By Nick Atkin,

RISING British judoka Emily Hickman is eyeing London British Open glory after receiving yet another £1,000 cash windfall from the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes initiative.

DOMESTIC DUTIES: Emily Hickman is setting her sights on success at the London British Open next month

For the third straight year Hickman has been handpicked as one of 264 athletes across England and Wales to receive funding, plus expert tuition from the likes of Olympic silver medallist Leon Taylor.

Having taken silver at the senior GB Judo World Cup in 2008, the 21-year-old knows she has what it takes to medal at the London British Open in Crawley next month.

And, after bagging herself a boost to the bank balance, Hickman insists she is on the right path to fulfilling her dream of competing at the 2016 Olympics.

“If I can medal internationally then that puts me in the running for the British under-23 squad which I would like to make this time next year,” said Hickman.

“I’m looking to go abroad to more international competitions, and if I can become the No.1 ranked Under-23 that puts me in a good position to be selected for the senior squad.

“I would like to think I can get to the Commonwealth Games in 2014. It would be a dream to go to the Olympics in Rio too, it’s the top target.

“London 2012 has come a bit too soon for me. You need the experience in internationals.  It takes a little while to get there, but hopefully all the hard work will pay off.”

And Hickman’s rewards haven’t stopped there with the up-and-coming judoka also being picked by Lloyds TSB to be one of their London 2012 Olympic Torchbearers.

Hickman will carry the flame as it passes through Hull on June 18 – and she can’t wait.

“It’s a privilege and it feels amazing to be chosen,” she added. “It’s great to have the things you do be recognised in such a way.

“I coach kids at a couple of schools and I’ll be doing it for them. It will be great to go back with a picture of me carrying the Torch for them to see.”

As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB is bringing the excitement of the Games and Olympic Flame closer to you. Find out what we’re doing in your community and who is carrying the Flame at lloydstsb.com/carrytheflame

By Tom Duffell,

JENNIE Batten insists she relished mixing it with the big names of British athletics after bagging herself a Indoor UK Trials and Championships 200m final berth in Sheffield.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY: Jennie Batten is racing as a senior sprinter for the first time this season

Aged just 19 Batten is making her first foray into the senior ranks in Olympic year and showed no signs of being overawed at the challenge in the Steel City.

The Stroud AC sprinter qualified for the final by finishing third in her heat in a time of 24.77 seconds before clocking 25.17 to end sixth in the final.

And with the weekend in Sheffield just her second meet of the season Batten declared herself content with her early-season form – especially having shared the arena with the likes of Jessica Ennis and co.

“I did OK actually, it’s only my second meet of the season where I have run 200m,” said – Batten who benefits from the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes scheme.

“So I’m just trying to build up a lot of speed as I go through. The times weren’t great. I felt I could have been quicker but I was really pleased to get into the final.

“I’m using races for training so it’s mainly speed work, and trying to get my stamina. It’s my time to do some speed work so I am doing some competitions to get some speed in my legs and get faster and faster.

“It’s my first summer as a senior athlete so I’m just looking to get experience, obviously it would be really nice if I was to get a place on an international event somewhere.

“But I’m just looking forward to gaining some experience, racing with some of these girls who you see on television.”

But, while it was all about rubbing shoulders with Ennis and co last weekend, Batten insists it is a trip back to the Steel City that tops her winter athletics agenda in 2012.

The English Institute of Sport hosts the British Universities Colleges Sport Championships on the weekend of the February 25-26 and Batten can’t wait.

“The Indoor UK Trials isn’t my main aim for the year I am going to do BUCS indoors, that’s my main aim,” she added. “My main event is 200m so I’m just looking to doing well at the BUCS.”

Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 344 emerging athletes all the way to London 2012 and beyond.  Follow the future stars of TeamGB and ParalympicsGB at: www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes

By Nick Atkin,

AFTER a near eight-year struggle with life-threatening illnesses shooter Lesley Baldwin has been hand-picked as a future British Paralympian after being chosen on the Bank of Scotland Local Heroes initiative.

ONE FOR THE FUTURE: Lesley Baldwin has been named as a Bank of Scotland Local Hero for 2012

The 33-year-old, a member of Glenrothes Target Shooting Club, will receive a cash injection of £1,000 towards training and competing and is one of only 82 athletes selected onto the scheme from across Scotland.

Baldwin attended the 2012 launch at Glasgow’s Scotstoun Leisure Centre, where she met up with former Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards and World Championship bronze medallist Lee McConnell.

For Baldwin the selection meant more than most having endured a nightmare last few years of illness which began with a back injury while serving in the British Army in Germany.

