Junior Sportsmen

Up and coming local Junior Sportsmen talent ...

25 applications representing 14 different sports were been received for Grant Aid, Scholarships plus consideration for the 2019 Junior Sportsmen awards. These were reviewed by a independent panel of six judges and a selection of finalists invited to the Apollo Hotel Awards evening on Friday evening February 28th. The photos at the bottom of this page are just a selection of candidates and not relevant to any voting.

Harry Beveridge – Karate

In 2019, Harry Represented England in the WIKF Global Cup. Despite being the youngest team in Tanto Dori (knife defence), he achieved Silver in the 14-17 category, and then followed this up with Bronze in Team Fighting (14-15) only turning 14, 10 days before the competition.  In July, he achieved Silver in the English All Styles Nationals, narrowly missing the Gold in a tough field.

Robbie Brown – Kickboxing

Robbie has been a great influence in the club this year. He has trained hard and been successful in many National tournaments. Robbie trains regularly with both the kid’s and adults classes and this has given him good practice for the larger opponents he now has to face.  Achievements for 2019 include WAKO GB team member, Cimac Super league Grand Championx2, Cimac Super league Fighter of the year, European Junior cup. Gold and Hungary Team event, Gold.

Scott Campbell – Swimming

Scott lost most of the season to illness and injury but still managed to be ranked 2nd in county, 4th in region, 19th in England and 24th in Britain for 800FC. He was also 6th in county and 8th in region for 400IM, 3rd in county and 13th in region for 400FC, and 2nd in county and 18th in region for 200Fly.  Scott has acted as a positive role model to swimmers, not just in his squad, but across the club. He is always available to help other swimmers at meets and on poolside.

Hayden Corby – Taekwondo

Hayden was one of only two boys to be selected for the GB Development Squad for the third year running.  He was selected to represent Great Britain for the Junior European Championships and to go to Korea for a 10 day training map.  Other selections were to represent his country at various G1 (World Ranking) tournaments, and to train with the Senior Olympic Squad with a view to becoming a fulltime athlete in Manchester.

Charlie Coveney – Biathle/Biathlon and Triathle/Triathlon and Laser Run (Equal 3rd last year)

Charlie won the British Modern Triathlon Championships, the South East Biathlon Championships and the National Biathle Championships; he was 2nd in the British Schools Biathlon Championships, the British Laser Run Series Finals and the British Biathle Series. These podium positions earned him places in the GB Biathle, Triathle and Laser Run Teams, to compete in the World and European Championships.

Cameron Coveney – Biathle/Biathlon and Triathle/Triathlon (Equal 3rd last year)

Cameron achieved podium positions in all the qualifying events thus earning himself a place in the GB Triathle and Laser Run Teams, and was picked to go to America, Budapest and Germany for the World and European Championships. He also competed in his first England Athletics/senior level 10k road race, coming 5th in his age group with a time of 36.03.

Hayden Cummings – Tennis

Hayden won the 10 under National Grade 2 doubles at Bath and placed 7th at the 10 under National Grade 2 Singles also at Bath.  He was ranked in the Top 20 in GB and I at 10 under.  Hayden’s constant improvement has been recognised with Qualifying for National Events and being invited to train with Junior Elite Tennis in London by Alan Jones (coach to over 30 players who competed at Wimbledon) and former World number 5 Jo Durie.

Arne Esselmont – Cycling-BMX Racing

Arne, who is eleven, competes in 2 classes - BMX & BMX Cruiser. In 2019, he was a regular A Finalist in BMX Cruiser at the National Series, and took 2nd Place at the Manchester UCI World Cup BMX. Arne is ranked 7th in National Series 9-12, 2nd in South Region Series 9-12, and 1st Deep South Region Series U14. He was selected for the British Cycling Regional School for BMX Racing South as the youngest rider on the Program and also qualified for the UCI World BMX Championships 2020 Houston, USA to represent GB at 13-14 Cruiser Class.

Jay Fennell – Gymnastics Tumbling

Jay qualified for the British Gymnastics Competition in 2019 and achieved 2nd place at the England Tumbling Competition. He was selected to represent Great Britain in the 2019 World Championships and the England Tumbling Programme in 2020. Jay’s future ambitions include to succeed at the World Championships and to then progress from the England Squad to the National Squad during 2020 -2021.

Charlie Forster – Golf

Charlie had a successful 2019 becoming; County U16 Golf Champion, Runner up in County U18 Golf Championship, North Hants Junior Open Champion and Basingstoke Junior Club Champion. Charlie also plays football and this season his team, MFC Popley U16s, won the Hampshire Cup, East Berks League Cup and East Berks League. He has recently signed for Basingstoke U18.  Charlie also won a place to compete in the European Junior Amateur Championships in Spain and was selected for the England Regional U18 squad. Charlie has a handicap of 1.

Jack Hedderly – Athletics

2019 saw Jack improve his 1500m time by 23s, and 800m time by 18s. Jacks 5K run time has reduced to 19.59m – a reduction of 22s and he is his clubs U11 Record Holder for 1000m.  He attended Hampshire Training at Winchester College on his performance at Inter Schools, and received his Clubs ‘Most Improved Male Athletes Award’ and ‘Most Dedicated Male Athlete Award’ 2019. Jack was presented with 3rd place awards for the Hampshire Cross Country Team award and helped U15 boys win Alder Valley Plate for BMHAC. 

Luke Honeybun - Volleyball

Luke is a member of the England u17 indoor and beach volleyball team and Team Captain for South East England.  Achievements for 2019 include; U16 British Beach Volleyball Runner Up, playing in Denmark for England U17 in NEVZA indoor volleyball, U16 captain at Wessex Volleyball Club, playing in Sweden for England U17 in NEVZA beach volleyball and he was Runner up at both Inter regional beach volleyball championships and the U18 National competition at Nationals.

