Entain Announces Class of 2021 SportsAid Recipients
Entain, the leading global sports betting and gaming entertainment group, is pleased to announce its support of 50 of the most talented young British athletes through its continued partnership with SportsAid, now entering its third year. The collaboration forms a keystone in the Entain Foundation’s Pitching In investment programme which is supporting and promoting grassroots initiatives at a time when sporting organisations continue to face unprecedented challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The partnership between SportsAid and Entain sees the athletes receive an annual award of £1,000 to contribute towards training and competition costs such as travel, accommodation, equipment and kit. The athletes supported by Entain in 2021 stretch across 24 sporting disciplines. They are among the country’s brightest prospects having been nominated to SportsAid by the national governing bodies of their respective sports.
Jette Nygaard- Andersen, Entain’s CEO, said:
“We are proud to be supporting the next generation of British sports-people through our ongoing partnership with SportsAid. The past year has been an especially challenging period for sports people who have had their ability to train and compete severely restricted, so we are pleased that the Entain Foundation’s funding of the programme is providing opportunities for the nation’s brightest sporting talent to realise their full potential.”
In addition to direct financial assistance, Entain also works with SportAid to provide the athletes with recognition and personal development opportunities. An integral aspect of the partnership is the delivery of workshops for the athletes, their parents and guardians, where they receive expert advice on a range of topics including nutrition, mental wellbeing and dealing with the media.
Notable awardees this year include archer Louisa Piper, slider Milly Kellyman, track and field stars Charles Dobson and Joel Clarke-Khan, para table tennis player Craig Allen, swimmer Charlotte Rigg, short-track speed skater Niall Treacy and wheelchair basketball talent Dylan Wade. A total of 14 athletes who received support in 2020 have been re-nominated and continue on the programme in 2021.
Tim Lawler, Chief Executive of SportsAid, said:
“Many of us hope and feel that better days are coming. Some may feel that life has been on hold somewhat over the past year or so; young sports people certainly feel this. Yet during such strange times, Entain and SportsAid haven’t stood still. Our partnership has adapted, evolved and innovated to be as vibrant and inspirational as ever. We’re delighted to be confirming this year’s cohort of athletes to be supported by the Entain Foundation and very proud to be a central pillar of the company’s Pitching In initiative, championing the heroes of community sport across the country.”
The Entain’s athlete intake for 2021 are:
Craig Allen, 26, Bromsgrove (Para Table Tennis)
- Alex Baker, 19, Loughborough (Rugby Union)
- Alice Barnsdale, 22, Market Rasen (Athletics)
- William Bell, 19, Loughborough (Swimming)
- Blake Bowman, 19, Derby (Basketball)
- Eloise Brindle, 18, High Wycombe (Rowing)
- Caitlin Burgess, 19, Berkeley (Equestrian)
- Corran Carrick-Anderson, 18, Peebles (Cycling)
- Joel Clarke-Khan, 21, Worcester (Athletics)
- Josh Cook, 20, Barnsley (Snowboarding)
- MelissaCoxon, 18, Sheffield (Athletics)
- Jacob Davies, 19, Wolverhampton (Swimming)
- Joseph Deighan, 18, Manchester (Swimming)
- Charles Dobson, 21, Harwich (Athletics)
- Maisie Elliott, 18, Lutterworth (Swimming)
- Cheyanne Evans-Gray, 22, Croydon (Athletics)
- Callum Hall, 28, Ilkley (Para Athletics)
- Marcus Harrison, 23, Liverpool (Disability Football)
- Ellie Heyes, 18, Manchester (Netball)
- Thomas Holmes, 18, Marlborough (Athletics)
- Heather Hughes, 20, Southport (Archery)
- Amelia Kellyman, 27, Trowbridge (Skeleton)
- Jasper Klein, 19, Cirencester (Skiing)
- George Liddard, 18, Billericay (Boxing)
- Owain Lloyd Hughes, 19, Swansea (Athletics)
- Matthew Mackay, 19, Rossendale (Athletics)
- Abigail Marshall, 18, Brackley (Wheelchair Fencing)
- Lucy Jane Matthews, 18, Salisbury (Athletics)
- Joshua McEntee, 28, Stockport (Goalball)
- Jonathan Moody, 22, Nottingham (Short-Track Speed Skating)
- Bethany Moule, 19, Aberavon (Athletics)
- Chukwuemeka Osammor, 19, Sheffield (Athletics)
- Tom Partington, 21, Headingley (Athletics)
- Ross Paterson, 22, Paisley (Para Athletics)
- Charlotte Payne, 19, Thatcham (Athletics)
- Louisa Piper, 18, Woking (Archery)
- Glen Quayle, 19, Loughborough (Athletics)
- Katie Radzik, 32, Ashford (Para Equestrian)
- Emma Rayner, 18, Bury (Netball)
- Charlotte Rigg, 18, Solihull (Swimming)
- Ethan Rose, 18, Aylesbury (Badminton)
- Harriet Sanderson, 18, Cheltenham (Netball)
- Georgina Tasker, 18, Mansfield (Rugby Union)
- Kirsty Taylor, 20, Caldicot (Para Athletics)
- Niall Treacy, 20, Stratford Upon Avon (Short-Track Speed Skating)
- Taia Tunstall, 19, Watford (Athletics)
- Dylan Wade, 19, Derry (Wheelchair Basketball)
- Jessica Webb, 23, Norwich (Disability Tennis)
- Luke Whitehouse, 18, Halifax (Gymnastics)
- Jessica Whyte, 22, Hyde (Wheelchair Basketball)
*Those athletes highlighted in italics were also supported by Entain in 2020
You can find out more about the Pitching In partnership between Entain and SportsAid by clicking here. https://entaingroup.com/entain-foundation/sportsaid-partnership/
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SportsAid | Tel: 07809 117 387 |
About the Entain Foundation
The Entain Foundation was established to coordinate and support Entain’s ESG and CSR initiatives, objectives and donations around the world. The Foundation’s efforts are focused on four key areas: Responsible gambling, sports integrity and gambling regulation research, education and treatment; Grass roots, women’s and disability sport; Men’s health, with a particular focus on mental health; and Projects with a clear link to the local community in Entain’s major office locations.
For more information see https://entaingroup.com/entain-foundation/
About Entain plc
Entain plc (LSE: ENT) is a FTSE100 company and is one of the world’s largest sports-betting and gaming groups, operating both online and in the retail sector. The Group owns a comprehensive portfolio of established brands; Sports Brands include bwin, Bet.pt, Coral, Crystalbet, Eurobet, Ladbrokes, Neds and Sportingbet; Gaming Brands include CasinoClub, Foxy Bingo, Gala, Gioco Digitale, Ninja Casino, Optibet, partypoker and PartyCasino. The Group owns proprietary technology across all its core product verticals and in addition to its B2C operations provides services to a number of third-party customers on a B2B basis. The Group has also entered into a joint-venture with MGM Resorts to capitalise on the sports betting and gaming opportunity in the US, through BetMGM. Entain provides the technology which powers BetMGM and exclusive games and products, specially developed at its in-house gaming studios. The Group is tax resident in the UK with licenses in a total of 27 regulated markets. Entain is a leader in ESG, a member of FTSE4Good, the DJSI and is AA rated by MSCI. The Group has set a science-based target, committing to be carbon net zero by 2035 and through the Entain Foundation supports a variety of initiatives, focusing on safer gambling, grassroots sport, diversity in technology and community projects.
For more information see the Group’s website: www.entaingroup.com