I was fortunate the receive a very generous funding from the Jack Bloor fund which I used in my recent triathlon event. It was the senior European Cup in Monte Gordo, Portugal. It was my first race back after several years with injuries, university and getting back to training so I was very surprised and pleased to come third!

The race was fast and fun – the swim was initially choppy with waves making it hard to sight well but I managed a good swim coming out 5th. We then had a fab pack of girls working on the bike, extending our lead to around 30 seconds before a fast 5k run.

My result from this race now qualifies me for World Cup level racing later in the season! This would not have been possible without the support and generosity from the Jack Bloor Fund and I am truly grateful.

I am writing to say thank you to the Jack Bloor Fund for helping me to attend the British Cycling Regional School of Racing for Mountain Biking, during January, February and March this year.

I was selected, along with about ten other girls to be part of this British Cycling training and development program and it was excellent! Not only was the physical training beneficial, but also I learned so much about race tactics, nutrition and bike handling skills relevant to racing Mountain Bikes in the British National Series and into European competitions.

The Regional School of Racing was held over three full weekends, firstly at Leeds Urban Bike Park, then The Forest of Dean and finally at Cannock Chase. I am really looking forward to racing my mountain bike in the British National Cross Country Series during 2026 and the experience of attending the Regional School of Racing has boosted my confidence and fitness too!

Without the generous support of The Jack Bloor Fund I wouldn’t have been able to accept my invitation to be part of this development program with British Cycling…so thank you so much! It was epic!

I thought the Youth World Championships in Arber, Germany was a great experience to be a part of to see all the other nations and compete against such high level and talented athletes.

 I thought I raced well in the first race and extremely well in my second until an unfortunate crash but it was a good learning experience about different conditions and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead and hoping to go again next year.

Thanks to the Jack Bloor Fund for helping me get there.

I am writing to say thank you so much to the Jack Bloor Fund for helping me to attend team training camp in Mallorca last week in preparation for my 2026 race season. 

The weather was perfect, which enabled me to get over 30 hours of miles on the bike…a training block that would have been difficult to achieve if I had to do it in the wet, freezing climate of Yorkshire! 

Additionally, being on the Mallorca camp had the benefit of allowing me to train with riders in my age category and of similar ability. I also managed to compete in a local road race whilst I was there as an added bonus!

I am looking forward to my 2026 race season, firstly in the British National Mountain Bike Cross Country Series and then, later in the year, the British National CycloCross Series and Cyclocross in Europe. I can approach the races with confidence, and in good physical shape as a result of my winter training, especially the Mallorca camp.

Without the support from the Jack Bloor Fund I wouldn’t have been able to fund this training opportunity. Thank you!

On Tuesday 9th December, I competed in the World Biathle championships final in Mossel Bay South Africa in a stacked 30 man field featuring Olympians, World and Junior Pentathlon champions and finalists. After a strong first run and a swift swim around a rough and bumpy course, I managed to finish the final run in 10th place in the world, a great start to the championships.

On Thursday 11th December, I competed in the Triathle finals in a field of 36 people, which incorporates shooting into the event. With my best shot yet at an event hitting 19/20 green lights, and again a very strong swim performance to overtake a few people, I managed to finish 10th in the world for my second ever time racing this discipline.

Finally, on Saturday 13th December, I competed in the laser run finals in a field of 37 athletes. After a strong first half I climbed into 8th place however sandy conditions on the run presented a challenge with my body and ankles suffering, finishing in 20th place overall.

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.