Age: 13  Sport: Sailing From: Whitby

‘I enjoy the challenges of being out on the water and the feeling of success when it all goes well.’

Kieran Hill is a dedicated young sailor from Whitby. He is ranked number 5 in the Great Britain 13 age group.

Kieran has always been interested in boats and when there was an advertisement in the local newspaper for a sailing open day he took the opportunity and went along to try it out, and has been hooked ever since. For his 9^th birthday his parents paid for Kieran to do a sailing course and he has since then completed a number of courses to improve his sailing skills.

Kieran trains at Scaling Dam Sailing Club and also at various other venues around the country with the Topper National Squad. He sails every weekend with training through the months of November to June and competitions from April to October. He also undertakes midweek fitness work which usually involves cycling, gym work, karate and swimming. All of these activities increase cardio-vascular fitness levels and also core strength and stability.

Kieran’s greatest achievement to date was being selected for the Team GB Topper National Squad in October 2008.

Major aim: ‘I would like to be in the top three in my age group at the major competitions this year. I aim to be selected for the Topper National Squad again in 2009/10. I would then like to move into the next class of boat which is dependent on my weight and then compete at Youth Level to be selected for the Youth Squads.’

Sporting Hero: ‘Ben Ainslie, as he is the most successful Olympic sailor of all time.’

Biggest supporters: ‘My parents as they take me all over the country to compete and train.’

Age: 12

Town: Ripon

Sport: Badminton

1. How did you get involved with your sport?  How old were you?

My Dad played badminton to county standard and started me off hitting shuttles in our garden, before taking me to play on some indoor courts.  I was about seven years old.

1. Where do you train?

Currently at Leeds Met University, and Woodkirk school in Leeds, a total of three nights each week.  I also belong to Harrogate Racquets Club, so play there, and at Ripon Leisure Centre, when I have weekends free.  I do fitness/strength & stability training at home at least two sessions each week.

1. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, how long you train for etc.)

Typically I do three on court sessions of 2 hours each, plus competitive play (tournaments or matches) at weekends.  Home training sessions (strength and stability) take me about half an hour each one.

1. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far?

Easy – representing England in an international tournament earlier this year, and winning a silver medal in the process.

1. When is your next big competition?  What are you doing to prepare for this?

My tournament season has just finished, but will start again in September 09. The big tournaments this year will be on the national circuit, where I will face all the best players from the UK. The climax of the season will be the Under 13 nationals. The competition gets tougher each year, so all I can do is train hard, listen to my coaches, and try to put things into practice. I can’t control what others players do, but as long as I play to my best ability, I’ll be happy.

1. What are your sporting goals and dreams?

It was to represent England, but now I’ve done that, I’m setting my sights on an Olympic medal.

1. Who is your sporting hero and why?

In Badminton it’s Anthony Clark (England). My coaches tell me he worked really hard to get what he has achieved in the sport, and I think he plays some of the best disguised drop shots I have seen.

In other sports I’m a bit of a Rob Burrow fan (Leeds Rhinos).

1. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition?

I don’t think I get too nervous and doing well usually helps. My Dad gets more nervous than I do!

1. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

A great feeling when I do well in competition, and the friends I make.

1. Who is your biggest supporter and why?

My Mum and Dad because they are always there to support and encourage me.

Please list your key sporting achievements including the date:

Silver medallist Under 11 Nationals (Boys Singles) – May 2008

Bronze medallist Under 11 Nationals (Boys Doubles) – May 2008

Bronze medallist Under 13 Nationals (Boys Doubles) – March 2009

Silver medallist Olve (Belgium) International Tournament Under 13 (Boys Doubles) - April 2009

England Under 13 representation at Olve International – April 2009

Yorkshire Under 12 Open winner (Boys Singles) – April 2009

Age: 14

Town: Whitby

Sport: Soccer

1. How did you get involved with your sport?  How old were you? I started playing football in my local village at the age of 6, I got involved with a boy’s team in Middlesbrough at the age of 7. Things moved on from there.

1. Where do you train? I train at Eston sports complex in Middlesbrough and in my local village at the sports field.

1. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, how long you train for etc.) I train Mondays and Thursdays and play games on a Saturday during the season. Each training session lasts for one and a half hours. I also have a weekly training programme supplied by the FA that includes speed and strength work and aerobic-based programmes.

1. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far? Being selected to play for England U15s against Germany in Germany, in August 2009.

1. When is your next big competition?  What are you doing to prepare for this? The friendly against Germany and there will be more training camps throughout the year. I am training hard to keep my fitness and strength up.

