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Fund in memory of Newbury sportsman pays for new athletics kit





Ollie had won individual cross country medals at the Berkshire Schools Championships, Berkshire A.A Championships, Berks Bucks & Oxon Championships and was a regular member of the Berkshire team at the UK Inter Counties Championships.
The fund was set up in his memory in 2006 to offer help and support to young athletes within the club and to enable them to reach their full potential. The club helps to organise the annual Kintbury 5 in June to help raise money towards the fund.
Formal bursaries are available to support committed young athletes, particularly those at college or university, to help them pay for expenses they incur as a result of pursuing their athletic career. For example, this might include paying fees to join a university athletic club, or gym membership fees, or physiotherapy fees to treat an injury,etc.
The fund also purchases specific equipment for the young athletes. Some heavy hammers have just been purchased for the young throwers and six new vortex howlers have been purchased ready for outdoor junior training sessions. Among the athletes to have benefited from the trust include Marcus Bridger-Wilkinson, who received a bronze medal at the recent England Athletic U23 championship and competed in the recent Aviva Olympic Trials in Birmingham for the 1500m and Sophie Crumly competed in an international Biathlon in Monaco.
Some of the club throwers have also benefited, with U17 Ricky Doran ranked number five and brother Lee ranked 13th in the country for U20 discus throw. Without the fund, both boys say that it would not have been possible to fulfil their achievements. U15 Jamie Kuehnel has also benefited from support and is ranked number one in the country for his age group in the 4k hammer throw, and Derek Philbey U17 ranked eighth in the country, for shot putt, both of which have qualified along with other members of the club to compete for English Schools next month in Gateshead.
Juniors who compete for two seasons for the club qualify for a club tracksuit and they are also available to purchase for senior athletes.
Ollie Johnson is pictured (above) with his mother Lorraine.



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