Page 36 - link magazine
P. 36

Cheerleaders need funds for mats                       Stuart selected for GB judo squad












                                                             Swindon based Judoka Stuart   notice. I’m over the moon to be
           Swindon Lightning Cheerleading Club lacking cheer after funding for   Jackman has been selected as   officially fighting for Great Britain.”
           much needed equipment fell through                a member of the Great Britain   Stuart claims that ongoing
                                                             Special Needs Judo squad in   support from his sponsors has made
      Swindon Lightning Cheerleading   such as bag packing and cake sales   the heavyweight category after   a huge difference to his training
      Club are looking for sponsorship to   to help the athletes towards their   undergoing a trial period.  and confidence.
      help fund roll mats to support their   own competition kit and travel to   Stuart previously lost out to   He added: “Having weekly sessions
      growing team.               competitions, so they can benefit   fellow Brit James Pentland at   at Back2Fitness to work on injuries
        The competitive cheerleading club   from their hard work for the team,   the SN European Open Final in   and recovery has meant that I
      has grown so much in recent years   instead of it being spent on basic   Holland earlier in the year and as   have been able to focus on my
      that it needs to add more sessions   equipment.        a consequence had to settle for   performance and fight at my best.”
      to cover the demand for teams and   “Now that fundraising will need   silver. Stuart then bounced back   The next event is the British SN
      training and that means they need   to go towards the first five roll   to become the German SN Open   Open which is being held at Stoke
      more mats. They have even had to   mats and we will have to struggle   Champion and then took another   Mandeville Paralympic stadium and
      split training across two venues to   with limited mats, unless we can,   Gold at the Staffanstorp Open in   Stuart is now focusing on claiming
      suit participants and keep costs as   by a small miracle, raise the £8,000   Sweden.  the British SN title.
      low as possible.            needed to buy the actual 10 roll   He said: “I was so disappointed to   “I know that James Pentland, the
        The squad is looking to raise   mats that we need.   not win Gold at the Europeans but   current British Champion is also
      £8,000 for roll mats after being   “Our coaches, parents and athletes  it is all about how you deal with it   fighting at this event so beating
      lumbered with a huge bill for them   are so dedicated to cheer, and we   and I am really focused on winning   him is going to be at the forefront
      after Sport England funding fell   just really want to provide a quality   in Germany and Sweden. It all paid   of my mind.
      through.                    service!”                  off and I won fights against really   “We are both GB fighters but
        Millie Little, of Swindon Lightning,   For more information and to find   difficult opponents.  when it comes fighting each other
      said: “This season we were hoping   contact details visit the website at   “I hoped that by producing some   we are both hugely competitive, it
      to use our personal fundraising   www.swindonlightning.com great wins the selectors would take   will definitely be a fierce contest.”

















































      36   swindonlink.com n November 2015
   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41