Just an update on my John Taylor Foundation funding – I bought the Asics running shoes and a pair of triathlon specific cycle shoes.
I wore both in the recent British Triathlon performance assessments and placed 1st – super chuffed so wanted to say massive thankyou to everyone on the trust as all the equipment made a huge difference!
I have attached some photos as well :))
Again massive thankyou for everything!
Eve Whitaker

Just sending through a small update after your help with getting me a wetsuit and triathlon cycle shoes.

I have used the wetsuit and cycle shoes you helped me buy to become Scottish Junior (U20) Sprint Triathlon Champion in my second triathlon after a covid drought, I also used them in my first triathlon of the year, which was the European Junior Selection Race In Llanelli Wales, where I w\s going well until I got knocked off my bike on the third of the five bike laps, I managed to pull myself back into 24th on the run. I have also used the tri shoes in a Club Time Trial where I set a new club record up the hill climb which was a minute faster than my PB from a year and a half previous.

I have more info on my website www.struanbennettri.wordpress.com

I used the wetsuit to help me win the British triathlon super series with the maximum available points after being first Youth B at the last two races at Mallory, my final race of the season was Superleague Jersey where I came 3rd Junior, but I could have been higher had my chip not been knocked off in the first swim.

Thanks for your support

Struan

Dear John Taylor Foundation,

Thank you so much for supporting me to represent Great Britain

at both the European Youth Orienteering Championships (EYOC) and the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC).

The European Youth Orienteering Champs was held in Salgótarjáni, Hungary from the 1st-4th of July. I was selected as one of 4 under 18 girls and had an amazing time competing in the foreign terrain.

On the 1st of July we went to both the forest and sprint model event which were in similar areas to the races and gave us the opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the Hungarian terrain and mapping. The forest was pretty different from anything I had competed in before but the majority of it was runnable with not too much vegetation in the white areas.

The next day was the long race where came 49th out of 94. I struggled a lot in the heat which was over 30 degrees but it felt like a solid first international race.

The sprint race was held on the Sunday, I find sprint races more challenging because I come from such a rural area and don’t have access to many places to train for them so definitely have a lack of confidence when it comes to this discipline. This, combined with the heat and pressure of an international competition really affected my performance as I made mistakes on the second and third controls. Afterwards, I was determined to redeem myself at the relay the following day.

I ran the first leg of the relay and so was part of the mass start. I enjoyed the pressure of running first leg, it was the best experience setting off with my competitors from all over Europe. Everyone started off together as a pack for the first couple of controls, however as the gaffles started the pack began to spread out as everyone headed off to their slightly different controls. The race went well and I was consistently in the top 6 until the second last control where I lost concentration and made a mistake, dropping me to 10th place.

I ended up with a good time but I was disappointed, especially when I checked the live results and found out that I was in 3rd place halfway round the course. It gave me a confidence boost and I learnt a lot from this race, especially how to put my head down and not get distracted by others. It also made me motivated and hungry for more.

After EYOC me and 3 other teammates traveled straight to Portugal for JWOC.

The Junior World Orienteering Championships was held in Aguiar de Beira, Portugal from the 9th-16th of July. For this competition, I was one of 6 under 20 girls running for Great Britain. This was pretty daunting for me because I am 17 and was competing against girls three years older than me, however, after being selected as one of the youngest we were on the team to gain international experience racing for our future junior careers.

We were joined by the rest of the GB team on the Thursday, however, on Friday evening we heard that due to the extreme temperatures causing forest fires, there had been a ban on forest access in the whole of Portugal meaning that the forest races would not be able to take place. We were then told that the sprint race would go ahead and they would also put on the first official JWOC mixed sprint relay and an extra unofficial sprint relay non-medal race.

I struggled during the individual sprint race as I had a late start in extreme temperatures of over 40 degrees. I had never orienteered in these temperatures before and it really affected me.

However, there was still the mixed sprint relay on the Wednesday. I had one of the best runs of my life and came in in 4th place. Even though I was in the B relay we still had the same courses as the A one and so were able to compare times, I had the fastest time of all the GB girls and worked out that if I had been running the A relay I would have been 17th.

This was the highlight of my competition and a massive confidence boost. It definitely changed the way I feel about sprint orienteering, having proved to myself that it was something I could be successful in.

Towards the end of the week we also heard that the forest races were being postponed until the autumn and so I will be returning to Portugal in November for the middle, long and relay races. I’m delighted that I will have the opportunity to run in these amazing forests.

