sporting Legends fund-raising event is being planned for May 2008. Details will be released