Our Champions
Each year from 2012, we have celebrated our Go for Gold programme with bursaries to help aspiring athletes achieve success in their chosen sports – the last couple of years have been difficult with lockdowns and event cancellations (as are described in these biographies) but our current ‘champions’ from the past couple of years are highlighted below.
Our Go for Gold programme is dependent upon funds raised mainly from the Godalming Run and hopefully this will take place on May 22nd 2022 and bursaries will be available again in 2023.
For more details see our contact us page on the site.
TILLY BROWN – DIVING
I started diving when I was 6 years old at Star Diving Club, Guildford. My brother and sister were diving, and I was desperate to start. During this time, I had great success finishing in 2nd Place at the Talent Games in 2014; 1st in National Skills in 2014; 2nd in National Age Groups 2015; 4th in 1m Junior Elites 2016; 3rd Platform in Junior Elites 2017. I moved to Southampton Diving Academy when I was 12 years old, as I needed better training facilities. I travel down to Southampton 4 times a week for training. I started my A Levels at Godalming College in September 2021.
I was selected to represent GB for a couple of international competitions in early 2020, but sadly both were cancelled due to Covid. During the first Lockdown, all pools were closed. Training was purely from home virtually. In the second lockdown in early 2021 I was lucky enough to be selected by British Diving to train once a week at the Aquatic Centre in Stratford, London.
My first international competition was European Junior Diving Championship 2021 in Croatia representing GB. It was an amazing experience, and I came 2nd in Girls B (14-15yrs) 1m springboard; 3rd in Girls B 3m springboard and 5th in Girls A/B Synchro 3m, with Evie Smith from Crystal Palace Diving Club.
No spectators were allowed even though the pool was outside in the most stunning location backing onto the beach. There was one other competition in 2021, British Elite Junior Diving Championships 2021 in October. I came 2nd in Girls B 3m Springboard and 3rd in Girls B 1m springboard and 2nd in 14-19 Girls 3m springboard.
Following Junior Europeans, I was selected for Junior Worlds in December 2021 in Kiev, Ukraine. Sadly, however GB pulled out of this competition days before we were due to leave.
My next competition is in Plymouth 11-13th February, British National Diving Cup 2022. This is a Seniors competition. I will be competing on 1 and 3m springboard and 3m synchro.
PAUL SEYMOUR – TRIATHLETE
ETU European Triathlon Championships 2021 (24th to 27th September)
After a difficult 2020, the far-reaching impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and all racing being cancelled, in 2021 we finally got the green light to get back to racing, for me this meant representing GB in the age-group European triathlon championships.
With my bags packed, off I went to Valencia
With an incredible atmosphere and buzz around the venue (La Marina De Valencia), 1st stop was race registration and race pack pickup.
With registration complete, a negative covid test and my bike rebuilt (after a nervous flight wondering whether it would tun up in one piece!), all that was left to do was go exploring and soak up the atmosphere. Having swum in cold lakes, rivers, reservoirs in the UK, the warm water of Valencia Marina was a welcome sight!
I’d seen the famous ‘blue carpet’ many times on TV but finally got to see it in person. This would be the end of the race but also my journey from starting triathlons through to qualifying for the GB team.
After a relaxing day of exploring, soaking up the sun and enjoying the atmosphere (oh and a quick bike ride and run) ‘race’ day started to loom! Body transfers applied, kit sorted, porridge in the fridge, it was time for bed and a 5am alarm.
Race Day! With a mix of nervous energy and excitement it was off to the race start to rack my bike, setup my equipment and stand in a typically long line for the toilettes
After standing & staring at my bike and kit, checking it was all there & setup correctly, the call came in to go to the start line.
As with any race, after the swim start, the nerves disappear and are replaced by adrenaline and excitement as the chaos of the swim ensues.
The race was on…. 3rd fastest swim in my age group and everything was going well and to plan. Next up, the bike leg…
With the bike course being around the streets of Valencia and the marina, the shouting and cheering of spectators was incredible and one not easy to forget. As the sun blazed down and temperatures rose into the high twenties, the final run leg was all that was left between me and the blue carpet/finish line.
