IN BRIEF

• Winner of four Olympic medals Katherine Grainger announced as an Ambassador for the Jaguar Academy of Sport
• Katherine mentors future stars of British sport at Dorney Lake, where she won Olympic Gold
• Stellar line up of Academy Patrons, Ambassadors and Mentors including Dame Kelly Holmes, Colin Jackson, David Roberts, Anna Hemmings, Sarah Winckless, David Flatman and Toby Garbett supported Rising Stars throughout the exclusive training event

IN DETAIL

26 June 2013. Olympic Gold medal winner Katherine Grainger has been appointed as an Ambassador for the Jaguar Academy of Sport. To celebrate Katherine's appointment, the Jaguar Academy of Sport held the first Talent Day of this year's Mentoring and Education Programme (MEP) at London 2012 venue Dorney Lake, where Katherine won Gold last summer.

Two Rising Stars impressing Katherine at the event were rowers Jess Leyden from Todmorden, West Yorkshire and Matthew Benstead from Twickenham, Middlesex. All Rising Stars in attendance had the opportunity to train on Dorney Lake with world‑class rowers including Katherine, Sarah Winckless and Toby Garbett. The Rising Stars also took part in a selection of workshops working with Academy Ambassadors Colin Jackson and David Roberts, which focused on world‑class performance in sport.

Dorney Lake was also host to the Samsung World Rowing Cup at the weekend, which saw the highest number of British rowers ever in a World Cup with 76 rowers in 29 boats. Jaguar Academy Rising Star James Fox competed in the event, winning a para‑rowing gold with the mixed coxed four beating Ukraine.

Katherine's achievements in rowing include winning four Olympic medals and six World Championship titles. Katherine has shown true determination throughout her career in sport, first competing in the Olympic Games in 2000 and winning a Gold medal in 2012. Her achievements are an inspiration to all of the Academy's Rising Stars.

Katherine Grainger, Jaguar Academy of Sport Ambassador said: "I'm delighted to be appointed as an Ambassador for the Jaguar Academy of Sport; it's a fantastic programme and a real honour to be involved with. I've really enjoyed the Talent Day at Dorney Lake, the venue certainly bought back a lot of great memories. It's been inspiring to see so many talented youngsters on the water and the rowers have huge potential. I look forward to seeing them competing at a world class level in the near future."

Dame Kelly Holmes, Jaguar Academy of Sport Patron said: "It's been another fantastic Talent Day providing, for many of the Rising Stars, a once in a lifetime opportunity to get on the water at Dorney Lake with some of Britain's best rowers. The mentoring side of the Academy is so important and the team and I are dedicated to delivering a programme which provides all the Rising Stars with the educational support they need to be the best."

(ENDS)

Aimée Hancock

Jaguar Brand Communications Officer

T: 02476 564156

M: 07557 540612                    

E: ahancock@jaguarlandrover.com 

Carla McAlpine

Jaguar Academy of Sport

T: 020 72879610

M: 07718 897803

E:  carla@influenceassociates.com

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The Jaguar Academy of Sport aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. This is fulfilled through a Bursary Fund, facilitated by SportsAid and a unique Mentoring and Education Programme (MEP) delivered by Kelly Holmes Education. The programme is an integral part of the Academy's success and provides the Rising Stars with invaluable non‑financial support to enhance their overall development and learning, helping them on their journey to fulfilling their sporting dreams. Rising Stars work with the Academy's Patrons and Ambassadors through tailored Workshops and Talent Days, which are delivered by experts in their fields.

Website: www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk  

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

The Jaguar Academy of Sport has received 'Highly Commended Status' from the Marketing Society Awards 2012, recognising the work it is doing to support the next generation of British sporting talent. 

How to become a Rising Star

To be eligible for the Jaguar Academy of Sport Bursary Fund, young athletes, both able‑bodied and those with a disability, should be nominated to SportsAid for financial support by their sport's 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 of the Jaguar Academy of Sport?

Patrons: including Sir Chris Hoy MBE, 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 and  rugby legends including; Katherine Grainger, Rio Ferdinand,Colin Jackson CBE, Jessica Ennis CBE and Jonny Wilkinson OBE.

Members:include David Flatman, Clare Balding and Sally Gunnell OBE to name a few, these members are amongst the leading sports personalities who are dedicated to helping young people emulate their success through the Academy.

About SportsAid

• SportsAid is a national charity with Royal patronage that works with the national governing bodies of more than 70 sporting disciplines to identify young sportsmen and women who show great potential. The charity, established in 1976, also works closely with Sport England and UK Sport.
• Typically aged 12 to 18 the athletes supported by SportsAid aspire to be our next Olympic, Paralympic or world champions and are among the UK's brightest hopes for future sporting success. The SportsAid Awards they receive are funded by the charity's partners and donors and recognise their achievements by helping them to meet the high costs of training and competing, which are more than £6,000 a year per athlete.
• At London 2012 almost two‑thirds of the British team were former recipients of SportsAid's support, winning 20 of Team GB's 29 gold medals and 27 of ParalympicsGB's 34 gold medals.
• SportsAid is a registered charity (1111612). For more information visit www.sportsaid.org.uk, follow @TeamSportsAid on Twitter, contact the charity on Facebook, or sign up to receive its monthly newsletter. SportsAid's patron is Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

Kelly Holmes Education

Website: www.kellyholmes.co.uk/education

Patron Dame Kelly Holmes and her team at Kelly Holmes Education deliver the Jaguar Academy of Sport  Mentoring and Education Programme (MEP) with a skilled workforce of specialist tutors and speakers.

The programme is a collection of themed Talent Days and Workshops which support the Rising Stars to overcome a number of obstacles they may encounter during their sporting career.

Topics covered include:

External Influences on Performance Seems to be a space in here
Presenting Yourself to Sponsors

Looking After your Body for Life
Being World Class
Financial & Life Planning
Building a Successful Team
Celebrating Success