One of the leading sports stars at a Harrogate school has set her sights on the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Lydia Eastwood, a pupil of Ashville College, is targeting her shooting ambition on the forthcoming LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic games.
Her prowess and precision were identified at an early age thanks to her love of competition with The Pony Club and over the years she has pursued fencing, swimming, running, riding and shooting for the GB Pentathlon Squad.
Her talent is now being nurtured by British Shooting with the intent of competing in major events around the world.
Dad Martin, said her energy and enthusiasm for sport had been fuelled by Ashville teachers and overall passion for sport.
He said:
“She has absolutely flourished at school thanks to the belief and pride her teachers have in her.
“It would be a dream come true for Lydia to get to the Olympics and I have no doubt she will set her mind to it.”
Lydia, 14, competes in the Under 16 category – often against boys of her own age group.
Martin added:
“What is more remarkable, for a girl who is a bundle of energy and often struggles to sit still, her focus in training and competition is quite astonishing."
Lydia won two silver medals in the 2022 Modern Pentathlon European Laser Run Championships in Marathon, Greece.
She came second in both the Girls U13 Individual Laser Run and the U13 Mixed Laser Run.
Representing the Pentathlon GB team, Lydia took part in the 2023 World Championships held in Bath and previously the 2022 event, held in Lisbon, Portugal, where she helped secure gold for the GB U13 girls’ team along with a silver medal in the Mixed Relay event.
Laser Run is a two-discipline event where athletes run and shoot and complete a number of laps depending on their age. Each lap includes running and shooting.
Rhiannon Wilkinson, Head of Ashville College, said the whole school was immensely proud of her talent and ambition:
“Lydia embodies Ashville’s sporting success and competitive spirit for which we are so well known, and it’s wonderful to see our girls competing at such a high standard with this level of confidence, resilience and determination."
Harrogate's new creative lighting glows red for Remembrance Day
Harrogate MP visits popular community café
£42,000 awarded to community groups across Harrogate district
Campaign launched to improve road signs in Harrogate area
Charity 'truncheon relay' passes through Harrogate
Northern offers discounted train tickets for Harrogate Christmas market
Could Ripon's Curzon cinema be set for a revival?
New Town forward scores just hours after signing announcement
Police visit Harrogate schools to promote road safety
Work to revamp Knaresborough play area gets underway
Bright Friday: Details for Knaresborough Christmas lights switch-on
Local MP calls for more support for Knaresborough flood victims
Harrogate BID continues funding for Pubwatch scheme
Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland takes shape ahead of return
Date revealed for return of Sleeps to Santa
Harrogate pupils stand in silence at school's cenotaph in honour of the fallen
Harrogate school honours heroes with heartfelt tributes
Tockwith Show set to return after cancellation this year
Success for Harrogate care firm at Great British Care Awards
Details revealed for Ripon Christmas lights switch-on
