Boost for Boast

3:32pm Friday 9th January 2009

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Bedford and County and St Mary’s University athlete Suzi Boast from St Neots recently attended an Aviva sponsored training day hosted by her mentor Dame Kelly Holmes in her home town of Tonbridge. Suzi has been part of Holmes’ successful ‘On Camp with Kelly’ mentoring initiative, supported by Aviva, since early 2007. ‘On Camp with Kelly’ aims to help the next generation of British middle distance athletes to achieve their potential.

The get-together took place on Monday 22 December at the excellent sports facilities at Tonbridge School. The day was an important opportunity for the girls to catch up with Kelly herself, review their 2008 season and lay out their plans for the coming 2009 year with the help of their mentor.

They carried out a tough training session on the grass fields at the school, took part in media training and attended physio and massage appointments.

They also took part in a medical workshop with UK Athletics Medical Director Dr Paul Dijkstra who was part of Kelly’s support team during her athletics career.

Suzi, 18, has recently started a degree at St Marys University College in Twickenham and is being coached by UK Athletics Endurance Performance Coach Mick Woods, who has a great record of success with his athletes. Suzi is happy with her new coach and is really looking forward to 2009: “It was really nice to see the other girls again at the get-together and to get a bit of help from Kelly. I hope to have an awesome 2009 and try for the GB teams at the World Cross Country and the European Junior Championships over 1500m.”

Kelly was glad to see the rising star and has high hopes for Suzi in 2009: “I was very pleased to invite Suzi to the get-together in my home town. It is very important for me to catch up with her in person on a regular basis to see how things are going and how ‘On Camp with Kelly’ can assist in her athletic career.”