Overall, this was such an incredible experience, I’ve learnt so much about the pressure of competing at a world class level and the highs and lows of international competition. I have also gained valuable experience for future years. Again, thank you so much for your funding, it’s allowed me to gain so much from my international debut.

I recently returned from competing at the FISU World University Orienteering championships in Switzerland and would like to thank the John Taylor Foundation for their contributions towards my costs for this event. My experiences at this competition was especially valuable and I have come away from this season with more confidence and motivation for future years.

The World University championships were my main aim this year, and I was competing in 4 disciplines: Sprint, Long, Sprint relay and forest relay. I was particularly grateful for the contribution from JTF as it enabled me to travel out to Switzerland early and have three days of training in relevant terrain, instead of just one day as the official competition programme allowed. I felt this helped me to build confidence and understand the techniques to use and factors influencing route choice decisions, which can often be difficult when racing in unfamiliar terrain.

My performances through the week got progressively better. I was in the mix for a top 6 position in the sprint race until an error at the map flip resulted in a big time loss and dropping out of contention. I finished 12^th in the Long distance, 5^th on first leg of the mixed sprint relay (team finished 5^th overall), and 1^st= on first leg of the forest relay (team finished 7^th nation). I am now looking forward to the final round of the World Cup, also in Switzerland, before heading into a winter cross-country season. None of my races were perfect, but I felt that I dealt with the pre-race nerves and pressures of the relays well and now have confidence that I can be a reliable orienteer and that my form is good. I have also come away from the week having moved up 40 places in the World Ranking and with many memories and new friends.

I’d like to thank the JTF, Edinburgh University and the coaches/support team who travelled with us to the competition.

World University Orienteering Championships 2022

Having spent most of the previous year living in Switzerland, I was really looking forward to racing at the World University Orienteering Championships in the Swiss Jura. Not the typical alpine terrain that first comes to mind when picturing Switzerland, but a challenge nonetheless.

I had been selected to run three out of five races at this week-long competition, all of which were in the forest, as opposed to the sprint discipline which is usually in an urban setting. This meant I could really focus on my forest orienteering technique leading up to the competition. My preparation was slightly hampered by catching COVID a few weeks before the competition and missing some of my key training races in the build-up. Luckily, I had planned to travel out to Switzerland a few days before the competition to train on relevant areas, test different techniques and come up with a race strategy.

Having cheered on my teammates running in the individual sprint race the previous day, I was ready to step up to the start line of the long distance race. The terrain consisted mainly of coniferous forest with varying degrees of brambles and brashings underfoot, big forestry tracks and some steep gullies that made for interesting route choice. Despite this area feeling fairly familiar to some areas in the south of England, a momentary lapse in concentration meant I messed up my direction out of a control and proceeded to make a costly parallel error which involved losing a lot of height. Frustrated, I tried to hold it together for the remaining half of the race but always had a nagging feeling of needing to make up time. As many orienteers will appreciate this often forces more mistakes, and for me a very scrappy second half with many smaller time losses. Overall, I was unsatisfied with my performance but tried to use the frustration to fuel my preparation for the middle distance race, my preferred discipline.

The area of the middle distance was much more suited to my strengths. It consisted of a steep slope with lots of limestone rock and contour detail, and lots of controls meaning there were no opportunities to switch off. After a slightly hesitant start into a tricky area of forest with low visibility, I settled into the map and began to find my flow. Following two long uphill legs across an open field I knew a top French runner was closing me down. Keeping a cool head, I managed to stick to my plans and pick off the next set off technical downhill controls, whilst the faster French runner weaved in and out making multiple mistakes. Having got a gap, I reached the arena passage having caught two other competitors, now on my tail. The arena run through was a very steep bank which left me in a fair amount of oxygen debt going into the final loop. I tried to focus on my direction crossing the steep slope however being a few degrees off meant I was much higher than my control and had to drop down. This mistake proved significant and meant I just missed out on at top 20, finishing in 23^rd. Despite being initially annoyed at how close I was to a clean run, there were many positives to take into the relay.

The relay marked the final day of racing, and after a flying start by our first leg runner I was set out in the front group. After leading the first few controls, the group had spread out and split on a routechoice leg. In trying to balance sticking to my own routechoices and keeping the front runners in sight, I began to lose control and take some suboptimal routes. Going through a thick area of forest I found myself running alone and similarly to the long race, a few more scrappy controls meant I had lost some time to the leaders. Luckily our last leg runners managed to claw back some time finishing 7^th nation.