After suffering complications and contracting dystonia Baldwin has since had her left leg amputated at the knee and undergone a life-threatening deep brain stimulation operation in 2009.

In recovering from that operation Baldwin was introduced to shooting and has since been fast-tracked into the British Paralympic set-up as she eyes a spot at the Rio Games in 2016.

“For me personally 2016 is my goal and it is great to be picked to receive the funding after what has been a very hard few years,” said Baldwin.

“I am absolutely loving the shooting having been introduced to it when I was recovering at Headley Court in 2010.

“The funding will be a great help because I spend most of my life on the M6 now travelling down to training in Stoke Mandeville where I spend about three weeks every month.

“Also with shooting the equipment is obviously very expensive and so it will help out there too.”   

In partnership with SportsAid, the Bank of Scotland, as part of Lloyds Banking Group, initiative is designed to ensure more talent reaches the top of their sport.

In total 346 talented athletes are part of the programme with 264 Lloyds TSB Local Heroes in England and Wales also receiving funding towards training and competing.

And McConnell, who is gunning for a 400m berth at the London 2012 Olympics this summer, believes Baldwin and co are the future of Scottish sport.

“These guys coming up are the future talent across various sports and it’s great that investment is being put in not just financially but in terms of spending time with them and getting them ready for a career in sport,” said McConnell.

“It’s something I’d have loved to have had when I was coming up through the sport and it’s great for them to have that recognition at such a young age.”

Bank of Scotland Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, provides support and funding to 82 of Scotland’s most talented developing athletes on their journey to London 2012 and beyond. Since 2008, the programme has supported 1,000 athletes. Follow future stars at facebook.com/bankofscotlandlocalheroes

© 2012

By Ric Sumner,

TOM Daley insists he is heading into London 2012 as a man of experience despite his tender years – and it will stand him in good stead as he looks to add yet more gold to his collection.

IN A SPIN: Tom Daley can’t wait to get going at London 2012, where he competes in the 10m platform and 10m synchro

Four years on from Beijing Daley is older, more experienced, has some of the most difficult dives in the world in his locker and home advantage.

But the 18-year-old from Plymouth knows the hundreds of thousands of dives in training come down to just six on the day that will mean the difference between Olympic glory and failure at London 2012.

But despite the pressure the 2010 Commonwealth Games champion feels he has stepped up a level since being thrust into the spotlight as a youngster, and is one of only a handful of divers capable of taking 10m individual gold.

Daley, who also goes in the 10m synchro with partner Peter Waterfield, said: “I’ve got a mix of emotions – it’s scary, it’s exciting, I literally can’t wait. If you’re doing well on the day you could win medals, if you don’t then you don’t. It so make-or-break on the day.

“Diving has always come first, I haven’t missed any training sessions. Going through the World Series I’m overall world champion individually and with Pete as well we’re synchro champions so going into the Games it’s quite a good position to be in.

“I feel much more prepared going into 2012 than I was in Beijing. Just generally because I’ve got that Olympics experience already – you know exactly what it’s going to be like, you know how the TV crews work, how the village system works – everything takes a lot longer than a normal competition because of security. Those experiences are definitely going to help.”

Daley must overcome 2011 Chinese world champion Qiu Bo to take gold, but the youngster did just that to take the 2009 world crown – and is backing British support to help him over the line.

“It’s going to be tough to beat Qiu Bo but it’s happened before,” insisted Daley, who was speaking at the Team GB kitting out event at Loughborough University.

“I beat him in 2009 in the World Championships and he’s not had an Olympic experience, he’s never been to the Olympics before and it’s just about trying to keep the pressure on, trying to dive well and trying to constantly be on their tails, because if you are on their tails then it’s for them to mess up.

“I think home advantage is always good for any sport, and definitely in subjective sports like diving, gymnastics and trampolining for example because the crowd can really get behind athletes and make them do well. And you never know, it could influence the judges by half a point if they’re deciding between an 8.5 and a 9 they might go for the 9 because of the loud noise.

“I’ve got a massive support system behind me and everyone in Plymouth is really looking forward to the Olympic Games and most of my family have got tickets now, which is great so they’ll be able to be there and support me.”

Despite their difference in age (Waterfield is 31) Daley believes their similar techniques give them a shot at a place on the podium and Waterfield agrees, saying: “We performed well in the Nationals and set a new personal best and a new British record, so we’re definitely on form.

“We just need to hold it together on the day and we could maybe come home with a medal. We came third in the Worlds in February so that proves we can compete with the best.”

And Daley added: “We know that we’ve been training hard together so we’ve just got to go out there and give it our best shot.

“I was ten-years-old when he won his silver in Athens. Not once did I ever think I would be doing synchro with him eight years later.”

©  2012