• Jaguar Academy of Sport supporting young athletes in 2012 and beyond
• Jessica Ennis and Rio Ferdinand present key awards and coach Rising Stars heptathlete Caryl Granville and CP footballer Alistair Patrick‑Heselton

As the World of Sport descends on London this summer the Jaguar Academy of Sport is delighted to announce its Rising Stars for 2012.

'The class of 2012' were invited to the Bursary Awards, held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield (EIS Sheffield). Local girl and Academy Ambassador, Jessica Ennis, who trains at EIS Sheffield, presented the fifty 2012 Rising Stars with their bursaries. She also took time out of her busy schedule to attend their first Mentoring and Education workshop, delivered by Kelly Holmes Education, focusing on media training and anti‑doping awareness.

The Academy, now in its third year, has now awarded 135 bursaries and by the end of this year will have invested £500,000 to the future of British sport. This support has made a tangible difference to the Rising Stars development pathway with a high proportion of athletes moving on to elite funding, and pushing for success and honours at the highest level in international sport.

Jessica Ennis, Jaguar Academy of Sport Ambassador commented: "It was fantastic to meet the 2012 Rising Stars and provide them with their bursaries. During such a high profile sporting year it's great to see a brand like Jaguar supporting future talent and I look forward to following their progress and helping to inspire them on their sporting journey."

Rising Star heptathlete Caryl Granville was able to take on Jessica's wealth of knowledge in the hope of one day following in her footsteps. This insight is invaluable to the 22 year‑old from Llanelli who has her sights set on competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2016 Olympic Games.

The Rising Stars were also supported by a selection of the Academy's other Patrons, Ambassadors and Members including Dame Kelly Holmes, Gareth Edwards, Rio Ferdinand, Barry McGuigan, Jamie Baulch, Nick Matthew, Nick Gillingham and Anna Hemmings ‑ a truly inspirational group of British sporting legends. 

Geoff Cousins, Global Director of Sponsorships stated: "It is fantastic to be able to support British sporting talent for the third year in a row and these young athletes really are on the road to success. Jaguar is dedicated to supporting the next generation of British sporting greats and the Academy is a long term commitment to this goal."

In addition to the financial support towards equipment and travel costs, the unique Mentoring and Education Programme (MEP) is key to the success of the Academy and enhances the talented athletes' overall development and learning. During the programme delivered by Kelly Holmes Education, a variety of topics are covered over the year including coping with injury, moving from talented to elite performance and financial planning. The Rising Stars work with the Academy's Patrons and Ambassadors through tailored Workshops and Talent Days which are delivered by experts in their fields.

Jaguar Academy of Sport Patron Dame Kelly Holmes commented:"Money is great but education and learning is priceless to any athlete, whatever their sport. I am proud that my team at Kelly Holmes Education is delivering the Mentoring and Education programme, with huge support from an array of British Sporting Champions. It is the start of an exciting journey for the Rising Stars that I hope will be incredibly rewarding."

The fifty 2012 Rising Stars were chosen after a rigourous selection process conducted by SportsAid, which administers the Bursary Fund on behalf of the Academy. The Patrons and Ambassadors of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, some of the nation's most successful sportsmen and women including David Beckham, Jonny Wilkinson and Jessica Ennis, were all integral to this process.

These talented young athletes represent a total of 39 different sporting disciplines from goalball to rugby including able‑bodied and disabled athletes who are based across the UK.

(ENDS)

Claire Boakes
Press Officer
UK Sport & Lifestyle Jaguar
M: 07557 846883                      
E: cboakes@jaguar.com

Carla McAlpine
Jaguar Academy of Sport
T: 020 72879610
M: 07718 897803
E:  carla@jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Website: www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk  

This support the Jaguar Academy of Sport has provided has made a tangible difference to the Rising Stars development pathway, with 33% of the 2010 Rising Stars and 30% of 2011 Rising Stars moving on to Talent Development Pathway Funding.

How to become a rising star

To be eligible for the Jaguar Academy of Sport Bursary Fund, the young athlete, both able‑bodied and those with a disability, should be nominated to SportsAid for financial support by their sports own national governing body (NGB). This ensures the Jaguar Academy of Sport helps to support the right athletes, at the right time, in the right way.

Who are the Patrons, Ambassadors and Members

Patrons: including  David Beckham OBE,  Sir Ian Botham OBE,  Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, Gareth Edwards CBE,  Denise Lewis OBE and  Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, MBE, our list reads like a 'who's who' of British sporting Legends. Now they are working together, united in one goal; to nurture the next generation of British sporting greats.

Ambassadors: a selection of Olympic gold medal winning athletes, European Champions League winning footballers, rugby legends and golfing greats including;  Colin Jackson CBE,  Jamie Baulch, Jessica Ennis MBE,  Sir Chris Hoy MBE,   Rio Ferdinand, and  Jonny Wilkinson OBE.

Members: include A.P. McCoy OBE, Sam Warburton, Sally Gunnell OBE and Mo Farah to name but a few are amongst the leading sports personalities who are dedicated to helping young people emulate their success through the Academy.

Jaguar Academy of Sport 2012 Rising Stars

About SportsAid

For more information please call Breege Zachary at SportsAid on 020 7273 1978.

• SportsAid helps talented young disabled and able‑bodied athletes to achieve their dreams. Since 1976, the charity has distributed more than £30 million to aspiring young athletes throughout the UK and now distributes around 2,000 awards a year.
• Many of the athletes supported by SportsAid go on to achieve international success. For example, 18 of the 19 gold medals won by Team GB at the 2008 Olympics went to SportsAid athletes; and more than a third of Team GB's 42 gold medals at the 2008 Paralympics were won by SportsAid athletes.
• By working with the national governing bodies of nearly 70 different sports to identify and support the athletes who show the greatest potential, SportsAid helps the right athletes at the right time.
• SportsAid manages the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) on behalf of UK Sport, distributing TASS funding to athletes who are continuing their education. Since 2004, SportsAid has distributed over £24 million of TASS funding.
• SportsAid is a registered charity no.1111612. For more information visit www.sportsaid.org.uk