Manchester student, Laura Rose Smith has won in inaugural Yellow Jersey University Triathlon Scholarship. Laura, a post-graduate dental student at the University of Manchester, was chosen as the standout winner by the judging panel.

The aim of the scholarship was to encourage more students to both take up and keep up triathlon, as research reflects a marked drop off in triathlon participation at University level. The judges were looking for a student who could demonstrate how they would increase participation among their peers and community, as well as someone who is passionate about the sport. Applicants were judged on factors such as their community spirit, entrepreneurialism and achievements within triathlon, all of which Laura excelled in.

Judging the applications were industry experts John Levison, editor of Tri247; Ryan Georgiades, MD of Yellow Jersey; Brian Adcock, MD of Castle Triathlon Series; Oliver Heald, lead for Children and Young People at British Triathlon; Gary Roethenbaugh of Triathlon Industries Association; and Jodie Stimpson, professional triathlete.

Support for Laura’s 2018 season comes from a range of industry-leading British Triathlon partners including Yellow Jersey, ROKA, KitBrix, Training Peaks, SIS, Castle Triathlon Series. The scholarship package will help support Laura both practically and financially to reach her ambitious performance goals this year.

Despite being a runner from a young age, Laura is a relative newcomer to the world of triathlon. Her first introduction to the sport was in 2014 when she started her first degree at the University of Birmingham where she loved the sport so much, she set up a club at her local gym to allow non-students to enjoy the sport. However, since then Laura has fully immersed herself in the sport, competing as an age group duathlete and triathlete, and she has played an active role in the triathlon scene at both University of Birmingham and Manchester University. With this experience under her belt, Laura has also co-founded a coaching business.

Yellow Jersey’s Head of Marketing Emily Conrad-Pickles commented:

“Laura embodies everything that we were looking for when we founded the scholarship. She has a clear love for the sport, along with experience gained from her coaching business and setting up a triathlon club.

We feel that Laura will act as an excellent student ambassador for triathlon and look forward to working with her over the course of the year to help encourage more students to take up the sport.”