Rower Holly Dunford makes final three of Sportsaid’s One-to-Watch award

The winner of the Sportsaid award will be revealed at the annual SportsBall on Thursday, 23 November

SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award shortlist has now been reduced to a final three, with rower Holly Dunford still in the running, alongside BMX cyclist Beth Shriever and wheelchair racer Craig Boardman.

Dunford has been selected from over 1,000 rising British stars supported by SportsAid after a shortlist of ten was released last week, which included fellow rower Calvin Tarczy. Dunford won gold in the women’s double at the World Rowing Junior Championships 2017. Dunford also set a new British record for junior women on the indoor rowing machine (Under-18s level), as well as three first place finishes in the single scull at the GB Rowing Team Junior Trials.

Each year, athletes are nominated by their sport’s governing body on the strength of their talent and potential, demonstrating why the One-to-Watch Award has gained such a strong reputation for identifying the best up-and-coming prospects.

Tom Daley received the charity’s very first One-to-Watch Award in 2006 when he was 12 years old. Since then, fellow winners have included para-athlete Hollie Arnold, hockey player Harry Martin, sprinter Jodie Williams, skeet shooter Amber Hill and heptathlete Morgan Lake. All six of these athletes competed across the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games where SportsAid alumni won 150 medals.

The judging panel is chaired by Olympic bronze medallist Sarah Winckless MBE. Dame Katherine Grainger, Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, and Natasha Baker MBE, a five-time Paralympic champion, are new additions with Matt Slater, the Press Association’s Chief Sports Reporter, Joslyn Hoyte-Smith of the GB Olympians’ Association, and SportsAid’s Laura Eddie all returning.

The winner will be revealed at the charity’s annual SportsBall in London ‪next Thursday (23 November) with Beth, Craig and Holly all due to be in attendance for the big announcement.