Jess Leyden scoops £2,000 award from Jaguar

Jess Leyden

Jess Leyden, 18, has scooped one of 50 top athletes awards of £2,000 after medal-laden years with Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club and the GB Rowing Team.

Jess’ award was presented by Sir Chris Hoy as part of Dame Kelly Holmes Sports Academy - this will form part of an exciting year of events promoted by Jaguar and Sports Aid.

Jess said: "The money will certainly relieve the financial pressure of competing and will help put me on track to get to the top of my game, which is hopefully going to be competing in the Olympics some day."

Jess first entered the sport as an 11-year-old, after a visit to her school from British Rowing’s Project Oarsome.

She went on to claim a J14 1x gold medal at the 2009 National Championships, and has since won numourous gold medals in regional and national competition – as well as representing Great Britain at the World Rowing Juniors Championships ifor the past two years. She recently won two golds representing GB at the Munich International Regatta.