Sky Academy Sports Scholarships: Mentors back scheme at anniversary event

Last Thursday saw a year of the Sky Academy Sports Scholarships programme marked by an event at Sky Studios in London.

After what has been an eventful 12 months, a number of key figures within the scheme including head of the programme Tony Lester, the mentors and of course the Scholars themselves were present.

The day began with the Scholars undertaking a number of media commitments with the likes of Sam Oldham, Holly Bleasdale and Quillan Isidore appearing on Sky Sports News HQ to discuss their time with the programme so far.

The athletes were then treated to a talk from ‘Captured’ as the training notebook software, (created by Sir Clive Woodward) and how it could benefit them, was explained.

After a break for lunch, it was time for the main event, hosted by Game Changers presenter and mentor Di Dougherty.

With Olympic cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy in attendance, the event began with Siobhan-Marie O’Connor, Sam Oldham and former Scholar Jason Quigley taking to the stage and talking to Di about how the programme has helped them to achieve what they have since signing up last September.

Next up on stage were the Scholar and mentor pairings of Quillan Isidore and Darren Campbell and Elise Christie and Will Greenwood. Each duo explained how their particular mentor-mentee relationship worked and it was this aspect that another mentor, football reporter Geoff Shreeves, found particularly interesting.

“I thought it was really uplifting some of the tales today to see how they’ve helped and it was quite interesting to see the dynamic between some of the mentors and the athlete,” Shreeves said.

“My own relationship with Sam Oldham, we get on really well and can have a laugh, but then there are serious times as well - so that’s good. I think it’s a great scheme and when you look closer at it, the dynamic is even more interesting.”

Following a brief interval, Johnny Nelson, mentor to Jack Bateson and also the programme’s spokesperson, gave a talk on his journey to becoming the WBO cruiserweight champion and the obstacles he had overcome to reach that point - his own self-doubt being amongst them.

Speaking about the Scholarships programme afterwards he said: “Just listening to the athletes on stage, we know it’s benefitted them in many, many situations.

“Jason Quigley was talking about when he went over to America and he had to do press conferences and saw all the flashing lights, the TV cameras and the people around him and it reminded him of the things he’d done here to prepare him for that.

“Then we heard from the other athletes who talked about the financial help and how it made their lives that much easier and helped to get them the help they needed. I wish something like this was around when I was coming through, I probably wouldn’t have qualified, but these guys are in such an amazing position.”

The event continued with Sir Chris Hoy speaking to Di about his incredible career on the track and how it all began. Indeed, it is the journey rather than the outcome that Rugby World Cup winner and another mentor, Will Greenwood, felt was the most intriguing aspect.

“I think the whole idea behind the scheme is tremendous because occasionally you get some kids who come through and are world champion by the age of 17 and stay world champion for 35 years but it doesn’t tend to happen,” he explained.

“You usually have injuries, self-doubt, all sorts of things that can affect your performance and when you’re young and impressionable these things can affect you and how you approach the next six months, which is crucial at that stage of your career.

I think listening to the Scholars speak really does cement just how powerful this scheme is

“So to have the ability to call on people who have been there and gone through that, it’s not just about them having medals - actually the far more interesting story is what they did to get there.”

With a whole host of medals, it has been a successful first year for the Scholarships programme but, as Campbell was keen to point out, the impact of the scheme must be measured in more than just silverware.

“I think listening to the Scholars speak really does cement just how powerful this scheme is,” added the Olympic gold medallist.

“The difference it has made to their life, that’s why it is so powerful. Hopefully as mentors we do a little role and play our part, but ultimately it’s down to the Scholars to take all that on board and deliver. It’s fantastic to see the success that they’ve had over the last 12 months.”

The event was rounded off with the awarding of the Scholar of the Year award to Jack Bateson for his all-round engagement and desire to do all he could with the programme.