144 Cornwall Athletes Receive Support at GLL Sports Foundation Awards

Callywith College hosts second-largest GSF awards in the UK

An incredible 144 athletes from across Cornwall have received support from the GLL Sports Foundation (GSF), in what has become the second-largest GSF awards evening in the UK.

Held at Callywith College in Bodmin, the event saw sportsmen and women from 23 different disciplines receive funding and access to vital training and recovery services, worth a total of £92,150. More than half of the athletes are under 21, with 27% under 16, and 72% of them receive no other central funding. Eight percent of recipients live with disabilities.

Athletes from across Cornwall honoured

Among those collecting awards were some of the region’s top performers on the world stage:

• Naomi Hawkins, 15, from Devoran, European modern pentathlon gold medallist

• Pegleg Bennett, 55, from St Agnes, number one nationally ranked para surfer

• Andrew Byatt, 44, from Perranporth, world number one paddleboarder

• Samantha Day, 42, from Liskeard, number one nationally ranked ice swimmer

• Alis-Me Edwards, 15, from West Cornwall, number one nationally ranked surf skier

• Theresa Frost, 69, from Newquay, world number two triathlete

• Emilia Hogget-Crisp, 16, from Hayle, number one nationally ranked surf lifesaver

Now in its 17th year, the GSF has handed out over 30,000 awards across 117 different sports nationally, totalling more than £17 million in athlete support.

The Foundation provides financial bursaries, mental wellbeing and physical rehabilitation support, along with access to GLL’s 254 sport and leisure facilities nationwide. In Cornwall, GLL operates centres in Bude, Saltash, Liskeard, St Austell, Bodmin, Truro, Newquay, Helston and St Ives under the Better brand.

A story that made the room gasp

Naomi Hawkins drew a stunned reaction from the audience as she recalled a downhill cycling crash last year that dislocated her elbow and took her out of competition for five months. Because fencing is one of the five sports in modern pentathlon, she’s been learning to fence with her left hand instead of her right.

Having just turned fifteen, Naomi has qualified for championships in both Turkey and South Africa this year.

“Naomi is so resilient and driven,” said her mum, Claire Hawkins. “She trains every day and, despite having to learn to wield a sword with her left hand, took part in an adult fencing competition two weeks ago. She came thirteenth overall, which was amazing in the circumstances.

“The GSF funding really helps us as it means Naomi can do her swim training for free at Helston Sports Centre. Sport is her passion, and we want to support her all we can.”

An evening of inspiration

The awards evening opened with a welcome from Dr Jonathan Grey, principal of Callywith College, before GLL Regional Director Jamie Coleshill and local Head of Service James Curry introduced the athletes. The evening ended with talks from Paralympian and former GSF Ambassador Dave Wetherill, as well as discus champion Isaac Murray, GB para-athlete Logan Murray and Naomi Hawkins, who all shared insights into their sporting journeys with GLL General Manager Rob Francis.

Athletes also took part in breakout sessions on physiotherapy, strength and conditioning and mindfulness, led by Cornwall Physio, Callywith lecturer Julian Wills and Health and Fitness Hub Manager Rebecca Lilly.

“Last year we handed out 116 GSF awards in Cornwall and this year 144 sportsmen and women are benefiting from the help we can provide,” said James Curry. “I’m very proud that our area has the second largest number of beneficiaries in the country after Belfast and wish all our Cornwall-based athletes every success going forward. Their talent is extraordinary.”