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An aspiring teenage triathlete has secured a new two-year sponsorship deal so that he can compete off-Island.
14-year-old Jack Kennedy has got financial support from Stockbroking and Investment Management firm Ravenscroft for 2017 and 2018 and hopes to compete next season in the British Super Series at Youth level.
The teenager, who started doing triathlons when he was just eight-years-old, has competed in the British National Championship for the past two seasons. In 2015, he finished 28th in the UK and in 2016 had been hoping for a top 10 finish but cramp on transitioning from the bike to the run left him disappointed, and he eventually finished 28th.
Jack’s coach Nick Saunders said: “The British Super Series is six races over the course of the season and each competitor gets a score depending on where they finish and your best four scores determine your final placing.
“Although Jersey has two places open to them at these events, it depends on the results of a series of pre-season tests to ensure that the triathletes are capable enough to compete on the national scene which is restricted to the UK’s top triathletes. Jack is training hard and confident of securing one of those places.”
Mr Saunders said Jack was also planning to compete in Ireland having already attended a training camp with Triathlon Ireland’s Emerging Talent Programme.
He said: “He has done a number of the races on the Irish scene and we have kept in touch with Triathlon Ireland and they invited him to attend a training camp in September this year.
“The programme aims to provide coaching support to up and coming triathletes and they hold four camps a year and Jack has been lucky enough to be invited to another one in the New Year. Jack will also compete in the Irish National Championships in 2017.”
Beyond that, Jack is aiming to represent Jersey at the Island Games in Guernsey in 2021 and the Commonwealth Games in Durban in 2022.
Mr Saunders said the financial support from Ravenscroft will be used to ease the burden of extensive off-Island travel expenses and specialised training equipment.
He said: “The support from Ravenscroft will make a huge difference. Jack works so hard, training six days a week and making huge personal sacrifices and so it’s great that his commitment has been recognised by Ravenscroft. We’re very grateful to them and I know it will make Jack more determined to succeed.”
Ravenscroft is a big supporter of youth sport including sponsorship deals with Guernsey-born pro cyclist James McLaughlin and footballer Maya Le Tissier.
Haydn Taylor, MD of Ravenscroft’s Jersey business, said: “At Ravenscroft we are passionate about developing potential and feel it is only right to invest back into the Channel Islands’ community.
“We are particularly keen to support dedicated young sporting stars who are willing to make so many sacrifices to fulfil their dream and I have no doubt that Jack’s hard work will lead to success in the future.
“Jack hasn’t let the potential barriers of living on an Island stop him. He is determined to succeed and if Ravenscroft can help in a very small way then we are delighted to be able to do so.”
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