Hot, exhausted, buzzing, disappointed (that the race & experience was over), the only thing left to do was enjoy that cold beer that I’d been thinking about on the last few miles of the run!
Thanks Valencia it was a blast and loved every minute but also thank you Sport Godalming for their support.
Next stop, the world championships in Abu Dhabi 2022 ?
ALEX CANT – LACROSSE
The following is from Alex’s application to Sport Godalming in February 2020.
This year I hope to be selected into the senior England B team for home internationals as I have been invited to train alongside the senior squad in preparation. Training alongside them will be such a great experience as it will me to develop my skills and experience as a player, playing alongside those who I have always aspired to be like. Later this year I hope to be selected for the u23 England games against Japan and visiting NCAA American teams which will be a fun experience to play against the touring teams. I also am hoping to be selected for the u23 tour to Poland and play in the tournament hosted alongside the senior England men’s Euros.
Looking further ahead, I hope to continue playing for England in the u23 squad and be selected for future matches and tours for the squad. Then I hope to progress into the senior England squad and follow in the footsteps on my school coaches who play senior England and are great role models. In the senior squad, I hope to represent England in a lacrosse World Cup which has always been my goal and since be selected as a reserve for the u19 world cup it has made me even more determined to work harder towards achieving it.
(Alex was captain of St Catherine’s School firsts and plays her club lacrosse with the Centaurs Lacrosse)
Update – November 2021
After taking the year off last year due to mental health reasons I am now back training and playing again. I re-trialled for the U23 England Lacrosse team and was happy to have been selected for this season. I hope to travel with the squad to play in the festival which runs alongside the Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in the USA next summer. I have also started at the University of Nottingham and have made the 1st team and we hope to do well in BUCS this year.
HELEN McCLURE – TRIATHLON
Triathlon is a tough sport. Not only do you have to work out how to divide your training time between swimming, cycling and running, but there is a fourth discipline – the transition. Races can be won and lost just moving from one discipline to another. And then there’s the nutrition plan to work out. There aren’t many sports where you eat and drink en route. I love the strategic element of plotting where to divide my energy, but it’s tough.
I’ve always taken part in endurance sports, but I didn’t try my hand at triathlon until 2013 when I was living in Dubai. I moved to Singapore and took part in the elite wave, before moving back to the UK and qualifying for the GB age-group team. It’s great to prove that age isn’t a barrier and I’d love to inspire anyone to be more active, whether it’s taking a walk, a jog or a cycle.
I was due to take part in the World Championships in Canada in August, but Covid-19 had other ideas, so it has been postponed until August 2021, all being well. Sport Godalming has been really supportive, enabling me to upgrade my indoor training equipment, which has been invaluable during lockdown.
I’m hoping next year’s races take place as planned, so I have the opportunity to qualify for the 2022 GB team. The 2022 World Championships will be held in the UAE. There’s a nice symmetry, returning the place where it all began.
Update – September 2021
It’s been another really strange season. A lot of races have been moved around, and the weather has been pretty dodgy. The World Championships in Canada were cancelled again. My place has been rolled over, and the World Champs will be in Abu Dhabi in November 2022.
I’ve taken part in a few races, but it hasn’t been the best season. I had a flying start with a PB at the Dartford Triathlon in June, but in July I headed to Newcastle Upon Tyne, and although the prep and weather were near perfect, a stomach bug stopped my charge during the ride. Note to self: don’t have a smoked salmon sandwich before a race! I did finish but 20 minutes outside my target. The London Triathlon was fun, although the weather was foul. Really strong rain and wind. I was two minutes outside my target but still made improvements on last time and finished in 2hr 40 (usual format of 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run).
I have my final race of the season this weekend, which is a duathlon at Hever Castle (10km run, 40km bike, 5km run), but I’ve got a stinking cold at the moment, so the jury is out on how it will go.
