This was my second international race after the European Age Group Championships in Istanbul a few months before.

Things definitely ramp up in World Championships from Europeans.

I was still 16 and racing everyone under 20. There literally seemed to be 100’s of Australians! In total there were just under 80 in my race.

The swim was in the harbour. Sea swim and salt water with big waves. On my 1st recce I saw sea urchins, pelicans and large fish which to be honest, sent me into a panic attack. This was all a first for me.

I worked really hard to overcome this with the help of a few others and over the next few days I got more confident, however I still hadn’t swum out of the harbour walls which I would have to do for my race. On the morning of the race, the water was too choppy out of the harbour so they changed the swim course. Same distance but more turns and remained inside the harbour. The swim started and there were so many of us I could not see a thing. All worries about what was under the water disappeared – there were just feet & arms everywhere!

My swim went really well, and my time was really good and I came out of the water in a good place.

The transition to bike went smoothly.

The bike course was good with a mixture of flat, hills and dead turns. I was in a good group round the first lap but then some competitors in my group crossed over right in front of me making me break just before a corner. I was then left off the back of the group. I caught the 2 who crossed over and left them behind but main group was too far ahead to catch. I was then on my own for the 2nd bike lap so without others to work with, I dropped further away from the group in front.

My 2nd transition went smoothly.

The run was hard. The heat at that time was in the 30’s. It was a very hilly course around the lighthouse which was really tough in the heat. There were lots of athletes around the course at the time doing their own races so it was really hard to see where I was in my race but I did overtake a few in my age group on the run.

I was also the 2nd Brit back in the under 20’s.

I want to say a big thank you to the Jack Bloor Fund, who without your support, I would not have been able to race. The experience and competition was nothing like I’ve ever come across before. I learnt a lot from this race and experience.

I would like to express my gratitude towards the Jack Bloor Fund for the help it has given me in receiving my Mountain Leader qualification by contributing to my Mountain Leader Training costs. For me this has been more than a qualification – it has been a life changing journey that has developed me personally and professionally and altered the course of my life. Along the way there have been amazing experiences in the mountains but also a constant element of risk for someone from a lower income background spending so much money and time working to get a qualification that doesn’t necessarily result in financial reward. Failure was not an option! 

My passion and love for the mountains have been the reason I managed to get here – I know that if I had the option I would spend nearly every day on the rocks or in the hills. I have explored so many locations, made some amazing friendships, developed as a person and a leader, and moved three hundred odd miles across the country to Aviemore where I’ve learned a lot about the mountains in all seasons and conditions.

I completed my training and assessments with Bryn Williams Mountaineering in North Wales – Bryn and Sam were really brilliant and supportive and I would not have gone with any other provider. 

I know that for me accessibility and inclusivity will always remain at the heart of my professional ethos no matter what direction I go in. I know that with this qualification I will be able to share my passion for mountain sports and being in the hills with people of all backgrounds. I particularly want to focus on bringing the things that I’ve learned in the hills to people who have faced barriers or disadvantages in life, and also on the further development of my mountaineering skills – and exploring the world! I’ve learned a lot, but there’s way more to find out. 

Thanks to the Jack Bloor Fund for helping me to have the opportunity to compete at the British selection races in Obertilliach, Austria. It was such a great experience to have under my belt, developing my understanding of the sport and improving my mental and physical toughness in racing. It was great to see and feel such a community presence from all different countries and feel included no matter what level you are it was a huge learning curve and I’m excited to hone in on this and learn as much as possible. 

Lucas is aiming to get selected for the 2026 Youth World Championships at the end of February in Germany, he has a few more races to reach the standard required for selection. This was Lucas’s first race experience.

This was my first YHJS tour and, in fact, my first time travelling abroad without my parents. We set off early in the morning and travelled to France through the Channel Tunnel, arriving at our accommodation in Fontainebleau in the evening.

The following week passed in a blur of forest training at a variety of locations, including Rocher des Sablons, Carte de Monastère, and Rocher de la Dame Jouanne. The terrain was lovely although in some of the forests there were lots of boulders which made navigation tricky. We also took part in several competitions, including the French Night Championships at Le Bell Trap (Nemours) and the French Sprint Championships at Cesson–Vert-Saint-Denis.

In addition to this, we learned how to review and evaluate our runs to see what went well and what could be improved. We also learned how to plan our own routes, which helped us become more confident and independent.

As well as orienteering, we had a day of climbing boulders in the forest and sightseeing in Fontainebleau. Overall, the trip really helped my independence and improved my orienteering, as well as being an amazing experience that I hope to have again next year.

