"Winged Foot" signs with 17 Sports Management

United States Paralympic track star Richard Browne Jr, has signed to be represented by 17 Sports Management Limited.

"We are delighted to welcome Richard to #Team17 and are excited to be working with him" said 17 Sports Management Director Ian Byers. "Richard has a very special talent and we will work closely with him and his coaching team to manage his career, maintaining the correct balance at all times between his training, competition, commercial and media activities." "Richard transcends disability sport, he is the complete package; talented, hard working, with character and personality. He can run fast, very fast and there is no doubt in my mind that he will be one of the greatest athletes of all time" he added.

T44, below the knee amputee sprinter Richard, known throughout the athletic world as "Winged Foot", took up running in 2011, after his leg was amputated in 2010 as a result of an accident back in 2007. He won a silver medal over 100m at the London 2012 Paralympics, a feat he repeated at the 2013 World Championships. The current world record holder over 60 and 200m, the 100m record is "just out on loan" says Richard, who recently saw compatriot Jarryd Wallace break the record.

Richard's pursuit to be the very best has seen him recently leave his young family behind in the United States and base himself in the UK ahead of Rio and the 2017 World Championships in London. "Disappointingly para athletics in the States is still very small, although the USOC and NBC are working hard to change that. In the UK and Europe, the profile of the sport is much higher and the coaches have more experience in working with amputee athletes" said Richard. "It was a terrible wrench to leave my family behind in the States and live abroad, but it is a sacrifice that I am prepared to make to be able to achieve my dreams".

Next up on track for Richard is the IPC World Championships in Doha, Qatar, between 22 and 31 October, where he will compete for three World titles, over 100m, 200m and in the US team in the 4 x 100m relay. Following which his attention will be focused on the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016.

Before Rio however, Richard hopes to compete in more Diamond League meetings and in races against able bodied competitors, saying "Oscar Pistorious was really the first athlete to cross over into able bodied races and he got a lot of recognition for that but unfortunately his personal situation has since overshadowed everything". "I enjoy the challenge of testing myself against able bodied sprinters, I want to be regarded as a great athlete and certainly don't want to be treated as a curiosity".

Away from the track, Richard has set up his own foundation; Never Stop Inc. The aim of the foundation being to help specifically newly disabled people to get back to being active. Richard also campaigns to promote Breast Cancer Awareness and he will be dying his hair pink in Doha to honour his grandmother who died from the disease.

Richard and his team at 17 Management have also been working on  a new personal website which is coming soon; www.richardbrowneofficial.com

Despite Richard's success, high level of profile and colourful personality, other than Ossur who supply his prosthesis, he currently has no other sponsors. "I was very surprised to learn that Richard is currently only supported by Ossur" said Ian Byers. "It is obvious that Richard can offer significant exposure and add value to any potential commercial partners. I would urge any companies interested in working with him to get in touch". Ian can be contacted, by Email; ian@17management.com or telephone +44 (0)1920 831147.

17 Sports Management, based in Hertford, UK, represent the interests of a number of disabled and able bodied sports people, from World Champions to up and coming new talent. More information on the company and the athletes represented can be found at www.17management.com
 

You can follow Richard on Twitter @winged_foot 

#WingedFoot #Athletics #United States #WorldChampionships #Doha2015 #Paralympics #Rio2016 #London2017 #NeverStop

Photographs courtesy of Peter Milsom

Jordanne Whiley - US Open Singles Champion

Jordanne Whiley made history on Sunday at the US Open after becoming the first British woman to win a wheelchair tennis Grand Slam singles title.

British No. 1 Jordanne, playing in her first women’s singles Grand Slam final, beat defending champion, her doubles partner, best friend and world No. 3 Yui Kamiji of Japan 6-4, 0-6, 6-1 in a match of fluctuating fortunes.

Jordanne saw an early break advantage disappear in the first set, only to regroup and take the last two games to seize the initiative. Kamiji raced through the second set, but Whiley returned from a comfort break before the final set with a renewed focus and stormed into a 5-0 lead.

 

Jordy then had her first five match points before Kamiji pulled a game back, but another thrilling final game eventually saw the Brit clinch a famous victory on her ninth championship point.

“It really hasn't sunk in that I've done it - I'm a singles Grand Slam champion! It was so strange playing Yui as she's my best friend and we've achieved so much in doubles together but it means I know her game so well,” said Jordanne, who will now go to a new career best singles world ranking on Monday after starting the US Open world ranked No.5.

“I felt bad seeing her crying at the end but that's tennis and I knew I could win it. I kept telling everyone that I could do it in singles as well and now I've finally proved it! Everything is clicking nicely ahead of Rio and now I can't wait to play at the Singles Masters in December and I want to win that too in front of a home crowd. 

“I'm going to treat myself to some pizza tonight but then it's back home and I'll keep working hard and build on this success” she added.

