Appeal for future stars to join Everyone Active's Sporting Champions programme

Future athletics stars in Bishop's Stortford are being urged to apply for an East Herts sports talent development scheme.

Everyone Active's Sporting Champions programme, now heading into its seventh year, has helped thousands achieve their potential by providing free access to its leisure centre at Grange Paddocks and more than 200 other sites including Leventhorpe Pool and Gym in Sawbridgeworth.

Aspiring athletes have until March 13 to apply by visiting the Everyone Active Sporting Champions website at www.easportingchampions.com.

Olympic silver medalist and world, European and Commonwealth 110m hurdles champion Colin Jackson is a Sporting Champions ambassador who works alongside the scheme's elite athletes.

He said: "I'm proud to be involved in a scheme that is so dedicated to supporting athletic talent from grass roots up.

"I've watched the Sporting Champions scheme grow over the years and I'm so excited to continue working alongside a panel of truly talented elite athletes to help mentor and support the next generation.

"The Sporting Champions scheme has helped thousands of up-and-coming athletes to achieve their sporting dreams and I can't wait to see what this year's intake go on to achieve."

He will be providing one-to-one and group mentoring sessions throughout the year alongside the scheme's other sporting stars. They include decorated Olympians and Paralympians Lutalo Muhammad, Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova, Richard Kilty, Lauren Steadman, Kadeena Cox and Maisie Summers-Newton.

Over the past seven years, Sporting Champions has invested more than £1m into athletes on the scheme.

Dan Humphries, Everyone Active's contract manager, said: "We're delighted to be able to support rising sports stars from East Herts on their journey to success.

"As a leisure provider working in partnership with East Herts Council, we feel it is important to cater for all sections of the community.

"The Sporting Champions scheme has already supported a huge number of athletes and I'm proud that we are continuing this again in 2023.

"We hope to continue making a real difference to our athletes' success and are excited to see what this year will bring."

Sporting Champions will also receive free unlimited access to the Everyone on Demand app, providing them with more than 500,000 at-home workouts from fitness brands including WithU, Flex and Les Mills on Demand.