West Yorkshire rower wins Young Sports Person Award

October 19, 2011

Jess Leyden of Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club, has received a £1,500 OCS Young Sports Person Award for her achievements in rowing.

The 16 year old claimed the prize for the North East region, after a successful five years of rowing that has included a WJ14 single sculls gold medal at the National Championships in 2009, a record-breaking row at the Boston Marathon in a WJ17 double, and an appearance at the World Rowing Junior Championships at Lake Dorney earlier this year.

‘I am really pleased to have won the OCS Young Sports Person Award and feel very proud of myself,’ said Leyden.

‘The money will certainly relieve the financial pressure of competing and will help put me on track to get to the top of my game, which is hopefully going to be competing in the Olympics some day.’

Leyden will now join winners from nine other UK regions and four disability categories at a celebratory event in November, where one overall winner will be selected to receive £8,500 in funding over the next three years.

‘The OCS Young Sports Person Awards, now in its 14th year, highlights our commitment to supporting young people who are great role models, not only for their peers, but for many others in business and the community,’ said OCS chief executive Chris Cracknell.

‘Their drive and relentless determination to achieve their goals is inspirational. Our grass-roots scheme helps young athletes right at the start of their career when support and funding is needed most.

‘Well done to the athletes who have been rewarded this year and we hope that they will have the same success as many of our past winners, some of whom look set to represent GB in London 2012.’