With the 2012 London Olympics in mind, the Trustees of the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund decided last year to offer life-changing opportunities to a few selected young athletes and their coaches. The aim was to broaden their horizons by providing funding towards training, specialist coaching and competition which they would not otherwise be able to afford.

The following partnerships were selected for this project:

Perri Shakes-Drayton (19), Tower Hamlets & Victoria Park AC, together with her coach Chris Zah. Perri’s event is 400m Hurdles and she is in with a realistic chance of being selected for this event for Beijing. She has already been included as a possible for the 4 x 400m women’s relay.

Added to the group this year was promising sprinter, Leevan Yearwood (20), also from Tower Hamlets & Victoria Park AC and part of Chris Zah’s training squad. After a successful 2007 season, Leevan is fast closing in on our best seniors and has untapped potential.

Stephanie Twell (18), Aldershot Farnham & District AC, coached by Mick Woods at St Mary’s University. Stephanie, a double European Junior cross country champion, has also achieved the qualifying time for the 1500m event in Beijing and will be representing GB at this distance in the World Junior Championships 2008 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

P.B’s: 800m 2:06.15; 1500m 4:06.70; 3000m 8:53.34; 5000m 15:47.53

Chris Clarke (18), Milton Keynes AC, coached by Jim McKenna, is already the 400m Champion from the World Youth Championships 2007. He has been selected for the World Juniors in Poland, this time for the 200 metres having been denied gaining the qualifying time for 400m by the bad weather at our recent junior championships. However, he will be an important member of the 4 x 400m relay team.

P.B’s: 100m 10.45; 200m 20.87; 400m 46.70; 800m 1:58.97

Nathan Woodward (17) Tamworth AC, with his coach Matthew Hargreaves. He is the best Junior 400m Hurdler in the country and has been selected for this event at the World Juniors.

P.B’s: 400m Hurdles 51.50; 200m 22.70; 400m 48.10; 800m 1:52.7

The Trustees of RPMF are proud of the achievements of their selected talented group and wish them every success in their competitions in Poland and possibly Beijing later.