Local Women Sport speaks to sailor Zoe Whitford (above) on her bursary award & inspiring young women
HUGHES Insurance and the Mary Peters Trust have announced 17-year-old Zoe Whitford as one of 10 young athletes to be recognised by the Trust’s bursary programme. Zoe has been awarded £500 as part of the annual partnership which aims to help young talent on their sporting journeys.
Larne-based Zoe has been making waves in the sailing world for some time, competing in back-to-back World and European Events and securing a place in the coveted Gold Fleet Youth Europeans in Poland in July.
Part of the Irish Sailing Academy, Zoe participates in the ILCA 6 class, a highly competitive discipline demanding of strategic decision-making and strong aerobic fitness – skills that saw her emerge as the first female and overall 7th in the 2023 RYA Youth Championships, to name just a few of her achievements to date.
According to Zoe, her passion for sailing had been evident from a young age. She said: “I have always grown up around the yacht club as my Mum sails regularly and seeing people on the water from a young age lit a fire in me. I began my sailing journey through participating in summer beginner sailing courses at age 7 and have been a member of the RYA Youth Performance Programme for 6 years first while competing in my topper and then in both ILCA 4 and ILCA6.
“However, it was last year when I really started dedicating more time to my sailing career. I was picked for the Irish Sailing Academy and they, alongside RYA, have been supporting and mentoring me on and off the water with training programmes. This, alongside my family’s support, has helped me become the sailor I am today.”
While the main season takes place between April and September, Zoe has been honing her skills during a winter filled with intense training camps in Valencia, Spain. However, she is currently undergoing an intensive rehabilitation program due to a rotator cuff injury and every physio session and trip away from home, including the arrangements and costs that are required to reach the highest level – is a testament to her dedication and passion, as she also tries to find the balance between studies and training.
Zoe continues: “Sailing is a sport like no other. From the preparation of the boat before the season kicks off to the coordination of travel logistics for training and events. Every moment and win on the water is a culmination of countless hours spent off it, and the bursary is crucial in helping with upcoming preparations for the Europa Cup in Majorca in March and Irish Sailing Youth National Championships in April, including acquiring new equipment.”
The Europa Cup which serves as a qualifier for the Youth Sailing World Championships marks the starting point of what promises to be an exciting year for the local star as she looks to compete against 300 youth sailors from over 30 countries in the ILCA 6 Youth Europeans being held at Ballyholme in July. Zoe hopes to inspire young females to take up sailing despite it being a mostly male dominated sport.
Zoe added: “There’s a limited number of females competing at my level. It means a huge portion of my training involves competing against male youths, so I work even harder. I’m proud to show sailing as an inclusive sport, where you meet incredible people and explore new places too all while maintaining a keen sense of competition. It’s so easy to get down to your local yacht club and get out on the water for a taster session, and I want to encourage young females to get involved.”
Commenting on Zoe’s selection Lady Mary Peters said: “Our bursary, supported by Hughes Insurance, is awarded to exceptional athletes and can be an important boost to cover training expenses, equipment costs, competition fees, and other essential needs – but most importantly, it’s a recognition of their hard work, skill, and dedication.
“We’re proud to play a key role in supporting young talent across Northern Ireland and are thankful to Hughes Insurance for their continued support. Congratulations to Zoe, we hope this award supports you in pursuing your future goals.”
Hughes Insurance has partnered with Mary Peters Trust as part of its Action for Impact initiative – a £100,000 commitment to various charities and organisations to deliver on its Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) agenda in 2024 and beyond.
Emma Haughian, Senior Marketing Manager at Hughes Insurance said: “Now three years in, our partnership with Mary Peters Trust is something we’re really proud of. We’ve supported 30 athletes and it’s been incredibly inspiring to watch their dedication. As our Action for Impact initiative shows, we’re committed to community and this platform is a great way to bring that to life.”
To keep up to date with the bursary selection, visit hughesinsurance.co.uk, and for more on the Mary Peters Trust, visit marypeterstrust.org
Lady Mary Peters, Zoe and Emma Haughian, Marketing Manager, Hughes Insurance
