Member Article

Women’s Spring Lunch – County Durham Talent

County Durham Community Foundation’s ‘Women’s Spring Lunch’ saw 10 young sporting athletes from County Durham come together to celebrate their success at Ramside Hall.

The annual event hosted by Caroline Theobald, saw 180 guests attend which included business women, groups of friends and other individuals enjoy good food and enjoy an ‘In Conversation with’ three of the young athletes to hear about their inspiring stories in sport. Georgia O Connor, Boxer who won gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Tia Anderson, England National Champion over 300m and Lauren Irwin, rower who is a current Great Britain International.

Michelle Cooper Chief Executive of County Durham Community Foundation said “ It was great to see so many women come together to celebrate the achievements of the talented individuals from the region and to hear how the funding has not only made a different to their lives but to the wider community, including their local gyms who have been able to afford better equipment which enables more people to benefit and more people can get into the sport.“

The athletes who have all been supported by the Foundation also included Layla Bell an athlete Last summer was selected to represent Great Britain at the world catholic games, Lucy Erin Hunter- a silver medalist for North East 1500m 2 years in a row, Kari Elizabeth Dougall who is a Member of GB emerging talent squad and the Senior England Pistol Shooting Academy, Simone Abley, who is 6 times British National champion in Taekwondo , Eve Larsen – rower who has represented the North of England in regional trials, Abbi Wheatley, golfer, who had success in 2015 and 2017 in The Race to Rockcliffe where she won the girls best net order of merit and Isabell Garnham who placed 4th in her age group at the British Championships trampolining.

County Durham Community Foundation has been holding the women’s lunch annually for nine years in order to promote their work and encourage more individuals and businesses to get involved to help local people give back to their local community.

The event was generously supported by Haines Watts, Taylor Packaging and Handelsbanken.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by County Durham Community Foundation .