Press Release 27 April, 2009
Skipton Building Society is doing its bit for Britain’s future Olympic hopefuls through a five year sponsorship of Molesey Boat Club, of which gold medallist Andy Hodge is captain.
The sponsorship will provide support for Molesey’s aspiring international athletes in their training towards London 2012. The partnership was agreed following discussions with Andy, a customer of Skipton since the age of five and, like the Society, a Yorkshire success story.
Cara Taylor, sponsorship consultant at Skipton Building Society, said, “Skipton plays an active role in the community and, with 90 branches nationwide, prides itself on supporting a wide variety of sporting, education, artistic and general community projects.
“This is a new and exciting venture for Skipton. Traditionally we focus our larger sponsorships in the Society’s heartland area of Yorkshire but, with Andy being a customer, the opportunity arose to develop a partnership further afield.”
Molesey Boat Club, located on the Thames above Hampton Court, was established in 1866 and has winning rowers at every level. The club caters for amateurs of all ages right the way through to Olympic Champions. This rich mixture of experience and ability is one of the reasons why the club has continued to succeed both as a centre of excellence and as a place where individuals and families can enjoy rowing for competition or recreation.
Andy Hodge, Captain at Molesey Boat Club, said, “Molesey Boat Club has been developing over the past few years towards its goal of providing a sustainable base to propel athletes into the GB Team. Our main limiting factor has been financial, but now Skipton has stepped in to help the club find the next level of athlete support.
“It’s a very exciting time for the club as our goal gets closer. We are very proud to be partnered with Skipton, as their long term objectives mirror ours. We look forward to moving on together, and enhancing our reputation as leaders in our fields.”
Cara added, “The ambition, hard work and determination of Molesey’s athletes offers great inspiration to all of us. Skipton is proud to be associated with Molesey and we look forward to building on the partnership and following the successes of its athletes as well as hopefully, contributing to achievements the whole country can be proud of.”
The funding from Skipton will provide subsidised membership for the club’s high performance athletes without the funds available to them to train at the club. It will also help with training camp resources and physiotherapy support.
The Society has branches nationwide and its Kingston, Woking, Croydon and Dorking branches are within 11 miles of Molesey Boat Club.
