Emily has London Olympics wind in her sails

3:55pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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BURY sailing star Emily Jackson is already dreaming of representing Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics after being handpicked by Lloyds TSB for their Local Heroes initiative.

The 16-year-old former Elton High pupil is one of 250 emerging Brits who will receive £1,000 each year in the run-up to London 2012 – plugging a financial gap as Jackson is yet to achieve world class lottery funding.

Jackson has already put the grant to good use, paying for travel costs as well as identifying a new boat that will play a major role in her bid to break in to the Team GB senior squad in the years to come.

And the Elton Sailing Club member is eyeing a big performance at this month’s National Championships in Weymouth as she continues her quest for success on the water.

“I’ll be competing at the National Championships in Weymouth and I’m determined to do well,” said Jackson – who will also be eligible for one-on-one mentoring from Lloyds ambassador and British Olympian Jonathan Edwards and Paralympic basketball ace Ade Adepitan.

“Hopefully I will come first or second and then we’ll just have to see about the overall rankings,” she added.

“If I do well there then hopefully I’ll be selected for the Team GB youth training squad and then I’ll be able to go on and compete in the European and World Championships.

“But before I do any of that I need to buy a suitable boat – so the Lloyds money is going to be vital for that. If we didn’t have the money it would have been a real struggle to buy it and it would have made it a lot harder to get into the GB squad.

“It would be great to speak to someone with Olympic experience because in the end that is what we all want to be part of so, if I could talk to someone who has been there and done it, then it would be a great help for me.”

Jackson – who will head to Holy Cross College in September – is used to donning the Team GB kit, having represented GB for three years at youth level.

And former Olympic and world champion Edwards, who still holds the triple jump world record, believes Jackson can go on to have a long and successful international career.

“There is a lot of money in sport now through the lottery but Emily is not quite good enough just yet to take advantage,” said Edwards.

“She still makes a huge commitment in time and money in order to do what she does and she doesn’t get a lot back. This relieves a bit of pressure and gives him a boost.

“Sport can be lonely so when someone comes along and believes in you enough to give you £1,000 it makes you realise you will make it after all.”

Lloyds TSB are providing up to £1,000 to 250 emerging young sportspeople identified each year across Britain, in the run up to London 2012 and beyond. Visit www.Lloydstsb.com/Local heroes