Celebrating Sporting Success in Suffolk

An inspiring afternoon at the SportsAid Eastern Ipswich Sporting Lunch

Last week, SportsAid Eastern hosted another fantastic Ipswich Sporting Lunch at Venue 16 – an afternoon filled with inspiration, community spirit, and celebration of some of the region’s most promising young athletes.

The event brought together guests, sponsors and supporters from across Suffolk to raise vital funds and awareness for the charity’s ongoing work supporting talented young sports people on their journey to the top.

Among those recognised on the day were Isaac Kingham (Table Tennis) and Nicola Taylor (Boccia), both of whom received SportsAid grants to support their training, competition and development.

Seventeen-year-old Isaac Kingham has represented England across the world, winning medals at World Youth and European Championships, and is currently ranked No. 3 in the U19s and No. 15 in the men’s national rankings. His dedication to the sport has taken him from Grantham to Sheffield, where he now trains full-time at the English Institute of Sport as part of the GB elite training centre.

Nicola Taylor has made remarkable progress since first discovering boccia in 2023. In less than two seasons, she’s become one of the sport’s rising stars – winning bronze at the Boccia England National Championships, being selected to represent England at the UK Championships in Northern Ireland, and founding Suffolk Boccia, a local club offering inclusive opportunities for players of all abilities.

The highlight of the afternoon was an inspiring talk from Maggie Alphonsi MBE, who shared her powerful journey from a challenging childhood in North London – born with a club foot and raised by a single mother on a council estate- to becoming an England Rugby World Cup winner and a trailblazing sports broadcaster.

Encouraged by a teacher to channel her energy into rugby, Maggie discovered a passion that transformed her life. After fundraising her way to represent Great Britain as a teenager, she went on to play for England, earn the title of International Rugby Player of the Year, and later become thefirst female pundit on men’s rugby.

She spoke about resilience, goal-setting, and breaking barriers in both sport and leadership, urging others to “be comfortable being uncomfortable” and to see challenges as opportunities for growth. Maggie also credited a £500 SportsAid grant as the spark that began her journey, highlighting the lasting impact of belief, opportunity, and perseverance.

A special moment of the afternoon saw the Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club organisers and sponsors present a £15,000 cheque to SportAid Eastern, representing the incredible funds raised by the club over the past year to continue supporting the development of young athletes across the region.

A huge thank you to all the sponsors, table hosts, and guests who attended and contributed so generously. Your ongoing support plays a crucial role in helping young athletes like Isaac and Nicola access the coaching, equipment, and opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

The Ipswich Sporting Lunch was a wonderful reminder of what can be achieved when a community comes together to champion future sporting stars – and a celebration of the power of sport to transform lives.