The week was a brilliant experience and incredible fun, despite some races not going as I had hoped. I connected with many old friends who I haven’t seen since junior competitions pre-covid and met new people from as far as Japan and Hong-Kong. I’ve come away with a renewed motivation for the winter season, and my move to Sweden this September. I hope to be able to focus more of my time on orienteering training so I can be better prepared and more confident going into important international competitions.

A huge thankyou goes to the John Taylor Foundation for their continuing support of my Orienteering endeavours. In such an underfunded sport, athletes are responsible for funding the entirety of these competitions, which adds up across the year. Therefore, the John Taylor Foundation’s contributions really do make it possible to continue competing at an elite level, for which I am very grateful.

When I received the money at the end of 2020 I was 3^rd in the country as an under 15 and it was going to be difficult to maintain that position as in the age group up I would be the youngest person and there was some very good people in that age group.  I was looking at being 7^th in the under 17 age group at the very best.  2021 was a difficult year with very few competitions taking place and for me personally 2020 and 2021 have been extremely tense.  As a child in care there are individuals who make my life difficult and I really struggle mentally to block out my past. 

I started the season really low at 3.10m which was 15cm below my personal best and at this point my new poles had not arrived.  This was really disappointing as was my position at English School where I should have been 2^nd but came 7^th.  I am trying really hard not to let things get on top of me but I am not always successful and I believe this is what happened at English School which unfortunately took place at a point in my life where I had had some disturbing news. 

I did go on to win the Midlands under 17 and under 20 championships and if the Welsh international had taken place I would have got the England kit but it did not due to covid.

 Yet another disappointment.  I also achieved the standard for the under 20 and the under 17 English championships and was 3^rd at the under 17 and got a bronze medal and 4^th at the under 20. 

I am Warwickshire schools champion and under 17 Warwickshire champion and I hold the Warwickshire school and county record.   

I was selected to take part in the UK School Games where I got a silver medal without my coach being present (because coaches were not allowed in due to covid).  This was probably my most impressive achievement of the year as I was only 15 at the time and some of the other girls on the podium were 3 years older than myself and I would not have normally competed against them but because of covid the age group was extended meaning they were able to compete.  It was the most amazing experience and one I hope to repeat this coming year

This year I am hoping to be 1^st as an under 17 in the country.  I am currently 28^th in the country overall (this includes all age groups) and this has improved every year.  If I can get another 20cm PB this would take me to about 15^th in the country overall and will put me 20cm away from the European junior qualification height of 3.90m which is what I would need the following year to be selected.  I was selected to take part in the National Talent programme where I go and train with Kate Rooney (Dennison) to improve my fitness and run style.

I am going to work really hard this year to make sure I make progress, however I would really like to do some sessions with a sports therapist to help me with my nerves during competition and with dealing with issues in other areas of my life.  I would also really like the next two poles so that my progress is not delayed.  Thank you very much for your support and if you feel that you can help me with either of these two things please let me know.

Despite how the season ended, I was still able to finish the season with my best ever national rankings! Even ranking #1 for the first time in my career, and in one of my favourite distances, the 200m. During the winter off-season I worked really hard to recover and come back stronger. 

Come January this year, me and my training squad spent 10 days in Spain for a training camp which was absolutely brilliant. It was well timed that at the end of the training camp there is a half marathon (Medio Maraton Almeria) which we all entered prior to the camp. The objective of this for me was purely to see what difference the training camp had made as we were able to do lots of road training, something which I haven’t done much of prior other than pushing along the seafront. And as a track athlete, and a sprinter nonetheless, it was very different putting in so many miles but my body welcomed it and I was feeling really excited at the prospect of crossing the finish line for my first ever half marathon. As it was a local event, it’s not an event that is known by other wheelchair athletes so I knew that I would have to push the whole 13 miles on my own with nobody to work with. Despite this and the little road training I had going into this, I finished the race and crossed the line in an incredible 1 hr 1 min!! Just 11 minutes outside the world record. I was absolutely over the moon, and my coach and I realised that there is a huge potential for me to reach great success in road races as well as the track. 

