The 2018 GO GOLD Podium Athletes aim to blog about their competitions and training sessions at least once a month to keep LRS updated on their progress.
Clicking on an athlete will also give you access to their individual profile and updates.
This part of winter training has been really tough both mentally and physically - not only has the weather been getting colder but the nights are getting darker. It feels the first time in a long time I am finally injury free which has made training so much more enjoyable! I'm enjoying loading in the gym and I have been hitting new PB's every week which has been really motivating - I have my first competition in a few weeks time so watch this space.
City of Leicester hosted their annual short course meet last weekend and some big names from the Loughborough National Centre came along to race. I especially enjoyed my 200 breast, racing a new PB and bettering my Leicestershire Senior County Record. I was generally pleased with all my events as we are in a period of hard training now for the end of the short course season. Looking forward to the Swim England Winter Nationals at the beginning of December.
GO GOLD Athlete
October England U18 selection and National League games.
2 days ago
This month I received the good news of my selection for the 2019/20 England U18 squad one year early. This gives me the opportunity to attend the training camps from which the team to play in international matches will be selected.
With my club, Barford Tigers, we have had some success in the England Hockey National League winning successive games to climb up the table.
As Christmas approaches, academic pressures increase. At this time of year, I rely heavily on my time management skills as training and competition makes no allowances for multiple assignments being due.
I have been hugely grateful to receive goalkeeper coaching with Wales and Cardiff Met University. This specialist coaching allows me to really inspect my technique and get expert advice on where I can improve, and is something that I have rarely had the opportunity to take advantage of throughout my career.
I have been proactive toward my sports career path for next year, and have a few very exciting possibilities in progress. Hopefully I will be in a position to announce these soon!
I'd also like to thank LRS for the second instalment of GO GOLD funding this month. It's such a huge help towards the financial commitment that elite sport requires, and I am incredibly grateful for their continued support.
Had a great camp experience at the weekend with England Boxing in Oxford. Some great sparring with the other England boxers. Looking forward to my next fight!
GO GOLD Athlete
Speedo Bucs Short Course Swimming November 15th - 17th 2019
3 days ago
On Friday 15th November Team Loughborough set off to Sheffield for Bucs Short Course Swimming.
On that evening I swam the 50m Breaststroke in the Mens/Womens 200m Medley Relay Heats Loughborough Team 2. I did not swim in the Final as the teams were swapped about but Loughborough 1 came 1st and Loughborough 2 came 2nd.
Saturday morning was the 50m Breaststroke then in the afternoon was the 200m Breaststroke,making the final in both on Saturday evening.
In the final I swam PB's in both comimg 2nd,they were both County Records too.
Sunday was the 100m Breaststroke making the final in the afternoon, again coming 2nd another PB and County Record.
Had a really good weekend of racing, next meet is Short Course Nations at Ponds Forge December 5th - 8th.
Thank you to everybody involved for my second funding installment which came in the post last week.
This will now go towards a new kneeskin for the British Championships, Olympic Trials in London next April.
Firstly, I would like to say a massive thank you to Go Gold for the second instalment of my funding, it is greatly appreciated! Winter training in now in full swing which means lots of cold, dark, wet sessions down at the track. Already seeing some massive improvements in my fitness giving me lots of motivation for the months ahead to prepare for the summer season.
This weekend has been busy, on Saturday I took part In the competitive theory dan grade course for my 2nd dan and passed. Now that I have passed my theory I need 70 more points, from scoring at competitions, to achieve my 2nd dan.
Today, I competed in the youth and senior competition in Littleport. In the youth category it ended up in a three way tie so we all fought again, I ended up with a silver due to second quickest fight time of the rematches. In the senior category I won all my fights and won gold.
After a few weeks of gradually building the training back up, the fitness is starting to slowly slow. It's a great feeling when after a few weeks of consistent training you can feel yourself getting that little bit stronger and fitter each day, especially when the last time I was comparing fitness was at the end of my race season.
The wait is over and I can finally announce that I will be joining Drops Cycling Team in 2020.
I am excited to have signed my first professional cycling contract and I feel this will be a great move for my development and towards achieving my long term goals. I am super motivated to get a good winter behind me to be ready to give it 100% next year.
I've had an amazing year with Brother UK Fusion RT and its sad to see the team will not be continuing in 2020. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my team manager Terry Williamson for all his encouragement and support, Brother Cycling and all our other sponsors. I feel extremely privileged to have been part of the teams success this season and I'd like to wish all my team mates every success in whatever pathway they choose.
