The sporting careers of two aspiring athletes from North Wales have received a boost as they have stepped onto the Welsh Talent Development Academy – a Welsh Athletics programme designed to nurture potential world-beaters of the future.
And the successful scheme has been heralded by Britain’s top 400m man Tim Benjamin who is working towards selection to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Peterston-Super-Ely sprinter explained:
“We have a vast array of talent in this country and the Talent Development Academy will assist youngsters coming through. It is vital that athletes gain access to top coaching and sports science so I’m glad to see that the future of Welsh athletics is receiving the necessary support.”
Mold gymnast-turned-pole vaulter and hurdler Christina Hughes and rock climber-turned-sprinter Rachel Johncock from Dolwyddelan have both been recruited to the scheme.
The WTDA is a Welsh Athletics programme designed to help catapult talented athletes with developmental potential to the top. It is a relatively new initiative, now made up of 14 athletes, which ensures that the young talents have the necessary support needed to progress onto the UK: Athletics World Class Pathway - a programme that focuses on podium and top eight success at Olympic and World level.
The new apprentices are set to benefit from expert coaching, injury support as well as a performance managed budget which can help with the costs of training and competing in domestic and international fixtures.
Welsh Athletics Chief Executive Matt Newman said, “The latest inductees to the Welsh Talent Development Academy will benefit from a programme of coaching and support services which will provide every opportunity for these aspiring athletes to fulfil their potential.”
Christina and Rachel join fellow north Walians Faye Harding of Wrexham (400m runner), and Stephanie Owens from Buckley (Hammer thrower).
North Wales athlete profiles...
NAME: FAYE HARDING
D.O.B: 07/09/85
FROM: Wrexham
DISCIPLINE: 400M / 400MH
CLUB: Sale Harriers
Athletics was not Faye Harding’s first love. In fact, she was a very talented ballet dancer and was even awarded a scholarship at Chester’s Hammond School of Dance.
But, deciding to swap slippers for spikes, she followed her father - a former semi-professional tennis player - into sport.
She is now studying at Loughborough University and has already graced the international stage. In 2007, she reached the semi-finals of the World Student Games and assisted the women’s 4 x 400m team win bronze. She also finished sixth over 400m in the European Under-23 Championships. Now her focus is to compete in London 2012.
Her role model is Paula Radcliffe – “because of her success at balancing an athletics career, academic career and now motherhood.”
In her spare time, she still enjoys dancing and she also plays volleyball. She is coached by Nick Dakin who has worked with Wales great Iwan Thomas and Chris Rawlinson.
NAME: CHRISTINA HUGHES
FROM: Mold, Flintshire
D.O.B: 14/12/91
DISCIPLINE: Pole vault and sprint hurdles
CLUB: Deeside Athletic AC
COACH: Denise Harris (Pole Vault) and Ivor Sayer (Hurdles)
Hughes was encouraged in primary school to take part in athletics through the Sports Council for Wales’ Dragon Sport programme. Having spotted her talent, she was invited to Deeside Athletics Club when she was 11.
She had always loved watching athletics on the television and, having represented North Wales in gymnastics, was spurred on by the fact that pole vaulters are very often ex-gymnasts.
Citing Yelena Isynbyaeva and Colin Jackson as her role models (“because they have achieved levels in their sport that have never been achieved by any other person”), her career highlights to date are representing Wales and finished second in the Celtic Games in 2007.
She would now like to pull on the Welsh vest at the Commonwealth Games and would love to compete in London 2012.
NAME: RACHEL JOHNCOCK
FROM: Dolwyddelan, Conwy
D.O.B: 04/10/93
DISCIPLINE: 100m and 200m
CLUB: Colwyn Bay AC
COACH: Phil Oliver / Simon Pendlebury
Rachel Johncock is a rock climber-turned-sprinter. Having competed on the cliff face, she turned her attentions to the track.
She is from a sporting family – in fact her grandfather ran the 220 yards for Scotland.
Her role model is Lance Armstrong for his ultimate determination and her sprinting technique was once compared to that of Michael Johnson.
Over three years, she has garnered eight gold medals. She is now dreaming of Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.
When she is not competing or training, she likes to relax by cycling or hill-walking.
NAME: STEPHANIE OWENS
FROM: Buckley, Flintshire
D.O.B: 06/09/90
DISCIPLINE: Hammer
CLUB: West Cheshire AC
A figure skater for 11 years, where she was the Wales no.2 at her level, Stephanie Owens has pirouetted her way to being a hammer thrower!
Not the most usual route you may think but her movement skills on the ice have translated to the hammer cage where she is tipped for the top.
The sporting switch followed a chance encounter with a former hammer thrower:
“I sort of fell into hammer as my mum was talking to a woman at an Open meeting in Wigan. Turned out the woman used to throw hammer and said I looked like a hammer thrower and would coach me if I wanted.”
The Deeside College student has been competing in the hammer for five years. Just two years after starting to throw, she smashed the under-17 Welsh record.
She hopes to represent Team Wales at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and is also aiming to qualify for London 2012. She is also aiming long-term to feature in the top six at major European and World Championships.
