UK Athletics has today confirmed the 47 athletes who will receive lottery support on the World Class Podium and Development programmes for disability athletes.
A total of 23 athletes will benefit from the highest tier of support provided by the World Class Podium programme, and 24 take their places on the World Class Development plan.
With no major championships for disability athletes next year, the World IPC championships at Assen took on special meaning for the athletes who were performing not only for themselves, but also to secure competitive places at the Beijing Paralympic Games in 2008.
Tim Jones, UK Athletics Senior Performance Manager for disability said:
“It has been an encouraging year with several of our exciting young new talents bursting onto the world stage. The 27 medals we amassed at the World Championships in Assen was an excellent result from our last major competition before the Beijing Paralympics, and a reflection of the progress that we are now starting to make.
“To see teenagers like Libby and Ben coming through, David Weir having the season of his life, and the enthusiasm shown by the athletes towards our relay programme means I am confident that the support we are able to provide is being focussed correctly with Paralympic medals as the ultimate aim.
“2007 will be a particularly important training year where athletes will be able to make some significant strides forwards. By investing now in this group of 47 athletes, we believe we will be able to provide a real platform for success in Beijing and then London.
Podium Athletes
Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Clegg and Ben Rushgrove step up to Podium following excellent performances this year at the IPC World Championships in Assen. At the age of 16, Clegg is currently the youngest athlete to be funded by the World Class podium plan from either able-bodied or disability athletics, and the support is timely recognition following her silver medal over the T12 200m.
Rushgrove won Bronze in Assen over the T36 200m and was a prospective medallist in the 100m when he was unfortunate to be disqualified in the final after setting a new European Record in the early rounds.
Athletes:
Kenneth Churchill, 31, F37 Javelin
Danny Crates, 33T46 800m
David Gale, 38, F51 Discus
Daniel Greaves, 24, F44 Discus
Tanni Grey-Thompson, 37, T53 800m
Beverley Jones, 32, F37 Shot
Stephen Miller, 26, F32 Club
David Weir, 27, T54, 400m
Graeme Ballard, 27, T36 100m
Elizabeth Clegg, 16, T12 100m
Tracey Hinton, 36, T11 (T12) 800m
John McFall, 25, T42 100m
Kim Minett, 28, F40, Shot
Ben Rushgrove 18, T36 100m
Daniel West, 29, F34 Shot
Rochelle (Shelly) Woods, 20, T54 Marathon
Stephen Payton, 29, T38 400m
Hazel Simpson, 27, T36 200m
Michael Churm, 25, T37 100m
Sophie Hancock, 20, F40 Shot
Nathan Stephens, 18, F57 Shot
Lloyd Upsdell, 23, T35 100m
Claire Williams, 19, T12 Discus
Development Athletes
Seven athletes are promoted to World Class development funding including talented 17 year old T44 athlete Ian Jones who has literally burst onto the scene this year, taking 4th place over the 100m in his first major championship. Other athletes new on Development are: Robin Womack (F55 Shot), Dean Miller (T37 800m), Thomas Green (T32 Club), Jamie Harding (T37 Relay), Stephen Herbert (T37 Relay) and Karl Nicholson (T54 Relay).
Athletes:
Katherine Deal, 15, T13 400m
Katrina Hart, 16, T37 100m
Ian Jones, 17, T44 100m
Anne Wafula-Strike, 37, T54 100m
Richard Schabel, 48, F51 Discus
Robin Womack, 35, F55 Shot
Brian Alldis, 20, T54 1500m
Michael Bushell, 16, T53 100m
Matthew Cliff, 20, T12 400m
Martin Crutchley, 23, F38 Shot
Neil Fachie, 22, T13 100m
Lee Hunter, 20, T36 400m
Dean Miller, 17, T37 800m
Bernard Doolan , 24, F32 Shot
Thomas Green, 15, T32 Club
Jamie Harding, 16, T37 Relay
Stephen Herbert, 31, T37 Relay
Steven Leigh, 19, T38 400m
Kieron Murphy, 20, F32 Club
Karl Nicholson, 32, T54 Relay
Tushar Patel, 28, T54 Relay
Noel Thatcher, 40, T12 Marathon
Andrew Williams, 25, F32 Shot
Thomas Wilson, 19, T36 100m