Some further updates – March 2022
Helen tells us that she has been doing Ballet classes as she finds the stretching and strength element very useful. Her coach is working her hard! She qualified for the world duathlon championships, which take place in Romania in June, so is building up to that. Hopefully, given it’s location, there’s a chance it may not go ahead… but she is still hoping to go to the triathlon World Championships in Abu Dhabi in November, and has a number of qualifier races to get her onto next year’s team.
CHRIS CARSON – KAYAKING
Thankfully I have carried on training as normal, lockdown was a hard experience for an athlete as everything you have been working towards was taken away from you. I found this time important in so many ways, it was time to work on new things and with everything being shut down it gave actually you the time to work on new things and it also showed me how much I love what I do. It made me appreciate the competition and the training partners and groups.
Having no community was hard, but I found a sense of solidarity in what I did. I found you had two options as an athlete, stop and be frustrated or use this time wisely. I chose to work on all the parts of my body and mind that needed work. I now look forward to the winter of 2020 and the competition season of 2021.
The ongoing support of Sport Godalming and their ‘Go for Gold’ fund has really helped me this year and has really set me up for the 2021 racing season. Without their support I would find myself struggling to pay for entries to races and replacing of my equipment.
Update – September 2021
This past summer of racing and training has been truly amazing, early on in the season I was selected to compete at the world ocean racing championships in Spain however, GBR decided not to take a team. Thankfully later on in August I went to the European Championships in Cherbourg, France where I managed a 14th place in the U23 men. For a new sport away from my old self in sprint kayak racing I am truly happy with this result as there is much to learn and do in the coming years.
Other than this, domestically I trained as normal and have competed at the Sprint and Marathon Kayak racing national championships and followed the GBR Ocean racing circuit around the country.
I missed out on selection for the marathon k2 world championships but there is hope for next year as we were placed 2nd in senior men.
I have recently just started at the university of Surrey on a MSc in social psychology and am carrying on my work at Surrey youth focus.
All in all, I hope this gives you a good idea of what the last few months have entailed for me.
Update – February 2022
Last year saw many changes – new university life – new sports and new opportunities.
In the summer of 2020 I was introduced to SURFSKI paddling, which involves taking our kayaks (slightly different kayaks) onto the ocean to harness the wind and waves.
This is quite different from the days of a regatta course and going up and down in straight lines. However, I found all these skills from the past seven years of paddling totally transferable.
In 2021 I raced at all the national events gaining a No.2 ranked spot in senior men. From this I managed to get selected for the world and European championships. Sadly the worlds did not take pace for Great Britain due to COVID restrictions, however, I did make my way to Cherbourg in France in August to compete at the Euros. In this I ranked 14th for Under 23 men. Later on in the year I took on the International field of the Euro challenge SURFSKI race to be ranked 17th in the senior men category against the current European champion. I genuinely feel like I have found my calling in my sport.
In addition to the SURFSKI paddling I did compete at the national marathon championships where I ranked 6th, sadly I tripped on the last portage of 4 and broke a rudder. This took me out of contention of a top three spot for senior men which I was close to getting on this final portage. I leant from this race and look forward to racing again in 2022.
Personally I have now completed my undergraduate degree and have taken on a masters in social psychology at the university of Surrey.
YASMINA HASAN – BOWLS
Yasmina (Yaz) Hasan is well known to Sport Godalming having picked up numerous awards at our sports awards over the years.
She has moved to a new club in Egham, but her dedication and talent has resulted in much success as a bowler, and she was selected for England under18s Youth Academy! Having won her county badge at the tender age of 18, she currently bowls for Surrey.
This year, Yaz qualified for the National Finals at Leamington in the Junior Singles, Junior Pairs and also for the Johns Trophy.
Yaz has been bowling for 10 years, dispelling the myth that this sport is for ‘old people’.
Sport Godalming first met her at the Godalming & Farncombe Bowls Club and her continued involvement in the sport shows the addictive quality of this great sport and why others should come and try this game.
