JEMMA FLIES THE FLAG FOR CORNWALL ON ROAD TO OLYMPIC GLORY!

Top Cornish athlete Jemma Simpson made a symbolic start on the road to Olympic glory in February – and no-one was left in any doubt that she is flying the flag for Cornwall!

During January the 24-year-old St Austell-based runner, the current UK’s women’s 800 metres outdoor and 1,500 metres indoor champion, landed her first big sponsorship deal.

The deal with Redruth-based Lowena Homes is initially worth more than £15,000 and includes a brand new Fiat 500 car, with the Cornish flag printed on its sides and its wheel covers coloured black and gold. On collection day for Jemma, staff at the Redruth company ensured that it was a delivery with a difference.

After receiving the keys from managing director David Worlledge, she burst through a mock-up of the five Olympic circles and then drove through a “guard of honour” formed by Lowena Homes staff waving Cornish flags.

Jemma has set her heart on an Olympic medal at Beijing in August this year – and with one eye already on gold for Cornwall at the London Olympics four years later, when she should be at her peak.

She has already competed at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games and is one of the favourites for representing Great Britain at this year’s Olympics.

“Having my own car will be an enormous help in my preparation for the Olympics,” she said. “My coach (Mark Rowland, Seoul Olympic Bronze) is confident I will qualify for Beijing, but he has stressed that proper preparation is vital and for that I need help with transport.

“I am thrilled by Lowena’s support, which will really make a difference. My main problem has been a lack of mobility because I could not afford a safe vehicle and its upkeep. I have had to rely on lifts from friends and fellow athletes.

“Now I will be able to get to training and competition venues without having to rely on others and it will also free up some money so I can improve my diet.”

Mr Worlledge commented: “Jemma is the main winner in our first sports sponsorship scheme, in which we publicly invited applications for support.

“We had well over a hundred responses, but it quickly became apparent that Jemma was a truly exceptional and incredibly dedicated young athlete who already has an outstanding record of achievement but still with her best years ahead of her.

“We like to think that Jemma – and all the other young sports people we will be sponsoring - will be very much flying the flag for Cornwall when they pursue their goals outside the county. They will be true ambassadors for Cornwall.”

The company plans to make at least one sports sponsorship award in every area where it builds new homes.

“As we expand, so we want to build on our community involvement by making a real difference to the prospects of promising young Cornish sports people,” said Mr Worlledge. “In other words, let’s grow together!”