 

Jordanne had a great week in the singles in New York, beating home favourite Kaitlyn Verfuerth in straight sets and then world No. 2 Aniek Van Koot in a tough three set semi final, to set up the final with Kamiji.

 

Courtesy of Tennis Foundation.

 

Follow Jordanne on Twitter @JordanneJoyce92  and visit her website www.jordannewhiley.com

 

 

Jack Whelbourne makes a difference

For Jack and his team mates it's a weekend to make a difference as they take part in the Nottingham Post, Good Deed Notts campaign.

 

Jack outside the Mary's Kitchen Café

via The Nottingham Post

Paintbrushes and overalls will replace ice skates and skin suits as the GB Short Track team step off the rink to give their local café a helping hand.

The Nottingham-based team – who have been training at the National Ice Centre, in Bolero Square, since 2000 – will spend the next three days revamping Mary's Kitchen Café, in Southwell Road, which is a stone's throw from the arena.

They will paint the café's eating area, put up a new sign at the front and install new lighting before the venue reopens on Tuesday.

The fundraising drive will see organisations, businesses and individuals raise money for charity, volunteer in their communities and give their neighbours a helping hand.

Team member Jack Whelbourne, who grew up in Lenton but now lives in Hucknall with European champion speed skater Elise Christie, is the makeover's project manager.

The 24-year-old, who made the semi-finals in the short track events at the 2010 Winter Olympics, said: "I go in the café every other day for food between training. It's great to be able to interact with locals and businesses and show them we are supportive in the community."

 

Jack in action

Fellow team member Jon Eley, who was born in Solihull but has lived in Nottingham for 14 years, says the café is a "team favourite". The 31-year-old, who represented Britain at the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, added: "We really like it there as it has a friendly atmosphere.

"Everybody in the team has come up with one good deed that they are going to lead, and the rest of us will help them out with it."

Mick Preedy, senior building manager of construction company Willmott Dixon, has provided the team with eight tins of paint, two electricians and the new sign. He said: "It's nice to put something back into the community."

The café's co-owner Denise Clarke said she was "honoured and excited" about the project and was looking forward to seeing the transformation.

The team aim to continue their community work by visiting ill children in the city's hospitals, encouraging people to keep fit by getting their skates on, putting their skills to the test and baking cakes and cleaning up community centres and parks.

 

You can follow Jack on Twitter @speedyboi158  and find out more about him through his website www.jackwhelbourne158.com

 

#Cafe #Nottingham #Post #GoodDeed #ShortTrack #TeamGB

Hannah to race at School Games

World, European and Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft MBE returns to the Sainsbury's School Games in Manchester on Friday 4 September to compete as a guest, four years after striking gold at the event in 2011.

The double Paralympic champion from London 2012 will line up against Sainsbury's 2015 School Games competitors at the Manchester Regional Arena as part of her preparation to retain her world titles at the 2015 IPC World Athletics Championships in Doha next month.

Hannah competed at multiple School Games, kicking off her glittering sporting career at the 2007 School Games in Coventry where she competed in the seated discus. Here she was spotted by a GB talent scout and a talent day in Loughborough followed to begin the career of one of Great Britain's most exciting track stars.

 

Hannah wins gold at the 2011 School Games

Hannah landed gold in the 100m wheelchair race at the Sainsbury's 2011 School Games before going on to international success with double gold in the T34 100m and 200m at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championship titles. This time she will line up non-competitively in the 100m and 800m mixed-sex wheelchair races and therefore be unable to pick up a medal.

Hannah said: "I am so excited to be lining up in Manchester to get some vital competition practice at the Sainsbury's 2015 School Games. This event literally kick started my career and I feel honoured to return again as a competitor".

"With just over a month to the IPC World Athletics Championships and a year until the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Friday will form an important part of my preparations. Having won the 100m event in 2011, I am looking forward to taking on the young talent competing at this year's Sainsbury's School Games and I would like to thank the organisers for allowing me to take part."

 

The Sainsbury's 2015 School Games, which are supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust, are a major multi-sport event for some of the most talented young athletes across the UK. This year 1,600 athletes will compete in 12 sports in venues across Manchester and will experience a spectacular opening and closing ceremony, an Athletes' Village, and a targeted education programme which includes anti-doping advice and guidance.

More than 15,000 spectators are expected at the event which is supported by more than 500 volunteers, many of which are young people who provide round the clock support to the athletes, coaches, officials and spectators.

You can watch Hannah's races live online here at the following times on Friday 4 September:

13:00 100m Wheelchair race
16:35 800m Wheelchair race

To show your support and be part of the action, order your Sainsbury's 2015 School Games tickets here: http://www.2015schoolgames.com/tickets.php

 

You can follow Hannah on Twitter @HCDream2012 and find out more about her through her website www.hannahcockroft.co.uk

Heartache for Kelly Edwards in Astana

Kelly Edwards of Team GB lost in her Preliminary Round fight in the International Judo Federation World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan today.

