22-year-old Molly Curry from Coleraine has received a £500 bursary, thanks to a partnership between Mary Peters Trust and Hughes Insurance, to support her training and competitions in rowing.
Molly’s journey in sports began as a competitive swimmer, where she was part of the Ulster swimming squad. At 14, she decided to try rowing at school. Despite being new to the sport, her swimming background gave her an edge, and she quickly fell in love with rowing.
Molly competes in singles, doubles and quads, and now rows for Queen’s University Belfast, training 11 times a week. Last summer, she showcased her talent on the international stage, competing in the semi-finals of Henley Women’s Regatta and representing Great Britain in a development boat at Henley Royal Regatta. She also participated in the 2023 World U23 Rowing Championships in Bulgaria, where her team achieved an impressive 8th place in the quad sculls.
However, Molly’s journey has not been without its challenges, including injuries that have kept her out of the boat since last summer.
Molly relates: “Injuries are part of any athletes’ journey, but coming back from them takes a lot of resilience, and it’s not easy. Throughout this period, I have required a lot of support from Queens Sport, GB Rowing, and my family, who have all been instrumental in helping me maintain my focus and motivation through this challenging time.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this bursary, which will help cover the costs of travel and accommodation for trials and camps with GB Rowing. My goal is to be back in the boat and competing at my best this season, and this support brings me one step closer to achieving that.”
With the regatta season fast approaching, Molly is eager to make her return to the water, aiming to compete at events such as the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Regatta in Nottingham in May and Henley Women’s Regatta in June.
Lady Mary Peters, Molly Curry and Emma Haughian, Hughes Insurance
Lady Mary Peters, who has long championed the development of young athletes in Northern Ireland, said: “We’ve seen Northern Ireland’s rowers excel on the global stage this past year, and it’s vital that we continue to support emerging talent like Molly. Despite facing the challenges of injury, she has shown remarkable determination to return stronger than ever.
“A rising star in the rowing world, this bursary, which we deliver in partnership with Hughes Insurance, will ensure that she has the resources to compete and succeed on both the national and international stage. Looking ahead to the World University Championships in Germany this July, and with ambitions to join the GB Rowing senior squad, Molly is poised to achieve great things, and I’m thrilled to see her journey continue.”
Molly, who is currently studying dentistry, manages a highly demanding academic schedule. Balancing this with her training and recovery time is a challenge, but she finds that the discipline required for both her studies and sports translates to all areas of life.
She said: “Despite the tough schedule, I hope to inspire other young athletes to chase their dreams. I want them to understand that balancing academics and sports, even at a high level, is achievable. It requires discipline, but the rewards are worth it. This bursary is greatly appreciated and will help me continue striving toward my goals.”
Hughes Insurance has committed £20,000 over four years to the bursary programme as part of its Action for Impact initiative, designed to deliver on its Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) agenda in 2024 and beyond.
Emma Haughian, Senior Marketing Manager at Hughes Insurance, added: “Through our bursary programme, we have supported young athletes throughout Northern Ireland by easing the financial challenges related to travel, training, and competition costs. This initiative has allowed us to positively contribute to local communities, empowering athletes like Molly to pursue their goals. We look forward to seeing Molly, along with other recipients, continue to excel in the future.”
For more information, follow Hughes Insurance on social media @hughesinsuranceni. For more information on Hughes Insurance, visit hughesinsurance.co.uk, and for details about the Mary Peters Trust, check out marypeterstrust.org.
Lady Mary Peters, Molly Curry and Emma Haughian, Hughes Insurance
