75 aspiring sports stars funded by GO GOLD

75 aspiring young athletes have been successful in receiving grants as part of Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport's GO GOLD Funding Programme 2017.

The athletes were presented with their grants, aimed to provide valuable financial support, at County Hall on 30^th March and 6^th April.

Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport (LRS) and its partners are pleased to support local talented athletes through the GO GOLD Funding Programme.

Funding ranges from £250-£1,000, and Podium level funding is provided by Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council and Rutland County Council to those athletes who are competing at Regional, National or International Level in an Olympic, Paralympic or Commonwealth discipline.

Athletes have been successful from all 9 districts across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland. All Podium level athletes will also receive free Leisure passes to their local Leisure Centre, to support their training programme.

• Blaby - 10 athletes supported
• Charnwood – 19 athletes supported
• Harborough – 13 athletes supported
• Hinckley & Bosworth – 6 athletes supported
• Leicester City – 9 athletes supported
• Melton – 3 athletes supported
• North West Leicestershire – 4 athletes supported
• Oadby & Wigston – 5 athletes supported
• Rutland – 6 athletes supported

The funding helps go towards travel, accommodation, kit and equipment. GO GOLD continues to be a valuable source of support for athletes in a range of 28 sports, from beach volleyball through to bobsleigh.

Paralympic athlete and LRS Ambassador Sam Ruddock, and Rio 2016 Team GB Rower Jonny Walton attending the evenings and both spoke through their experiences in sport and representing their nation.

GO GOLD has previously helped to produce elite athletes including Team GB rower, Walton. Having represented his nation at the Rio Olympics, Walton attributes the funding as a big part in his progression: The support LRS' GO GOLD Funding Programme gave to me was invaluable in my development as an athlete giving me access to things to help me train race and perform and may not have been able to afford".

Hockey hopeful Ben Newcombe from Harborough also spoke of his gratitude for the funding opportunity: "It was great to see so many talented athletes at the presentation evening. I'm looking forward to future hockey events and with the help of LRS, hopefully bigger and better things. I'm immensely grateful to have the support from LRS and the GOGOLD programme; it has helped me in previous years and will hopefully help me in years to come."

Promising swimmer William Bell from Charnwood was presented with the Chairman's Trophy, recognised for his rapid improvements in time and records in the swimming pool, in what has been a superb year.

Blogging for the LRS website after the announcement, Bell said: "I am honoured to have been awarded the Chairman's Trophy for most improved sporting performance, this evening. I had a great season 2015/2016 and will work hard to make sure I continue to improve this 2016/2017 season."

Athletes not eligible for Podium level funding were automatically referred to their Local Authority for a GO GOLD Performance Grant.

All the GO GOLD athletes will be blogging throughout the year on their competition and training progress – visit www.lrsport.org/blogs to read the latest Blogs.