Joshua Kemp - Athletics

Joshua won bronze at U17 Boys 3000m at the Hampshire Championships, qualified for the National U17 Track and Field Championships at 1500m and represented Hampshire County and Hampshire Schools at 3000m. He was part of U17 Boys team who came 2nd in the Hampshire Cross Country League and represented Basingstoke Schools at Hampshire Schools Cross Country Champs.  He competed at 1500m, 800m and 400m in two leagues for U17 Boys and 3000m and 1500m for the Senior Team in Southern Athletics League.

Samuel Kemp – Athletics

Samuel won the 800m at Basingstoke & District Schools Athletics Champs and went on to represent Basingstoke in the 800m and 300m. In May he came third at the Green Park, Reading 3K road race, and in Cross Country, he scored two top 20 finishes in the Hampshire League and ran for BMHAC A-teams at both Wormword Scrubs and Mansfield in the cross country relays. Samuel also won the Basingstoke & District Schools Junior Boys Cross Country Champs, which sees him represent Basingstoke in January at the Hampshire Schools Champs in Southampton.

Sibi Kumara – Karate (Winner last year)

Sibi won 70% of his fights at the WIKF Global Cup and earned Gold and Bronze in 2 categories. In the Team Category final, Sibi faced the crucial fight without which the team would not have been crowned WIKF Global Champions. Sibi also managed to win the bronze medal in the open weight category against people as much as twice the weight as him and earned his senior 2nd Dan Black Belt in June 2019.

Nathan Lane – Swimming and Running

In 2019, having worked through swimming squads since the age of 9, Nathan finally met his goal of being selected to train with the Performance Squad. In athletics, Nathan was selected for the school’s athletics team and went on to qualify for the ESAA Schools English National Cross-Country Championship. Most recently he entered a qualifying biathlon event, achieving 2400 points, guaranteeing a place at the British Modern Biathlon Championship.

Kenoe Lewis – Athletics

Kenoe achieved 2nd in the 200m at the Hampshire Championships and at Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletics Club he is ranked the fastest u13 200m runner and high jumper. Kenoe always turns up to complete for his club and in as many events as he can. He always gives 100% and is a valued member of the team.

Travis Moore – Variations of Modern Pentathlon

Travis is a member of WWMPC. He holds 2 National titles: British Laser Run U11 boys Champion and British Modern Triathlon U11 boys Champion. In 2019, Travis represented GB as part of the Triathle and Laser Run team in European and World competitions. He also qualified for the South England Laser Run team but was unable to compete due to being only 9 in the U11 age category

Oli Morgan – Cross Country/Athletics

Oli was selected to represent Hampshire on several occasions over the cross country season. Once at the South of England championships and twice at national level (The UK championships and the English Schools’ Championships.) He and two of his club mates won the team gold medal at the Hampshire cross country championships in January. Oli also took part in the Destination Basingstoke 10k and came 2nd.

Stephan O’Loughnane – Athletics

Stefan had a successful year at both club and county level. A highlight was winning the Hampshire Schools 800m where he became Hampshire Champion and he also represented Hampshire in the South East Schools intercounty Championships. Stefan was bronze medallist in the Hampshire Championships for 800m and 4th for 400m. Over 2019 he managed to improve his 800m time by 9 seconds from 2018, with a seasons/personal best of 2.01.60.

Daniel Phillips – Cycling: Road and Cyclocross

Daniel came 8th in the European Youth Tour (road) which massively exceeded his goal of top 20 for 2019.  Daniels personal achievement was to be selected to ride for a professional team – Worx Factory Racing.  During the summer he did a 110k sponsored bike ride for ‘Ride for Charlie’, (Charlie was a cyclocross rider who died in his sleep) and also raised money for resurfacing the track at Welwyn Wheelers

Jack Seddon – Rugby

In 2019, Jack represented Hampshire in high jump at the County Athletics Championship where he came 3rd.  At school sport’s day his high jump set the highest school score since 1977 whilst in year 8 and he set a new 200m school sprint record in year 8. Jack was also named ‘player of the tour’ in Holland with Basingstoke Rugby Football Club.

Neil Shelar – Cricket

Neil is a member of Hampshire cricket U14 squad and Development Squad U14-16. In 2019 he started playing Adult Cricket for BNHCC 4th team and got promoted to the 3rd team by the end of the season which plays in Hampshire County Division 2.  At the end of the season he was awarded ‘player of the year’ in U13 and ‘best bowler’ in U15 category.  Neil also won best young player in Men’s cricket at Basingstoke & North Hants CC.  

Felix Smith – Gymnastics

Felix joined the Aerobic Gymnastics squad at BGC in June 2018. Since then he has progressed from Regional Level, National Level, FIG Elite, National Team member to International finalist/medallist in short space of time. He made his GBR debut at the Plovdiv Cup, Bulgaria where he achieved the bronze medal against some of the best gymnasts in the world.

Lucas Spiers – Karate

A major achievement for Lucas was taking gold in the WIKF global cup. He has now been crowned world champion twice and European champion once. He managed to medal in all open weight categories he entered; CEWKA INT (bronze in cadet 14-15’s and Open, mixed team-gold in junior 16-17’s mixed team), WIKF Global cup– (Gold in weight and junior 16-17’s - Bronze in open and team cadet), EKF’S   (Bronze ind and open – Gold in team),  WKU WSM (Team gold), UK OPEN (Team gold).