Leighton Park student wins one of five prestigious UK sports scholarships

A Leighton Park student, who is the current U16 1000m kayak UK champion and on the GB Olympic pathway, has been awarded a prestigious Squadkit Scholarship for her amazing achievements in kayaking.

Olympic gold medallist and GB Hockey team member Kate Richardson-Walsh came to Leighton Park to present Kate with her award. She graciously took the time to deliver a seminar to students in Leighton Park’s Advanced Performer Programme and ran a hockey masterclass with some of the school’s top hockey players.

Kate applied for the Squadkit Scholarship along with several other elite athletes on Leighton Park’s Advanced Performer Programme. Kate is one of only five students in the country to be granted one. Squadkit is committed to supporting the next generation in sports, and the sponsorship goes a long way to helping Kate achieve her goals and get ever closer towards her Olympic aspirations, providing tangible support that also motivates and engages students and their peers.

Kate said:

‘I feel so honoured to have received this award and am so excited to see the opportunities this will open for me. I’m so thankful to Squadkit.’

Leighton Park’s Director of Sport, Jeremy Belas, said:

‘We are very proud of Kate and her achievements in kayaking. She is a thoroughly deserved winner of the Squadkit scholarship and will put the money to good use on her journey to greatness in her sport. This is a big positive for the school, sport and the Advanced Performer Programme and all the students involved in the sessions with Kate Richardson-Walsh have had a truly inspirational experience.’

Kate Richardson-Walsh, Squadkit Performance Director said: ‘It’s great to see Squadkit support young athletes with the Squadkit Scholarship at the time when they need it the most. I feel lucky to be able to visit schools across the country as Squadkit Performance Director hoping to inspire the next generation and always come away inspired by the young people I meet, who, like Kate, have so much passion and dedication for their sport. I wish Kate every success in achieving her goals and look forward to following her sporting progress.

‘It was my honour and pleasure to present Kate with one of the Squadkit Scholarships. With only five scholarships awarded each year, this represents the enormity of Kate’s achievements to date. Kate is dedicating her life to being the best kayaker she can be whilst juggling her academic life alongside. Representing her country at junior levels, her progress to seniors is both steady and assured. We all look forward to supporting Kate in any way we can.’