Local athletes selected to join Kelly Holmes' exclusive mentoring
initiative
North West athletes Leigh Lennon (Ribble Valley AC), Charlotte Roach
(Vale Royal AC), Stevie Stockton (Vale Royal AC) and Heather Timmins
(Warrington AC) have been chosen to join double Olympic champion Dame
Kelly Holmes' exclusive mentoring initiative for talented young female
middle distance athletes 'On Camp with Kelly', supported by Norwich
Union.
Leigh and Heather were two of 13 athletes aged between 15 and 19 who
attended a Selection Day at the UK Athletics High Performance Centre in
Birmingham on Sunday 27 January following outstanding performances over
800m and 1500m in 2007. The athletes took part in various challenges
including determination tests, team challenges and a session on goal
setting and were assessed on their attitude, determination and willpower
by Dame Kelly with the assistance of 'On Camp with Kelly' staff and
representatives from UK Athletics.
Charlotte and Stevie were unfortunately unable to attend the Selection
Day but met with Dame Kelly in London on Tuesday 5 February. They
completed the same task on goal setting as the athletes who attended the
selection and took part in a question and answer session with Kelly.
All four athletes will now attend a Norwich Union funded 'On Camp with
Kelly' Educational Camp at Loughborough University from 1 to 10 April
where they will learn all about what it takes to become a world class
athlete. After successfully completing the camp, they will become full
members of 'On Camp with Kelly' and be able to benefit from regular
get-togethers, exhibition races, financial and medical support and
mentoring from Dame Kelly.
Kelly said: "I am very pleased to welcome 15 new girls to 'On Camp with
Kelly'. We already knew from their performances that they were talented
young athletes and were looking for evidence that they had a real desire
to achieve and the attitude and determination to become world class
international athletes. I am satisfied that all 15 athletes chosen
demonstrated this and I am looking forward to assisting them to achieve
their full potential."
Dame Kelly said: "I was very impressed by the performances of Leigh and
Heather at the Selection Day and am delighted to welcome them to 'On
Camp with Kelly'. There is no doubt that they are very talented young
athletes and I hope that 'On Camp with Kelly' will help them to develop
in their athletics careers and to achieve their full potential."
Tanya Veingard, Head of Sponsorship at Norwich Union, said: "As the team
behind UK Athletics we're proud to be able to offer support for all
levels of athletics - from grassroots through to elite. Our support of
'On Camp with Kelly' helps to nurture and develop talented girls into
world class athletes that Britain can be proud of and we are delighted
to be making it easier for Leigh, Charlotte, Stevie and Heather to
achieve their dreams."
Biographies
Leigh Lennon
Age: 16
Club: Ribble Valley AC
Home town: Accrington
Coach: Don Lennon
Personal Bests: 400m 57.24mx (2007) / 57.88i (2008), 800m 2:09.97
(2007), 1500m 4:48.31i (2007)
In 2007 Leigh won bronze medals over 800m at the English Schools
Championships (Intermediates) and the UK School Games. She won the
silver medal in the 800m at the England Athletics Under 17 Indoor
Championships and was sixth in England Athletics Under 17 Championships
outdoors. In 2005 she broke Linsey McDonald's age 13 best for indoor
400m with 61.36 seconds.
Charlotte Roach
Age: 19
Club: Vale Royal AC
Home town: Chester
Coaches: Andy Carter & Shaun McGrath
Education: Student at Cambridge University
Personal Bests: 800m 2:15.5 (2007), 1500m 4:23.81 (2007), 3000m 9:37.51
(2007)
Charlotte won the Bronze medal in the Senior 1500m at the 2007 English
Schools Championships and finished seventh over 3000m at the England
Athletics Under 20 Championships. In December she finished fourth and
won a team gold medal in the Under 20 race at the European Cross Country
Championships.
Stevie Stockton
Age: 18
Club: Vale Royal AC
Home town: Crewe
Coaches: Andy Carter & Shaun McGrath
Personal Bests: 800m 2:10.8 (2007), 1500m 4:22.65 (2007), 3000m 9:25.52
(2007)
In 2007 Stevie finished sixth in the 3000m at the European Athletics
Junior Championships after having won the 1500m at the English Schools
Championships and finished fifth in the 3000m at the England Athletics
Under 20 Championships. She also competed for the Norwich Union GB
Under 20 Team at the World Cross Country Championships in Kenya where
she finished 52nd.
Heather Timmins
Age: 17
Club: Warrington AC
Home town: Warrington
Coach: Mike Hancock
Personal Bests: 400m 62.7 (2006), 800m 2:14.84mx (2007), 1500m 4:28.32
(2007),
3000m 9:45.92 (2007)
At the beginning of the year Heather won the Inter-Counties Under 15
Cross Country title and in the summer was selected for the GB Under 20
team for the European Mountain Running Championships. On the track she
finished sixth in the 1500m and eighth in the 3000m at the England
Athletics Under 20 Championships.
Back to News Archive
|
/
