Schoolboy secures SportsAid sponsorship

Nathaniel Gordon receives his SportsAid award from Roger Allen, President of The Rotary Club of Poole Bay © Lis Gordon

Local schoolboy, Nathaniel Gordon, has been selected by The Rotary Club of Poole Bay to receive their support throughout the next 12 months. The support comes in the form of £500 sponsorship through SportsAid.

SportsAid, whose patron is Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, helps the sports stars of tomorrow, today, by giving them cash awards during the defining early years of their careers.

Roger Allen, President of The Rotary Club of Poole Bay, presented Nathaniel with his award at Parkstone Yacht Club and said: "As part of our commitment to our local community and in particular our support of talented, young sportsmen and women we are delighted to present Nathaniel with this SportsAid Award. This will help him meet essential costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment. We are also looking forward to seeing him progress in his chosen sport."

Nathaniel, a pupil at Bournemouth School, has been sailing since he was five and is an active member at Parkstone Yacht Club. His sailing progressed through to seeing him selected to sail the Topper dinghy in the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) South Zone Squad in 2010/2011 and again in 2011/2012.

In the autumn of 2012 Nathaniel joined the RYA Topper National squad which led him to compete in both the 2013 National Championships and 2013 World Championships where he finished 10th and 7th overall respectively.

Following the continued progression growth in his sailing Nathaniel moved up from single handed sailing to partner up in the 29er racing dinghy. This fast, double-handed, trapeze dinghy is one of the RYA youth pathway boats for aspiring sailors which can lead to the Olympic class dinghies. After completing his GCSEs this month, Nathaniel plans to travel to Kiel, Germany for the 29er European Championships and then to Scotland in August for the 2014 29er National Championships.

Commenting on his recent support Nathaniel said: "Due to this sponsorship I will now be able to go to more overseas events that were not previously open to me and my helm. This international experience, gained through the help and support of the Poole Bay Rotary Club, will stand me in good stead for an Olympic campaign in a few years time. I am also proud to be part of the SportsAid programme and feel motivated by their recognition of me as an athlete of the future."

For more information see www.sportsaid.org.uk