Patrick Marriott

Sports Award

Age:

27

Biography

I am a 20 year old athlete, from Claybrooke Magna, Leicestershire, in the sport of Canoe Slalom, trying to realise my Olympic dream. I am mostly self funding, and the costs of the sport often run to £7000pa, which I cannot afford to cover fully as I am a student with limited income.

In April, the selection trials for the GB U23 team will be held at the Lee Valley White Water Centre in London. The top 3 athletes under 23 years old will be given the opportunity to go to the U23 World & European Championships, which will be held in Ivrea, Italy and Bratislava, Slovakia. I have qualified a place at the selection trials, and hope to make one of the top 3. I am currently ranked 5th U23 and 9th Senior in the UK, and think my aim is achievable.

I am extremely grateful for this award by JHMT as this means the difference between being poorly prepared and very well prepared, likely the difference between making the GB team and not. This will enable me me to pay for more training camps in London, which is where the GB Team selection races will be time on the water is crucial in London as the site is unique in difficulty, and very hard to prepare for.

Simon Taylor, Inspire lead, said: ' We are delighted to make the Award and very much hope it will help towards Patrick's qualification at lee Valley and to even greater things.'