A young paddler from Stafford and Stone Canoe Club will get a new kayak thanks to a grant from the Arts & Sports Trust.
Top prospect Paul Sunderland, who came fourth in the 2014 Youth Olympics, competed in many international and UK slaloms last year, as well as finishing college and gaining a place at Derby University.
Sadly, on a return flight from an event in Poland last year, his kayak was badly damaged. The application was made by the canoe club on Paul’s behalf.
[box type=”shadow” ]Deborah Homer from the club said: “We were only too happy to support Paul with his grant application. Paul has been with the club for many years and we have seen him grow into an outstanding paddler and athlete. This grant will enable Paul to purchase the new boat and equipment he needs.”[/box]
An Arts & Sports Trust spokesman added: “The Arts and Sports Trust is a charity that supports young people up to the age of 18 by helping them to achieve their dreams of a career in arts or sports. We know how expensive it can be to obtain the high quality of training, equipment and experience required to reach the very top of their chosen career. This grant has been awarded to help Paul to realise that dream.”
As a member of British Canoeing’s England Performance Squad Paul is well into his winter training and looking forward to the 2016 season as an under-23. Paul’s future aims are to secure a place on the Canoe Slalom U23/Senior Team, to qualify for the Olympics and to achieve a 1st class degree in product design.