Once I was back home from Spain, I had qualified and was invited to compete in the elite division of the Vitality Big Half. As this would’ve been my 2nd ever half marathon in the space of 4 weeks, it again was a matter of just getting to the finish line. Road races are a completely different ball game because each event/course is different, and for me I still have to build my confidence of propelling myself across a course that is changing in surface, gradient etc. Early into the Big Half we went through a tunnel and on the downhill I believe my speedometer recorded my top speed as 31.5mph!!! It was super scary yet exhilarating at the same time. A little further into the race and we came across sections of road which was cobbled –  they were a nightmare! I was in a pack with 2 other female racers who ultimately finished 2nd and 3rd, but once we got to the cobbles I had to stop and pull over to tighten my wheels as bouncing around on the cobbles had loosened them and they were going to fall off! If it wasn’t for that I am confident I would’ve stuck with the pack and got on the podium. Oh well, it’s all experience! And it was certainly great fun to be a part of!

So that’s kind of it for now, as the world stops to tackle Coronavirus, uncertainty lingers and myself and my training partners wander what the season will bring – if anything! But I am safe and well, training within the comfort of my own home which is the most I can do for now. I hope you too are keeping safe and well.

I do believe I had applied to you for funding towards new racing wheels, and unfortunately I haven’t reached the total needed to buy them yet. But I have your contribution ready and waiting for when I can make the purchase. And I’ll be sure to send you more updates as I go, and any photos from events. 

I have a couple action shots of me from the Vitality Big Half marathon this year, I hope you like them as much as I do!

Dear John Taylor foundation,

Thank you so much for the help that you so generously gave to me last year it was a great help in which I am very thankful for. Being given grants like that allows me to perform to the best of my ability and also to be able to compete with the best in the country and occasionally the world.

Last year I spent your grant on putting it towards a new
bike and also getting some new much needed trainers for racing in. these were
my race shoes for the season and being race shoes they were pretty expensive.

This allowed me to save money on the things that I needed to
compete as well and also made me be able to achieve my season goals such as
competing in two European cup races gaining multiple top ten’s in the British
super series as well a podium and an international call up to compete in the
prestigious super league jersey where I represented Great Britain to come 11^th.
A very good performance in a field that included a youth Olympic medallist.

I also managed to get a top 25 in the ETU cup in Riga and
two school games medals.

Although I didn’t achieve all of my goals this season none of it would have been possible if it wasn’t for foundations such as John Taylor foundation.

Thank you so very much you have been an unbelievable help. Many thanks and kind regards,

Finnian Hutchinson

We just wanted to say a huge thank you for the grant towards the purchase of a new competition javelin for our son Aran.

As you are aware the implement is specialist and very
expensive. We created a crowd funding page and have received tremendous support
in reaching the sum of £700, this along with a further £15 in personal
donations left us £200 pounds short of our target. Your kind grant has allowed
us to meet our target; and today we have placed the order for the Javelin.

We will produce a report and photographs for you when the
javelin arrives.

Thank you also for the recommendation in respect of cardiac
screening; this is something which we have, and will continue to look in
to with a view to maintaining Aran’s health.

Once again a huge thank you for your kind assistance,
interest and grant.

Kindest regards

John, Jacquie and Aran Thomas

Thank
you very much for supporting my recent funding application to help cover costs
for competing in the Junior World Orienteering Champs 2019 in Denmark, which I
have just returned from. 

Personally,
I had a fantastic time competing. I was going in order to gain experience of
world class racing for my future junior orienteering career, and in that way
was determined to produce solid performances that I could be proud of in all 4
disciplines. 

The
event kicked off with the sprint around a very technical housing estate in
which I placed 63rd, 89 seconds down on the winner. I was very pleased with not
only this performance but also my race in the challenging long distance the
next day where I was one of four GB male athletes to achieve a top 50 place,
coming 43rd. This was my personal highlight of the week and I will remember
that race for a long time. 

The
next event was the middle qualification, in which although I wasn’t able to
qualify due to making around 2-3 minutes of mistakes, I learnt many invaluable
lessons about how to go about racing this discipline, namely the need for a
very high level of technical accuracy! The final event was the relay, in which
I ran second leg for the men’s second team. I ran a good race with only one
mistake, which was an excellent way to cap off a fantastic week of racing not
just for myself, but also for team GB. This year’s JWOC was our nation’s most
successful ever, with 4 medals and another podium place!

Once again thank you so much for your funding, which very much made a difference to my being able to compete in the championships: a truly unforgettable experience.