7 SEPTEMBER 2011. Dame Kelly Holmes, Jaguar Academy of Sport Patron, today experienced and participated in rifle shooting, a sport far removed from her usual track activities! Her mentor for the day was Rising Star and 2010 Commonwealth Games shooter Sheree Cox. The day was held at Bisley Shooting Centre in Surrey, which is soon to host the Commonwealth Shooting Federation, European Division Championships.
The Jaguar Academy of Sport has been established with the intention to not simply provide funding to the next generation, but to also nurture and inspire them. A Mentoring and Education Programme provides all the Rising Stars with the non‑financial support they need in order to be successful. This support is provided through a selection of workshops and talent days, focusing on key areas that will help young athletes move from talented to elite.
The day has given Sheree Cox a great opportunity to show off her skills and to pass on her sporting knowledge to double gold Olympic medalist Dame Kelly Holmes, in order to thank her for the ongoing support provided through the Academy. Sheree has been supported by the Jaguar Academy of Sport for 2 years and, last year was presented with a Special Recognition Award for her sporting achievements and interaction within the Academy. As part of the award, Sheree receives one‑to‑one mentoring from Britain's most successful female canoeist, a two time Olympian and 6 times World Champion, Anna Hemmings.
Dame Kelly Holmes commented:"It has been a fantastic day and I have really enjoyed learning a new sporting skill from Sheree. She is a model Rising Star for the Jaguar Academy of Sport and I can now fully appreciate the challenges of shooting, and why the support the Academy provides is so important."
Jaguar Academy of Sport Rising Star, Sheree Cox stated: "It is such an honour having the support from a great sporting legend such as Dame Kelly Holmes, and I have relished the opportunity to provide her with some new skills. I hope Kelly enjoyed competing in my sport and I look forward to catching up with her again at the next Jaguar Academy of Sport workshop."
SportsAid CEO, Tim Lawler, commented: "The Jaguar Academy of Sport is a great initiative and something SportsAid is proud to work so closely with. Days like today are important for Britain's young athletes and it is great to see Sheree passing on her knowledge to one of her sporting heroes."
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Notes to Editors
Website: www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk
For further information about Jaguar Academy of Sport please contact:
Carla McAlpine : E: carla@influenceltd.com , T: 0207 2879610
About The Jaguar Academy of Sport
The Jaguar Academy of Sport, launched in March 2010, recognises, celebrates and inspires the very best of British sporting talent and success. It will fulfill this aim through a Bursary Fund, which will support new British sporting talent, as well as a prestigious annual Awards Ceremony. The Academy is a unique club of the best of British sport, which will be used to inspire the next generation. For more information visitwww.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk
Jaguar Academy of Sport Patrons
David Beckham OBE, Sir Ian Botham, Gareth Edwards CBE, Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, MBE, Denise Lewis OBE, Sir Steve Redgrave
Jaguar Academy of Sport Ambassadors
Jamie Baulch, Dave Brailsford CBE, Martin Brundle, Tasha Danvers, Jessica Ennis, Mark Foster, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard MBE, Tim Henman, Sir Chris Hoy, Colin Jackson CBE, Barry McGuigan, Ian Poulter, David Roberts CBE, Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughn OBE, Lee Westwood, Shane Williams
About SportsAid
SportsAid is a registered charity, number 1111612. SportsAid is the lead organisation in helping talented young athletes, providing a much needed boost, both financial and in recognition, at a key time in their development. SportsAid has been supporting emerging talent since 1976, distributing over £35 million in this time. There is a track record of success for the charity ‑ athletes involved in securing 18 of the 19 Gold Medals won by Team GB in Beijing had been helped by SportsAid. At the 2008 Paralympic Games over a third of GB's 42 Gold Medals involved athletes supported by SportsAid. Further information on SportsAid can be found at www.sportsaid.org.uk
About Sheree Cox
Sheree Cox is a shooter from Sunbury on Thames, Sheree was introduced to shooting by her dad and is the fourth generation of the Cox family to be selected for the British squad. Rifle is her favourite weapon to shoot. She has risen to the top of the GB ladder quickly gaining her first major selection at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games where she brought back two medals.
She was part of the England team that travelled out to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games finishing fifth in the Women's Pairs Air Rifle. Sheree also won six gold and one silver medal from her seven events at the Junior International in Bisley, Surrey in August. Sheree has been selected to compete in the World Cup events in Australia and America as she builds up her international experience as she targets a place at London 2012. For more information on Sheree please visit: www.shereecox.co.uk