In a very close fight against Odette Giuffrida of Italy, Kelly had a single Shido awarded against her during the bout for a minor rules infringement. This was to prove very costly, as despite dominating the fight, the bout ended scoreless after 4 minutes. The rules of judo state that if there is a tie, then and only then, will the number of shidos be used to determine the winner, on this basis Kelly was eliminated from the competition. 

"I'm gutted to have lost it how I did" said Kelly "I have been working very hard in training and I'm pleased to see the improvements", adding "I felt like my composure and scoring attacks were way better. I haven't watched my fight back yet, but I feel that it might well be my best performance at this level, so there are a lot of good things to take away".

 

As it happened, Odette Giuffrida progressed throughout the competition to end up fighting for the bronze. "I know I am able to compete at this level and know that I can be doing the same" Kelly added.

"I would like to thank my coaches, the whole team at British Judo and 17 Sports Management for their support. Also my sponsors Schneider Electric, Aga Rangemaster, SIMGear and the National Lottery. Without all of them, I would not be where I am now and with their continued support I know that I can challenge at the Rio Olympic Games next year"

Having missed out on the opportunity to gain ranking points, which are vital for qualification for the Olympics, it is important that Kelly continues to compete at the highest level, which will involve her entering more international competitions. "Despite the wonderful support of my sponsors, every competition that I enter costs me financially. I know that I have a lot to offer a potential sponsor and if there are any companies out there who would like to partner with me to help me with some funding, I'd love to hear from them" said Kelly. 

You can contact Kelly through her website www.kellyedwardsgb.com

 

Follow Kelly on Twitter  @Kel_Edwards1

 

#Judo #World #Championship #Astana #Rio2016

 

 

World Championship debut for Tom Bosworth in Beijing

Tom Bosworth (25) competed in his first IAAF World Championship races in Beijing at the weekend.

Tom represented the British team in the 20km race walk, finishing in a time of 1:23:58, making him the 8th placed European to finish and giving him 24th place overall.

On completing the race Tom said; "it was pretty tough out there, it was all going to plan until around 13, 14 kilometres then the heat and humidity just hit me. I had prepared at altitude in the heat for this, my body felt great, but it's an endurance event and sometimes these things just hit you, I just felt rubbish".

 

Photo courtesy of Jon Mulkeen

"It has been a great experience, I don't think I could have come to a better place to debut in my first ever World Championships, I didn't feel out of place, I didn't feel overwhelmed, I felt very much at home at this level and I have learnt a lot".

"I now know that I can push on to higher places. I should have broken the British record today (which has stood at 1:22:03 since the 1988 Seoul Olympics) I was ahead of schedule but I just couldn't hold on". 

"I'm still progressing massively and I feel like I have yet another big step in me in the next 12 months or so, that's how my progression has been going. The future is really exciting. I'd love to be much closer to the front, maybe top twelve in Rio next and year and then it's the World Champs in London in 2017. I want to be right at the front then".

Tom, who trains with coach Andi Drake at the National Race Walking Centre at Leeds Beckett University, was one of a handful of athletes in the British team who receives no financial support. Having recently lost a major sponsor when Lloyds Bank withdrew from sponsoring their talented athlete programme, he would love to hear from any companies that would like to partner with him and be part of his exciting journey to the Rio Olympics and the London World Championships.

 

Follow Tom on Twitter @TomBosworth 

Visit his website www.tombosworth.com

 

#Athletics #RaceWalk #World #Championships #Rio2016 #London2017

 

World Championship Silver for Rob Oliver

Paracanoe athlete Rob Oliver has moved a step closer to a place on the Team GB squad heading to Rio next year by winning a Silver medal in 39.739 seconds, at the International Canoe Federation World Championships in Milan. Rob’s silver medal has ensured Team GB will have a place in the Men’s’ KL3 200m Sprint event for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

 

Single leg amputee Rob, from Hollywood, Birmingham, is the British No.1 in his 200m kayak sprint category and became European Champion in May.  

The World Championship Silver medal winner said “I came here with three goals; win a medal, finish in under 40 seconds and to get a Paralympic quota place for Team GB in the KL3 200m. All these goals were achieved and I am so happy!”

 

Paracanoe is a new sport being introduced to the Paralympics in Rio 2016 and the popularity is rapidly growing in the UK. A new boat is on the list of Rob’s requirements before Rio, however as he has to fund this himself, being a full time athlete who trains 6 days per week, Rob therefore has to rely on sponsorship and commercial opportunities to be able to fund his equipment and is hoping a new sponsor will come forward soon to enable him to continue towards his dream of representing the country in Rio and bringing home a gold medal for Team GB. 

If you would like to support Rob, you can contact him through his website www.robertolivergb.com

Follow Rob on Twitter @RobertOliverGB

#World #Silver #Paracanoe #Milan #TeamGB #Rio2016 #Paralympics