Thanks to the Jack Bloor Fund for your support

Thank you so much for supporting me and helping me compete at the European and World Biathle Championships.

The European Championships in November were my first time representing Team GB, and the event took place in Alanya, Turkey. It felt amazing to put on my GB race suit for the very first time and race for my country in a sport that I love. The race was a 400m run, then a 100m open‑water swim in the sea, and then another 400m run. I was really proud to come home with three medals: a bronze in the U13 individual girls’ race, a team gold for the U13 girls, and a silver in the mixed relay.

In December, I was lucky enough to represent Team GB again at the World Biathle
Championships in Mossel Bay, South Africa. The course was really challenging, with soft dry sand to run on and strong currents in the sea swim. I finished 7th in the U13 girls’ individual race, won a team silver for the U13 girls, and came 7th again in the mixed relay.

Competing at these international events has taught me so much about racing, training, and believing in myself. I’m really grateful for the Jack Bloor Fund’s support, which helped me get to the start line and have these amazing experiences.
Thank you for helping me achieve my goals.

Senior European Cup Santa Cruz, Tenerife

I would like to extend a massive thank you to the Jack Bloor Fund for their support towards my Senior European Cup race in Santa Cruz, Tenerife. 

The Grant enabled me to represent Great Britain in this international race, as it went towards travel and accommodation expenses. 

Whilst I was disappointed with my overall result, I had a good swim and a strong bike which allowed me to come onto the run in the first group. This was only my second ever Senior European Cup race, so it was an invaluable experience for me to learn and grow in my journey to becoming a professional triathlete. 

This would not have been possible without the Jack Bloor Fund’s support, and I am incredibly grateful.

Lilly and Evie headed to South Africa for the World Championships in biathle and triathle. Both were at the younger end of their two year age group – just qualifying was an amazing achievement.

The course was tough – sand and a hill in the run section and rough sea for the swim, both tackled these multiple times during the race week! 

First up both had to take part in a biathle heat, both successfully qualified for the final. Both girls then took part in a mixed Biathle relay. Lilly and her partner came 5th and Evie with her partner came 6th. 

The second day was the biathle finals. both girls fought hard, Evie finished 13th and Lilly 12th. Evie was 4th Brit back so just missed out on a team medal. Lilly was 3rd Brit back so made the team and came home with a team silver!

The third day of competition saw Evie do a triathle heat, which she comfortably made the final in. Lilly had another relay this time for mixed triathle. Lilly and her partner finished a respectable 6th place.

The fourth and final day saw both girls compete in the triathle final. Evie finished 14th and Lilly 7th. Evie was 4th Brit back so once again just missed out on a team medal. Lilly was 3rd Brit back meaning another silver team medal.

Thanks again for all the support the girls received from Jack Bloor – it was massively appreciated.

I would like to thank the Jack Bloor Fund for their generous support, which enabled me to travel to Chile to compete in two World Cup triathlon races.

In the World Cup in San Pedro de La Paz, I had a strong swim and made it into a breakaway of four athletes. Working together, we were able to build a 75 second lead. Although I was disappointed not to run to my full potential, I was pleased to finish in 9th place.

Competing in my first season at this level, I am happy to have come away from Chile with two World Cup top-10 finishes. These achievements would not have been possible without the financial assistance provided by the Jack Bloor Fund, which contributed to my travel and accommodation costs and allowed me to gain vital experience on the world stage.

Thank you for the continued support.

I travelled out to Middelkerke in Belgium with the GB squad to represent Great Britain in the Junior category of the UEC Cyclocross European Championships.  This was a fantastic opportunity for me to ride in my first Cyclocross race abroad as a junior.  The racing was hard and fast on a different type of course than I am used to with lots of sand. Unfortunately, I crashed on the first corner leaving me in last position, I managed to fight my way back to finish in 32nd place overall out of 64 riders.  Not the result I was hoping for, but lots learnt and a great experience with lots of positives to take away.  Really looking forward to doing more racing in in Europe and hopefully improving with each race I do.

Thank you to the Jack Bloor fund for supporting me and helping make the trip possible.

Thank you for the generous contribution towards my European Cup Competition. 

This event was only my second ever senior European Cup, and it went well! I placed 37th in a strong field — a solid result to build on. The grant enabled me to take part in this international event by contributing to my travel expenses, accommodation and race entry fees. It has also allowed me to compete again on the international stage this weekend in Alanya, Turkey, at the final Senior European Cup of the year.

Events like these are crucial to my development as an athlete and to my goal of becoming a full-time elite triathlete.