1. What are your sporting goals and dreams? To play for my country at all age levels and play for a team in the English Ladies Premier League. My biggest dream would be to play in the World Cup Finals.

1. Who is your sporting hero and why? Wayne Rooney is my sporting hero. His movement and team play is excellent. He is good to watch to pick up his tricks and his awareness of what’s going on around him.

1. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition? I think positively and think about closing the opposition down straight away.

1. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete? Meeting people and travelling, keeping fit and doing the sport I love.

1. Who is your biggest supporter and why? My parents. They give up a lot to run me to training sessions and games, and helping me with my training. 

Please list your key sporting achievements including the date:

2005-07 – Captaining my girls team to 2 consecutive League and Cup doubles, and finishing League top scorer 2 years running.

2007 – Scoring 5 goals at an England talent identification camp

Feb 2008 – Being selected at the age of 12 to train with England U15s.

Nov 2008 – Winning U14s Scarborough ad District Sports Development Award.

Jan 2009 – Awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Sport, presented by Ray Mallon, Middlesbrough Town Mayor.

2009 – Scoring 34 goals in 19 appearances for Middlesbrough Centre of Excellence.

June 2009 – Being selected to play for England against Germany. 

1. How did you get involved with your sport? How old were you?

I started orienteering through my primary school (Hambleton C of E Primary) when I was 8 years old.

2. Where do you train?

I train in local woodlands and travel to areas across Yorkshire most weekends for different types of terrain.

3. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, how long you train for etc.)

Currently I am training 6 times a week. I try to incorporate an intervals session, 40min tempo run, hill training and a long distance run of around 70minutes+. I do technique training with the Yorkshire squad around once a month. I also try to attend an event or competition every week and do strength and conditioning exercises.

4. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far?

4th in the middle distance event at the World Schools Orienteering Championships, April 2008.

5. When is your next big competition? What are you doing to prepare for this?

The Junior Home Internationals in September where I will be competing for England against Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I am attending a two-week training camp in Sweden over the summer that should help to prepare me.

6. What are your sporting goals and dreams?

I would like to achieve a podium position at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in the next 3 years and in the future win a gold medal at the World Championships.

7. Who is your sporting hero and why?

Simone Niggli-Luder from the Swiss National team. She has won 14 world championship gold medals and is the most successful orienteer in the sport.

8. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition?

I try to relax by playing some upbeat music. My performance has suffered as a result of nerves in the past and so I learnt to control them and focus on using them to make me run faster instead.

9. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

When everything comes together and I perform really well. Nothing can beat the feeling that all the hard work was worth it!

10. Who is your biggest supporter and why?

My parents! They give up so much of their time to take me to competitions and support me.

Key Achievements

• 3rd JK international festival of orienteering sprint race, women 18 elite, March 2008
• 4th Middle distance, World Schools Championships, April 2008
• 5th Classic distance, World Schools Championships, April 2008
• 1st Yorkshire night league 2008
• 1st York score league 2008
• 1st Yorkshire schools championships 2008
• Selected to represent England for the last 5 years
• Selected for the Great Britain Junior start programme for the last 3 years

1. How did you get involved with your sport? How old were you?

After doing many sports before hand for example football, swimming, tennis etc, I was looking for something slightly more demanding and adventurous, so my parents contacted my local club, York City Rowing Club and I started a week or so after, at the age of 11.

2. Where do you train?

On the river Ouse in York

3. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, where you train, how long you train for etc.)

On average I train about 12 times a week, on weekdays I get up at around 6:30, have breakfast then out the door at 7:00 to be at the club at 7:30 in order to train at 8:00, morning training usually lasts about an hour and a half.
I would then go home and do some school work before heading back out to train at around 3:30, evening training can last up to 2 hours.
I would do that every week day and on weekends Saturdays usually are 11am on the water for about 2 hours and Sundays rowing at 9 for about 2 hours again.

4. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far?

Gold medal at the National Schools Regatta held in Nottingham

5. What are your sporting goals and dreams?

• To get into the GB team
• To represent GB in an international event
• To represent GB in 2016 Olympics

6. Who is your sporting hero and why?

I don’t have a sporting hero really, I admire many people both at the club for their achievements and the athletes who represent their country.

7. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition?

I was told to think of every outcome in a race situation, from winning to loosing to crashing, anything that is possible I try to think about it, that way I feel more confident days before a race and on race day stay relaxed and keep calm. When the race starts the nerves you have left will become adrenaline

8. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

The feeling of crossing the finish line knowing you have done everything you could have done physically.

