Current Youth Athletes

A champion kickboxer from Kilmarnock, Ben Stitt joined the Youth athlete programme, aged 12. 

After winning his first international competition in Athens in 2018, he achieved Black Belt status in June 2019 becoming youngest ever (aged 12) to achieve this in his association.

Ben, now 15, is actively involved in coaching and teaching taking kids through fundamentals of Kickboxing.

A number of wins over the past year have him ranking points in the World Kickboxing Organisation (WKO) Grand Prix series which he hopes to increase by attending more WKO events and is hoping to represent Scotland at more international events later in the year.

Kilmarnock’s only female motorbike racer has joined the Youth Athlete programme.

The funding and support from QTS will enable 19 year old Gillian to secure the training and equipment necessary to compete at both UK and international competitions, including a full set of personalised racing leathers and maintenance of her ZXR400 Kawasakibike.

Jed, who has been playing tennis since the age of four, now 14,recently took home a win at the county boy’s final at Wimbeldon.

To maintain his fitness and technique, Jed trains with Adam Brown’s tennis academy three nights a week, once a week at Strathgryffe Tennis Club and has a tennis programme incorporated into his school day with Coach Tommy Ogilvie. He also maintains contact with his first one to one coach John Howie who follows his progress.

Rory has been sailing for six years, first trying sailing at Castle Semple activity centre, Lochwinnoch, before joining Clyde Cruising Club Dinghy Section in 2015 which enabled him to participate in his first competition, RYA Scotland’s Scottish Club Trophy, at Loch Lomond.

Rory now sails at Bardowie Loch, near Milngavie, home of the club’s Dinghy Section and his current boat ‘Glasgow Bonnet’, a Hansa 303, is a fully accessible dinghy. Throughout the summer season, he aims to sail at least twice a week and compete in as many club competitions as possible, around the UK.

Single-handed sailing was one of the first sports to be resumed following the first lockdown last year, however current restrictions mean that Rory has been limited to playing ‘Virtual Regatta’, an online sailing race simulator, to practice his tactics.

Charlotte Payne is a 17 year old Hammer & Discus thrower from Thatcham, Newbury. 

As an athletic child, Charlotte tried her hand at a variety of sports before trialling discus and hammer throwing at the age of 10, following her brother’s involvement in the sport. She soon realised her natural talent when she began out throwing her brother three-years her senior.

However, it was only in 2013 that Charlotte began competing competitively and she has since racked up a huge number of achievements, including representing Great Britain earlier this year at the Halle Throws International, the biggest throwing competition in the world.

To remain at the top of her sport, Charlotte is currently training six times a week, including weights and technical sessions.

Adie Lock is a talented kickboxer from Stockport. 

The sponsorship will support the fifteen-year-old as he prepares to embark on his dream of making the Olympic Kickboxing Team.

It will enable Adie to attend more international competitions, fighting experienced kickboxers from all over the world, as well as helping him compete for his black belt in November this year.

After being bullied at school, Adie’s mum Claire, took him to kickboxing classes when he was seven year’s old in a bid to build his confidence. From the minute he started, it was clear he had a natural talent for the sport and within weeks he was moved up from beginners to the junior class.

He has now been competing for over five years, attending over 14 international and national tournaments winning numerous competitions and titles, including three gold medals in the Turkish Open and five in the Aberdeen Open this year.

To remain at the top of his age group, Adie now trains on average five to six days a week for three hours a night at Energize Martial Arts Academy Stockport under the instruction of Carl Thomas.

Joaquin and Javier Bello are Great British Beach Volleyball stars and twin brothers from Isleworth, West London. 

The sponsorship with QTS will support the 19-year-olds as they maintain their success as Great Britain’s number one beach volleyball team. 

It will enable the twins to continue competing internationally; they have played in 13 countries this year alone for World Tour and European and World underage championships.

Javier and Joaquin began their training at just six years old in their home country of Spain, inspired by their father, Luis Bello, a former professional volleyball player.

After moving to England at 10 years old, the brothers have gone on to prove themselves as two of the best players in the UK, winning the Youth Commonwealth Games and achieving England’s highest ever results in numerous competitions around the world, including a World Tour medal this August.

Alongside studying medicine and philosophy, politics and economics at university, Joaquin and Javier regularly train up to 18 hours a week and are determined to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Charlie Lane is a champion snowboarder from Steyning, West Sussex.

The sponsorship will support the 12-year-old as he embarks on a full-time, six-month training programme in the Austrian Alps in preparation for competing in the older age groups at top European and World events. It will enable Charlie to work with the best junior freestyle snowboarders and coaches as he continues to train six days a week, as well as allowing him to travel to competitions across Europe.

A keen skier from a young age, Charlie was just five years old when he first tried snowboarding on a family holiday, after watching his older brother Ben on the slopes.At the age of eight, Charlie began competing competitively and came second in the British Under 12s Boardercross event in Manchester, the first of many national competitions.

He started full-time coaching in January 2015 and moved to Zillertal Valley in Austria for three months with his team Why Ain’t You Jibbin, opening up the opportunity to compete in European events against other nations.