SARAH Thomas, a talented 16-year-old UK and England ranked swimmer living in Tavistock, has been awarded a £300 grant to help with coaching, travel, subsistence and accommodation costs in her chosen sport.
The Rotary Club of Tavistock and SportsAid South West have teamed up to help reduce the strain placed on Sarah. SportsAid South West in association with her sport?s governing body, the Amateur Swimming Association, have identified her as worthy and in need of support, whilst the Rotary Club of Tavistock has generously matched the award.
SportsAid South West is a charity working to help talented young sportspersons. Awards are given to competitors who are currently ranked in the top 10 nationally of their sport or are regular members of national age group squads. The young people that benefit from these awards receive no National Lottery money.
Sarah is ranked third in the UK in the 400m individual medley in her 16/17 age group. This ranking places her 14th in Europe and 31st in the world. Sarah was placed 8th in the 200m individual medley at the National Youth Championships in the 16/17 age group and 7th in the 200m butterfly at the same meeting in 2003. She hopes to win the 400m individual medley this coming season and to be a regular member of the GB team in the longer term.
The award will be presented to Sarah by the Rotary Club of Tavistock at 3.30pm tomorrow (Friday) at the Meadowland Leisure Pool in Tavistock.