178 Cornwall athletes share £122,640 in sport funding

A long jumper heading to the Commonwealth Games. A 12 year old ranked second in the country. A world champion paddleboarder. They were all in one room in Bodmin, and all of them just picked up a share of the same funding pot.

Where the £122,640 went

The GLL Sport Foundation (GSF) has awarded funding worth £122,640 to 178 athletes across Cornwall. Presentations took place at Callywith College in Bodmin.

The list of names spanned ages, sports and every corner of the county. Long jumper Samuel Jose, 24, from Newquay, has just been selected for this year’s Commonwealth Games. Surf life-saver Isabelle Headleand, 12, also from Newquay, is ranked second nationally in her age group. Swimmer Millie Wood, 14, from Newquay, is ranked sixth in hers.

Liskeard ice swimmer Samantha Day is ranked first in the country. World champion paddleboarder Andrew Byatt travelled from Perranporth. Those five were a snapshot of a much bigger group.

An evening that started with judo and climbing

Before the awards, guests took part in three workshops.

The first was a judo demonstration by current World Cornish Wrestling Champion Michael Edwards and his brother Christopher. The second was a film featuring sibling climbers Seren and Bodhi Wills, from Saltash. The third was a wellness masterclass led by Neil Clark from Switch The Play Foundation.

Callywith College students helped run the evening. Allyn Jefferies, Assistant Principal, welcomed everyone to the venue.

Cornwall has the UK’s second largest group of GSF athletes

GLL runs nine leisure centres in Cornwall on behalf of the council under its Better brand. Guests included council leader Councillor Leigh Frost, Deputy Mayor of Bodmin Councillor Pete Skea, Chairman of Cornwall Council Councillor Rob Nolan, leisure service manager Heath Brandwood and Clare Simpson, Strategic Director for Community Wellbeing.

Karen Edmond, GLL Community Sport Manager and the event’s organiser, said Cornwall punches above its weight.

“It was wonderful to see so many athletes and their families,” Karen said. “Cornwall has the second largest number of GSF athletes in the UK and it’s amazing to hear about their achievements.

“Competitive sport is expensive and opening up training membership for all athletes to more than 250 Better leisure centres throughout the UK is a vital part of the support package provided.”

£19.5m and 162 medals in 18 years

Tony Wallace, GLL Regional Director and head of GSF, opened proceedings with a look back at the foundation’s record. Since launching 18 years ago it has awarded 34,210 athletes more than £19.5m in funding and practical support.

“Backed by our sponsors, we are able to help athletes achieve their potential in 121 sports and in 83 areas of the UK,” Tony said. “63% of them are aged under 21, 8% live with disabilities, 31% are from ethnic minority backgrounds and 87% get no other funding.

“We’re proud that GSF athletes have won 162 Olympic and Paralympic medals between them and look forward to more successes at every level in the years to come.”

The presentations were followed by a question-and-answer session with Paralympian and world record holder Dave Wetherill, gold medal winning surf life-saver Paula Bright, and mother and son triathletes Anna and Lachlan Cullen.

Applications for the 2027 GSF awards open on 20 December 2026.