Current Sponsorship

Every year we have a charity of the year, using funds from the Walker Family Charitable Trust and by holding events.

This year is special: - everyone in the AB Walker team is very enthusiastic in supporting young people and sport and what better combination than to support our very own young athlete, Chris Mears.

Chris lives nearby in Burghfield and is training to achieve his dream (and ours) of representing this country in Team GB diving at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

It has been a journey of discovery to learn about Chris, his training and the amount of dedication and time it takes to reach the higher echelons of sport – he trains in Southampton and his coach Lindsey manages his programme of cross training, competition preparation and diet that bring out the best in his natural ability.

We are all very excited and will learn with Chris in June 2012 whether he has made the team. If you wish contribute to his training fund, please contact julian@abwalker.co.uk.

Some recent words from Chris:

February 2012

Dear Mr Walker,

Firstly a quick update on the national cup that took place in January; I placed 2^nd qualifying for the world cup. The score I posted was 35 points above my personal best. It would also have placed me 8^th at the world championships in shanghai last year, so all is looking good for the world cup! Me and my synchro partner did not compete as Nick was nursing a knee injury which will be ready for the world cup.

The Mens 3M springboard synchro preliminary takes place on the 20^th February at 10 am at the Olympic venue.

On the  22^nd March I might be away at one of the world series events. There are four separate events held immediately after each other in different locations around the world. We haven’t currently been told which world series we are doing (if any). I should find out on the 20^th of February what world series I am doing so I will let you know then.

I have also recently recorded a TV interview with Meridian news which is due to go out on the 16^th February during the early evening news programme.

Kind regards
Chris

Previous Letters from Chris:

December 2011

Dear Mr Walker

Firstly, Lindsey and my Dad tell me that everything is in place now for the sponsorship, so thanks very much for that it is very much appreciated.

Thanks firstly to all the staff at A.B. Walker for sponsoring me as a member of TEAM GB for the 2012 London Olympics. This is going to be such a great season with a home Olympic games at the end of it – every athlete’s dream. I got back into full time training after the summer break and am now coming back into full fitness and readiness for the competition season. The first competition of the year is a UK national event on the weekend of the 1st November; this will be held at the pool in Southend where all the divers compete off the 1M and 5M boards. This is what we call a lead up competition, where we will compete the dives we would normally compete off of 3 metre, but with one less somersault as we are 2 metres lower to the water. This will be a great chance to see how the team are getting on but most of all, see how my springboard competitors are getting on.

After Southend we have four more weeks of training at our home venue and then our performance director has arranged a warm weather training camp in Adelaide from the 1st to the 24th December. I’m really looking forward to the camp but it means that Christmas will be messed up at home as I’m sure I’ll be heavily jet lagged.

I’ll send my next update in the new year when we’ll be looking forward to the World Cup in February in London, anyone who wants to support me or simply to see the best divers in the World compete at the Olympic venue should check out www.britishswimming.org for ticket sales. In the meantime I wish you all a very happy Christmas and thanks again for your generous support.

Chris.