The Metropole Hotel & Spa in Llandrindod Wells is sponsoring three young sportswomen to help them achieve their ambitions in 2019.
Mountain runner Heidi Davies, rugby player Keira McCosh and footballer Katie Christopher will all receive support during the year. Heidi and Katie are being given access to the hotel’s pool and spa and Keira has been given £150 towards kit, as she is in Llandrindod less frequently.
Heidi, who has received support from the Metropole for a number of years, said: “I have made the transition from junior to senior athletics, but have suffered from an injury for the last six months. In this time of no running, it has been fantastic to use the Metropole pool to keep up my fitness levels. I am looking forward to getting back to full fitness, and am excited about what 2019 holds. In April I will travel to Boulder, Colorado, for a few weeks in order to experience the running environment and altitude there. Then I hope to make the European Mountain Running Championships in Zermatt in July and the World Championships in Patagonia in November.”
Keira plays for Liverpool-based side Firwood Waterloo Ladies at Championship and now Premiership level rugby. She said: “My hopes are to continue to progress under Waterloo’s new head coach. Having come back from an eight-month injury with a dislocated knee, I am starting to play some of my best rugby. I aim to keep working hard to achieve my childhood dream of representing them on an international level for a full senior cap.”
Katie plays for Cheltenham Town Ladies’ FC, having also represented Aberystwyth Ladies FC in the Welsh Premier Women’s League and Welsh Women’s League. She said she is grateful for the support she is getting from Justin and Judy Baird-Murray, who like Heidi are keen runners.