The 2023 Review: An Update on the Emerging Ron Harrod Foundation Athletes
In 2023, the Ron Harrod Foundation generously supported 8 promising athletes from Norfolk & Suffolk. Since then, each of these athletes has made remarkable strides in their sporting endeavours. Here's an overview of their impressive achievements...
Lucas Taber – Tennis Player
Lucas, age 8, was the youngest athlete the RHF sponsored in 2023. Since, Lucas has had a brilliant year progressing in his tennis career...
Lucas was one of 4 players selected to represent Norfolk in the U9 County Cup in Northamptonshire. Lucas played fantastic tennis having the best stats from Norfolk only losing 1 singles match and 2 doubles matches, with Norfolk finishing 4th in their group. He also placed 2nd in the Norfolk County Championships U9 and U10 and is currently top of the U10 Norfolk box league. Not only this but Lucas was also selected as one of three players to represent U9 Norfolk team at the Lionel Cox Cup near Potters Bar in 2024, a prestigious trophy for local up and coming tennis players.
Serena Grace – Track Athlete
After sponsoring Serena Grace in 2022 and 2023/4, Serena has gone onto have another incredible year in her sporting career.
Serena has also achieved an impressive number of accolades already in athletics. Mostly recently in March became Eastern and Essex 200m Champion and silver medallist in the 60m
In February, Serena got into the semi-finals in both the 60m and 200m at British Champs in Birmingham. The City of Norwich Athletics Club prodigy came 5th in the finals at BUCS (Sheffield) and a semi-finalist in the 200m.
Not only this, but Serena has big decisions coming up as she has already received 10 offers of sports scholarships from some of the top colleges in America.
From all of us at Harrod Sport, we wish you the best of luck we can't wait to see what the future holds for you!
Jack Jacobs - Gymnast
Jack Jacobs, 17 and a gymnast from
Lowestoft has also received funding from the RHF in 2023 and has since go on to
move mountains in his sporting career.
Jack Jacobs went on to have a fantastic year in 2023 which included winning the Active Suffolk Awards for Young Sports Personality of the Year. Not only this, but Jack went on to become nominated, and shortlisted to the final 10 for BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year!
This month (as of March 2024) Jack has been exclusively invited to compete in Liverpool at the British Gymnastics Disability Masters Competition in March. Between competing, Jack is still training hard four times a week as well as volunteering his time coaching disability groups and aspires to do this long-term.
Congratulations on an incredible year, Jack!
Jude Gunner - Swimmer
Jude was competing in the World Para Series and British champs in Aberdeen this year. He swam in the 200IM and 100 free. Finishing as the top junior athlete across the meet and being crowned British para junior champion in both events.
Jude also went on to achieve junior British Para Champion in 200m free and 100m butterfly.
Jude has been invited for Paralympic trials and British Championships in April – Congratulations Jude, we wish you all the best of luck with the trials!
Charlie Myers – Ice Hockey
Charlie Myers, 9, also from Suffolk who plays roller and ice hockey. When Charles is not helping care for his older brother, he can be found actively training both at home and in Cambridge on some evenings.
Since, Charlie has played with the Cambridge Grizzlies Ice Hockey team for both the U12's and U14's. Charles has also kept on top of football and roller hockey between sessions.
In March Charlie is heading to Ozone for Speed Skating sessions and will be trying out for GB U12's roller and ice hockey teams. Good luck Charlie!
Ross Wilson – Badminton, Racketlon & Squash Player
Badminton player Ross Wilson has also had a successful 12 months of competitive sport.
Ross is now unbeaten in the Lowestoft squash league for well over 18 months and is also now playing in the Norwich Premier Squash league for one of the leading teams.
He remains in the Lowestoft table tennis top 10 averages and is the only one in the league to have beaten the guy with the 2nd best average. He is playing his best badminton also with some teams in the Norwich league showing an interest in Ross training with and playing for them.
Ross has achieved great success in Racketlon, winning the Elite Doubles event in the Czech Republic, the U21 singles title in Lanzarote, now up to 42 in the Men's World rankings and in the top 30 in Doubles. Ross has also had the honour of being selected by his peers as UK Racketlon Personality of the Year! Ross has more events coming up in Letchworth, Nottingham, London and then the World Team and Singles in Rotterdam in July, so there's a lot to look forward to! Best of luck, Ross!
Rian Snell – Track Athlete
In 2023, Rian Snell partook in both the World and British Transplant Games.
The World Transplant Games took place in Perth, Australia in April 2023 and Rian, along with his family flew out to partake in the event on behalf of Team GB & NI. Rian excelled in the games coming away with a bronze in 100m, bronze in 4x 100m and a personal best of 5m 43cm in long jump.
Shortly after, the British Transplant Games took place in Coventry in July 2023 where he topped his personal best in long jump by achieving a new PB of 5m 98cm, securing him a gold medal along with another three silvers from 100m, 200m and 4x 100m.
During 2023, Rian broke his record of a 12s 100m sprint and is enroute to break the elusive 6m barrier for long-jump.
Rian, you've had an absolutely incredible year and we can't wait to see what you go on to achieve in 2024!
Josh Vallance – Racing Driver
After continuing sponsorship from 2022 Josh Vallance has gone onto achieve great things and has won numerous championship titles in the karting series.
In September 2023, Josh secured his 100th podium, which is a huge milestone! Congratulations Josh!
Nominations are now open for the Ron Harrod Foundation 2024. Whether you would like to apply yourself, or nominate a young sports person you know, you can do so here.