Laura Tomlinson meets next generation talent

Through their involvement with the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport programme, the 15 year olds spent the morning being put through their paces in the manége and receiving advice from Laura to help them both progress into the next level of competition in 2016.

Phoebe Peters of Moreton in Marsh said:

“Laura is really inspirational, not only for her achievements but also her way with horses. I’d love to follow in her footsteps, she has achieved so much and it’s really nice to have that person to follow.

We were lucky enough to have a lesson with Laura today and I learnt so much.”

© Nico Morgan

“Getting the chance to see the facilities and set up she has here, and meeting some of her horses has been amazing.

I feel so grateful to be on the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport programme.

The experiences they organise are so motivational and give us the opportunity to meet amazing sports people like Laura.”

Bury St Edmunds based Ruth Hole said:

“Opportunities like these from the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport are so beneficial, they give myself and many other athletes the chance to see behind the scenes and the commitment of high performing athletes that you wouldn’t necessarily see otherwise.

“I have attended several workshops now and the other athletes you meet are amazing, they all have their own individual goals and experiences to share and you actually realise you are not alone.

During our lesson, we each had certain things we wanted to improve on, particularly refining the tactics we choose when we are competing.

We worked on pirouettes, which is basically cantering in a very, very tight circle, and Laura’s advice was brilliant.

Having this amazing opportunity means that we can see and learn from the best.”

© Nico Morgan

Land Rover ambassador Laura Tomlinson said: “I think it’s really important to mentor and help produce more athletes and more competitors at a top level – the sport gives us so much and it’s really important to give back.

“It’s important as a young athlete to be able to talk to people going through similar things as you as it’s never plain sailing to get to the top.”

The Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport is offering young athletes a big opportunity from a training and advice point of view and it’s great to have them here to show them my take on sport at this level.”

For more information about the Jaguar Land Rover Academy of Sport visit www.sportsaid.com or follow @JLRAcademy on Twitter.