178 athletes in Cornwall have been awarded funding worth £122,640 by the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF).
Presentations took place at Callywith College in Bodmin and those attending included long jumper Samuel Jose, 24, from Newquay, who has just been selected for this year’s Commonwealth Games; surf life-saver Isabelle Headleand, 12, from Newquay, nationally ranked second in her age group; swimmer Millie Wood, 14, from Newquay, nationally ranked sixth in her age group; ice swimmer Samantha Day, from Liskeard, nationally ranked first and world champion paddleboarder Andrew Byatt, from Perranporth.
Those attending the awards ceremony began their evening by taking part in three workshops. The first was a judo demonstration by current World Cornish Wrestling Champion Michael Edwards and his brother Christopher, the second a film featuring sibling climbers Seren and Bodhi Wills, from Saltash, and the third a wellness masterclass by Neil Clark from Switch The Play Foundation.
Operating under the Better brand, GLL runs nine leisure centres in Cornwall on behalf of the council and guests included leader Councillor Leigh Frost, Deputy Mayor of Bodmin Councillor Pete Skea, Chairman of Cornwall Council Councillor Rob Nolan, leisure service manager Heath Brandwood and Clare Simpson, Strategic Director for Community Wellbeing.
Tony Wallace, GLL Regional Director and head of GSF, led the proceedings with an overview of the sport foundation that has awarded 34,210 athletes more than £19.5m in funding and practical support since its launch 18 years ago.
“Backed by our sponsors, we are able to help athletes achieve their potential in 121 sports and in 83 areas of the UK,” he said. “63% of them are aged under 21, 8% live with disabilities, 31% are from ethnic minority backgrounds and 87% get no other funding.
“We’re proud that GSF athletes have won 162 Olympic and Paralympic medals between them and look forward to more successes at every level in the years to come.”
Allyn Jefferies, Assistant Principal of Callywith College, welcomed everyone to the evening’s venue and students from the college helped ensure the evening went smoothly.
“It was wonderful to see so many athletes and their families,” said Karen Edmond, GLL Community Sport Manager and the event’s organiser. “Cornwall has the second largest number of GSF athletes in the UK and it’s amazing to hear about their achievements.
“Competitive sport is expensive and opening up training membership for all athletes to more than 250 Better leisure centres throughout the UK is a vital part of the support package provided.”
Award presentations were followed by a question-and-answer session that featured Paralympian and world record holder Dave Wetherill, gold medal winning surf life-saver Paula Bright and mother and son triathletes Anna and Lachlan Cullen.