9. Who is your biggest supporter and why?

My family as a group, I can’t single anyone out, they get up at the crack of dawn to take me to events, transport me where I need to go and support me in general.

Please list your key sporting achievements including the date:

• Gold Medal at Peterborough J13&J14 regatta, 24th/25th June 2006
• Silver medal at National Schools Regatta, 25th/26th/27th May 2007
• Gold medal at National Schools Regatta, 23rd/24th/25th May 2008
• Qualifiers at Henley Royal Regatta, 27th June 2008
• Silver medal at National Rowing Championships, 18th/19th/20th July 2008

1. How did you get involved with your sport? How old were you?

I saw two girls fencing at the Royal Armouries which was holding a tournament. I was 8 years old and wanted to be like them.

2. Where do you train?

Harrogate Fencing Club, which is in Harrogate High School. I also do fitness training at home in the garage as I am too young to go to a gym. My V-fit gym equipment was given to me by Beny Sports. They have sponsored me by giving me a multi-gym, a cross trainer and a rowing machine.

3. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, how long you train for etc.)

I train every day. Monday – 40 minutes cross trainer, multi-gym plus stretch; Tuesday – I hour fencing lesson; Wednesday – 1.5 hours sparring; Thursday - 40 minutes cross trainer, multi-gym plus stretch; Friday – 40 minutes cross trainer, multi-gym plus stretch; Saturday and Sunday – competition or more of the same training in the garage if I am not competing. I also have a series of leg exercises I have to do every night to help me with my knees as my knees hurt during and after competitions.

4. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far?

Becoming the British number 1 in the U17 (cadet) ranking by doing well in international and domestic events; therefore being selected for both the World and European Championships.

5. When is your next big competition? What are you doing to prepare for this?

Last weekend was the (senior) British Championships and I did really well coming 5th. My next big competition is the UK School Games. I am attending an England team training camp this weekend and will be going to a week long fencing camp next month plus a weekend camp a week before the Games.

6. What are your sporting goals and dreams?

To medal at senior level and to medal at the Olympics.

7. Who is your sporting hero and why?

Fernando Torres – he has achieved so much with Liverpool and Spain and also showing good sportsmanship.

8. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition?

I listen to music whilst warming up and talk to my friends.

9. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

Being able to represent my country, Great Britain and England.

10. Who is your biggest supporter and why?

My family – they put in a lot of money, time and effort to help me achieve what I want.

Please list your key sporting achievements including the date:

• 5th British Nationals (senior) (July 2008)
• Won British Youth Championships 6 times (2008 epee, 2007 epee, 2006 foil and epee, 2005 foil, 2003 foil)
• Won England Youth Championships 2 times (2008, 2007)
• Placed 32 out of 227 at Heidenheim, Germany, U17 International (November 2007)
• Placed 32 out of 243 at Grenoble, France, U17 International ( December 2007)
• 8th Essex Open (senior) (September 2007)

1. How did you get involved with your sport? How old were you?

A friend told me about it, and I started when I was 9 years old.

2. Where do you train?

At Woldgate School, Pocklington

3. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, how long you train for etc.)

I train for approximately 10 hours a week, I train on Tuesday from 18:45 – 21:00, Thursday 16:45 – 19:15, Friday from 17:00 – 19:00, and Sunday from 10:00 – 13:00

4. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far?

I competed in the Suzuki World Cup in Tokyo, Japan.
My trio came first in the Welsh Championships in 2007.

5. When is your next big competition? What are you doing to prepare for this?

My next competition is on the 3rd-5th October and to prepare for this I am training through the week practicing my routine, and our trio routine and keeping my fitness at a high level. I will also be going to Austria at the end of October for a competition.

6. What are your sporting goals and dreams?

To become British Champion in both my trio and individually.

7. Who is your sporting hero and why?

My sporting hero is Marcela Lopez because she has been female world champion many times. I love to watch her perform, and aspire to be like her in the future.

8. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition?

To cope with nerves I try to keep as focused as I can and eat and drink sensibly.

9. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

What I enjoy most about being an athlete is competing in competitions and being fit, as this helps in many things.

10. Who is your biggest supporter and why?

My family because everyone works around my training and competitions, my parents come with me to every one.

1. How did you get involved with your sport? How old were you?

I went to a biathlon that was advertised at Thirsk swimming pool, and went on from there.

2. Where do you train?

Many different venues, Thirsk Swimming Pool, Harrogate Fencing Club, Galtres Centre, Boston Spa, Sinnington, Bishop Burton and at home.

3. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, how long you train for etc.)

