Collyer's talented athletes enjoy success
Collyer's students on the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) have recently been enjoying success on the international stage.
TASS is a Sport England funded partnership between talented athletes, educational institutions and the national governing bodies of sport.
Recent Collyer's success stories include Reka Kemecsei (squash), Asier Lopez Vicente (lifesaving), Georgia Stables (gymnastics), Stevie-Louise Williams (karate) and Ben Uff (swimming).
Reka Kemecsei has been competing at the British Junior Squash Championships U19s in Sheffield, where she finished third. She said: "I was really happy with my performance in this tournament and pleased that I managed to win the 3/4 playoff, especially after losing out in a close 3-2 in the semi's". Reka then finished second at the Swiss Junior Open U19s, before moving on to the US Junior Open U19s in Philadelphia, where she finished 11/12th out of 90. She added: "Overall, I'm happy with how I played this tournament and managed to finish in my seeding which was 9/16"
Asier Lopez Vicente competed at the IV Campeonato de España de Invierno Open, the lifesaving national championship in Galicia. He became Spanish champion in one event and then came 2nd and 3rd in two other events.
Meanwhile, gymnast Georgia Stables competed for England in the Northern Europeans in Leicester, where the team won the gold medal. She also came second in the bars final. Georgia has been a regular in the England squad this year, and is on the long list for the Commonwealth Games. Georgia said: "As a team we did really well to get the gold, and I’m also very pleased that I got the silver medal on bars individually".
Swimmer Ben Uff recently won the National Junior Finals in the 200 freestyle at the Short Course Winter Championships in Sheffield. Ben was delighted: "I did really well to be honest. It was a big two and a half second PB through the day, dropping one second in the heats and one a half in the finals." Ben's time of 1.48.34 ranks him third in the country for U17s.
Stevie-Louise Williams enjoyed success at WUKF (World Union of Karate-Do Federations) European Karate Championships in Riga, Latvia. She came third in the 18-20 years (Junior), third in the 21-35 years (senior) Team Sanbon, and second in the 21-35 years (senior) Team Rotation.
Collyer's Head of Sport Academy, John Burroughs was thrilled: "All with the Collyer's community could not be prouder of the exploits of these talented athletes on the international stage. They are outstanding competitors and role-models!"