County’s top sporting prospects receive funding boost

Eight super talented young sportsmen and women from Suffolk have received a major funding boost thanks to the Ipswich business community.

Phoebe Hayden (rowing), Oliver Juszt (hockey), Nathaniel Wilding (para powerlifting), basketball trio Susannah Rafu, Ella Pearson and Esther Little, and golfing duo Habebul Islam and Lily May Humphreys, all received grants from national charity SportsAid at an informal reception at Ipswich Town Football Club this week.

SportsAid helps young athletes to overcome the financial obstacles they face in their bid to become Britain’s next generation of Olympians, Paralympians and world champions. The cost of sport is one of their greatest challenges, and despite already representing Great Britain at competitions all over the world, most receive no funding beyond what the charity provides.

Research shows that it can be a costly business.

Adam Baker, a trustee with SportsAid Eastern said “A SportsAid athlete and their family will spend over £7,000 each year in meeting the costs of their sport. Without the charity’s support, many of these young prospects, typically aged 12 to 18, would face a tough decision on whether to continue training and competing.”

“However, SportsAid couldn’t support young athletes without the generous support of a range of partners, from local businesses and charitable trusts to global brands such as the Royal Bank of Canada.In Ipswich six local businesses have put in a huge amount of effort to raise money to enable SportsAid to support more young people from the county.”

Ellisons Solicitors, StrategiQ, Beckett Investment Management Group, Ensors Chartered Accountants, Pound Gates Chartered Insurance Brokers and Concertus are all sponsors of the Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club – a twice yearly lunch event for the local business community which raises money for the charity.

Malcolm McGready, a partner with Ensors Chartered Accountants, said “SportsAid does a brilliant job in helping the most promising young British athletes by providing them with financial support, recognition and personal development opportunities when it matters most – at the very start of their journey towards becoming the next generation of sporting heroes.”

I know I speak for all the businesses involved in the Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club when I say we are proud to support this wonderful cause and help Suffolk sportsmen and women to fulfil their potential.”

Phoebe Hayden, a young rower from Stowmarket who is part of the British Rowing’s Women’s Under 18 squad, said “Receiving this award means so much to me, and I am so grateful for the support of SportsAid. It really does make a difference to me every day, allowing me to get the best out of my training programme and continue to compete at elite level.”

Commonwealth Games Para Powerlifter Nathaniel Wilding commented “I have a major competition in 6 weeks in Hungary and possibly another 8 weeks after that another one. If it wasn’t for the help of SportsAid I’d not be able to continue to do the sport I know and love.”

Since SportsAid Suffolk was established in 2007 it has raised and distributed over £200,000 to support aspiring sportsmen and women from the county. The Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club is critical to the charity’s fundraising efforts with every penny raised in Suffolk staying in Suffolk to support young sportsmen and women from the county.

The next Ipswich Sporting Lunch Club event takes place on Friday 20^th September 2019 at Wherstead Park. The guest speaker will be Charlotte Edwards CBE, one of the most significant female cricketers of all time. For further information contact SportsAid Eastern Trustee Adam Baker at [email protected].

Ends.

For further information about SportsAid contact Adam Baker, tel. 07894 598296, [email protected]

Notes to editors

Athlete Info:

Phoebe Hayden – Rower – single sculls, double sculls, quad sculls.

Member of the British Rowing Women’s Junior Under 18 Squad

• Bronze medallist – 2018 National Junior Sculling Regatta U17 Single Sculls;
• Gold at the 2018 British Rowing Sculling Festival Women’s J18 Beginners
• Gold – 2018 British Rowing Indoor Championships Junior Girls Relay

Oliver Juszt – Hockey – Goalkeeper

Member of the England Under 18 Boys Squad

Has previously represented England at Under 16 level against Holland, Spain, Ireland and Belgium.

Esther Little – Basketball

Has represented GB at Under 16 and Under 18 levels and is currently in the Under 18 Squad hoping for selection for the European Championships.

Ella Pearson – Basketball

Represented GB at Under 16 level last year and is currently in the GB Under 18 squad hoping for selection for the European Championships in Macedonia.

Susannah Rafu – Basketball

Represented GB at Under 15 level last year.

Currently in the Under 16 squad hoping for selection for The European Championships in Bulgaria.

Nathaniel Wilding – Powerlifting

Member of the GB para powerlifting squad.

Made his Commonwealth Games debut on the Gold Coast in 2018 securing a 5^th placed finish.

Won gold in the 2017 Para Powerlifting World Cup and silver at the 2018 European Championships.

Habebul Islam – Golf

• 4^th in the 2018 Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters
• 3^rd in the 2018 Tillman Trophy
• 6^th in the Waterford Trophy
• Selected for the England Boys Team in 2018.

Lily May Humphries – Golf

In 2018 Lily won the Scottish Women’s Open, finished 4^th in the English Women’s Stroke Play and 3^rd in the Welsh Ladies stroke play. She was also selected as one of the youngest members of the Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup team. She as represented GB at the Youth Olympic Games.