Update – October 2021
We are indebted to Yaz’s father Min for keeping us posted on her activities – he tells us that the five month 2021 season (April thru’ September) saw her spend over 238 hours on the ‘green’ involving 2,235 ends… she won the Surrey Ladies Junior Singles Championship and the Pairs, the NWS Ladies Singles Championships and the Pairs and the Triples – in her club, the Outdoors Club Ladies Two-Wood Championships and the handicap singles and Pairs… along with a string of finals.
Yasmina was selected to represent Surrey in the highly prestigious Johns trophy at Lemington in the National Finals. In a highly competitive final, which could have gone either way, they just lost to Devon by two shots – Yasmina was truly honoured to be part of such a strong team.
Some further updates…
August 2021 – Chelsea Brady and I reached the National Semi-Finals of the National u25 Women’s Junior Pairs, losing to the eventual champions.
September 2021 – Winner of North-West Surrey Women’s Championship along with 3 club championships. Outdoors season finished
October 2021 – Indoors season starts; trialled and selected for the Surrey ‘Atherley Trophy’ squad – a National Inter-County Competition.
November 2021 – selected for the ‘Egham Trophy’ squad and the ‘Yetton Trophy’ squad, both for Egham; Surrey Advertiser Article.
December 2021 – Trialled and selected as a Non-Travelling Reserve for the Under 26s Women’s International Squad in the British Isles Indoors Bowls Council Series (due to play mid-February, postponed to October 2022 due to COVID).
November ’21-March ’22 – played and won 4 rounds of the EIBA National Women’s Singles Championship, beating a current international 21-20 along the way. Qualified into the area finals.
March ’22 – Lost to Chrissie Davies in a very tight match, who is now playing in the Nationals in this and the Over 60s Championship.
Furthermore, I am now half-way through my second semester of my first year of my Law degree at University of Surrey; although it is very tough work, I am thoroughly enjoying it.
TOBY ROBERTS – CLIMBING
Toby (16) was part of GB Climbing’s World Youth Championships in Voronezh, Russia last month. Toby finished 2nd in Youth ‘A’ Combined (age group) and was previously European Youth Boulder Champion in 2019. Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – Toby is on course to be a big hope for Team GB.
2020 obviously did not go as planned with the competition season cancelled, but I changed my goals and now feel like it has been a really productive year.
During lockdown I built a home climbing wall (with support from ‘Go for Gold’). This has been so useful with access to training facilities restricted, without it I would not have been able to sustain my climbing specific fitness levels. So, it was a very well received contribution that was put to good use.
This also enabled me to train for a hard outdoor climbing project at Malham Cove. The route is called Rainshadow (graded 9a) and by climbing it I became the youngest Brit to ever climb this grade by 2 years.
Physically I feel in good shape after a year of training with few interruptions so I am really looking forward to 2021 when hopefully there will be a full competition season. My goal for 2021 will be a strong performance at the Youth World Championships which are due to take place in Voronezh, Russia from the 21st to the 31st August.
Longer term as well as trying to climb hard outdoor routes I am absolutely focused on trying to qualify and then compete at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
So that means training hard, good competition results and progressing to the level required to make that a reality.
Update – October 2021
2021 has been a really tough year that from a competition perspective has ended really well with a Silver medal at the Youth World Championships in Voronezh, Russia.
It was the only competition that GB Climbing were able to attend this year due to Covid restrictions and it definitely made everything harder without having any preparation competitions.
It’s also a really important year as I hope to be selected for the Senior team in 2022 – which is an essential part of being able to attend important events like World Cups. These all lead to the World Championships in 2023 which is the main pathway to Olympic qualification.
I knew that a good performance in Russia could only help my chances so there was definitely a lot of Covid related pressure that didn’t exist previously.
Next year I compete in the same category at the Youth World Championships (they are 2-year age groups and this year I was in the ‘younger half’) – so I’d love to try and go one better next year!
If all goes to plan in 2022 it will be a season where I can gain valuable experience competing as a senior, whilst hopefully being very competitive as a junior.