The other weekend I competed in the Welsh junior and Senior ranking Event this is the 1st Ranking event of the Competition Calendar year Sep- June.
I achieved a 7th place in juniors earning 25 ranking points. Which places me joint 6th in The junior ranking list currently.
It was a tough comp but great experience. The seniors was also good experience but no ranking points earned this time but i was pleased with my performance.
Thanks again
I ran yesterday in the British Cross Challenge Series at Milton Keynes in the senior women's race and came 2nd. It started raining heavily 20 minutes before the start of the race and never stopped making the already sodden course extremely muddy underfoot. After the first small lap, a group of 5 of us had broken away and mid way through the large lap, this was whittled down to 4 with 3 of us in contention in the final 800m. It was a real confidence booster and I am so pleased with how this went as the next stop for me is the European trials at Liverpool in a couple of weeks time.
A word of thanks for the second half of my funding which arrived last week. Funding makes a massive difference, especially with the Winter Nationals coming soon. Training is going well and I had some great races at the recent Midlands Short Course Champs 2019. Very pleased with HOW I swam my races as I have been working very hard on my process. Lots to improve on obviously but all is well.
Today I helped out at a local sports fair where I ran a stall to promote my local club vale judo. It was a great experience and I hope the younger children there will be inspired to try out judo and other sports.
I have just received my Go Gold funding and it has come at just the right time - so thank you Go Gold! My training group is trying to arrange an altitude training camp in the new year and this will come in very handy for this!
The funding is greatly appreciated as it allows me to attend altitude training camps, pay for nutritional supplements, kit, travel costs to and from training and racing. People should never underestimate the valueable support the fund gives to me and other athletes across a variety of sports - so thank you very much Go Gold!
This month I had my first camp with my new squad (UK topper junior). I was in the squad last year but I feel a lot more experienced going into it this year and am looking forward to training with new people! The camp was a four day residential in Weymouth at the national sailing academy, where we also had talks from (soon to be 3 time) Olympian, Luke Patience and European laser champion, Lorenzo Chiavarini which was very inspiring.
We couldn't sail on the first day due to heavy winds but I learnt loads over the week and had so much fun despite breaking my mast and ripping a sail! I especially loved surfing the waves in almost 35 knots but wasn't so keen on the early morning shuttle runs up the pebbles of Chesil beach! Looking forward to next camp!
Heavy training and the summers competition have helped with my good start to the season. Unbeaten in all comps and improved all round game play and great fitness. 2 more games th is weekend and victory in both very realistic.
Always good to be recognized by your county and club. Thank you to Leicestershire ASA and Hinckley Swimming Club for their support over the summer. Especially good to be presented by the club Captain Neil Bird.
Now in the BWPL National League season and with 2 wins we top Division 1. Also top of the BUCs league so a good start to th new season. Looking forward to more success this season.
Thank you LR Sort for your support during the summer and continued support for me.
More Information: bwpl.org
The last few weeks have been really hard with training. I have recently seen a physio who gave me stretches to do while I try and recover. My recent growth spurt has put lots of pressure on my knees and I therefore need to be careful with my training. Luckily it s not triathlon season but this will affect my cross country training.
Yesterday I competed in the Welsh Cadet Competition, the first one of the new judo year. It was a very tough competition and I am now training daily ready for the Nationals at the start of December.
So far so good, I have got my new programme winter training programme is grass runs & circuits on Monday night, Tuesday & Thursday s&c, Wednesday track runs & Friday & Saturday technical jump sessions looking forward to all my training
Looking forward I know it won't be easy but their are many athletes probably doing much more training than I am to be able to compete in senior level next year this is what it takes to get me there
After a few weeks off, I have started training again. At half term I was fortunate to go to Mallorca and ride in warmer conditions. The weather was fantastic and it was nice to be able to ride in shorts. I got to do some good rides in the mountains including Sa Calobra.
Now back home, I have got my winter clothes out, fitted the mud guards and lights ready for the riding the roads of Rutland!
For this past month I have been trying hard to increase my aerobic capacity and feel more confident within myself. I have secured some more winter national times and hope that I will get a couple more this weekend at the short course midlands.
At the moment in training I am getting my underwater better and my fitness which I will need to have a lot of in the back end of the season.