2 x 1hr swimming sessions
5 x over 1 hr gym sessions
1-2 x shooting session
1-2 x Fencing session
6-7 x 2 hr Riding sessions

4. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far?

Winning best shoot and best ride at the British Pentathlon in Mirfield, Somerset.

5. When is your next big competition? What are you doing to prepare for this?

National Youth Pentathlon Championships, Solihull. Training hard on a daily basis.

6. What are your sporting goals and dreams?

To represent great Britain at an international sporting level.

7. Who is your sporting hero and why?

I can appreciate every athlete for their dedication and commitment to their sport.

8. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition?

Spray rescue remedy, try to override nerves with determination and listen to music.

9. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

Training, because you feel fitter and better within yourself, also the feeling of succeeding when you improve or do well in a competition.

10. Who is your biggest supporter and why?

My family because they take me to training and competitions and encourage me and support me all the time.

Key Achievements

• April 06 – 2nd – Yorkshire Pentathlon
• July 06 – 10th, best shoot – National Pentathlon Championships
• Sept 06 – 2nd, best fence, Yorkshire Pentathlon
• September 06 – 1st, best shoot – Triathlon Regional Qualifier
• Oct 07 – 2nd, best fence – Yorkshire Pentathlon
• July 07 – 19th, best ride, best fence – Yorkshire Pentathlon

1. How did you get involved with your sport? How old were you?

I started sailing when I was 10 years old, as my friend asked if I wanted to join a sailing club with her.

2. Where do you train?

We train with the 29er National Youth Squad and T.T. Squad at various venues, normally on the sea. When we aren’t training with them we train at Draycote Water Sailing Club. During the week we train at the gym – Tadcaster Swimming Pool.

3. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, how long you train for etc.)

During the week we do two one hour sessions at the gym, 2 hours of core stability and strength training. At the weekend we sail for approximately 7 hours per day, and on Sunday we go for a 45 minute run before sailing.

4. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far?

Winning the Eric Twinaime Championships and 3rd at the RYA Youth Championships – 29er.

5. When is your next big competition? What are you doing to prepare for this?

The 29er National Championships, to prepare we are researching the venue and weather conditions, and continuing to train and doing boat preparation.

6. What are your sporting goals and dreams?

To sail in the ISAF Youth Championships
To get an Olympic gold medal

7. Who is your sporting hero and why?

My sporting hero is Dame Kelly Holmes, because not only does she possess passion, determination and courage, but I admire how she uses this to meet young athletes and inspire them.

8. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition?

I try to relax before a big competition by listening to music, and calling home.

9. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

I love to be challenged, and to feel the buzz and excitement of success. I love to meet other people from all over the country, and all over the world who share the same passion for sailing. I have made some amazing friends.

10. Who is your biggest supporter and why?

My helm’s Dad for taking us sailing every weekend for the last 5 years and providing endless boat supplies, and of course my family.

Key Achievements

• 1st Mirror in the Eric Twiname Championships 2005
• 26th Mirror World Championships 2007
• 8th 29er – RYA Youth Championships and Trials and 3rd 29er girls PwUheli 2008-08-04 23rd Silver Fleet, European Championships 29er, 2008.

1. How did you get involved with your sport? How old were you?

I have always enjoyed sports since the age of about 5, but I didn’t get into Rugby until I was 14 years old.

2. Where do you train?

Trained at York but now train at Leeds for Rhinos and Tykes plus England Camps.

3. Describe a typical week in your sporting life (how many times you train, where you train, how long you train for etc.)

I train three times a week at Leeds for approximately 2 and a half hours each session and I attend a local gym in between training sessions.

4. What is your greatest sporting achievement so far?

To play for England ‘A’

5. When is your next big competition? What are you doing to prepare for this?

The Rugby League Play Offs and to get ready for England Rugby Union Under 18’s camp and the Rugby Union season. I am training, training and training.

6. What are your sporting goals and dreams?

To play professional rugby for my country and travel the world as an ambassador for Rugby.

7. Who is your sporting hero and why?

My Dad played Rugby League for Great Britain, he was a fair, honest player. He played hard but always had respect.

8. How do you cope with nerves before a big competition?

Think of what my Dad would have done and said to me.

9. What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

Meeting people, travelling, and being fit.

10. Who is your biggest supporter and why?

My Dad was but all my family and friends are behind me and my teachers. Mum does a good job as kit and tour manager.

Please list your key sporting achievements including the date:

• Yorkshire - August 08
• England ‘A’ Rugby Union - Feb 08
• Leeds Rhino’s – on going
• Leeds Carnegie – on going