Ron Harrod Foundation: Summer 2025 Progress Update

From county courts and open water to academy pitches and world stages, our 2025 Ron Harrod Foundation athletes have been busy turning potential into performances. Here's a quickfire round-up of the highlights so far...

Jessica Staines - Tennis

What a summer for Jess. She swept four ladies' singles titles, adding the Suffolk Closed, Framlingham Open, Cromer and Felixstowe crowns to her growing CV. A brilliant return for a young player balancing schoolwork with serious competition - and a sign her step up to higher-grade events is right on track.

Tyler Stone - Swimming

Fresh from representing Team GB at the European Youth Summer Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Skopje, North Macedonia (20–26 July), Tyler banked valuable experience and personal bests - placing 4th in the 100m breaststroke and 6th in the 200m breaststroke. He also played his part in a Team GB bronze in the 4x100m medley relay, a proud moment on a big international stage.

Josh Ford - Rugby

Josh's hard work has earned him selection for the Leicester Tigers Academy. He's relocated to Loughborough College, where he now benefits from dedicated Tigers squad training alongside his studies. He's already testing himself against older opposition and is relishing the increased contact time - with a professional contract firmly in his sights. (Loughborough's programme integrates academic study with elite rugby development, including regular fixtures in the National ACE League.)

William Ellard - Para Swimming

Next stop: Singapore. Will is set to compete at the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships, hosted at the OCBC Aquatic Centre from 21–27 September 2025 - and he's been named in Aquatics GB's 22-strong team for the event. Another huge milestone after a sensational 12 months. We can't wait to cheer him on.

And the rest of the cohort…

All of our athletes are moving forward with great momentum – sharpening their skills, reaching new milestones, and putting in the hard work that sets them up for the future. We'll keep cheering them on and doing what we can to give them the platform to go even further

We're incredibly proud of everything our Ron Harrod Foundation athletes are achieving - on the pitch, in the pool, and beyond. Thanks to everyone in the Harrod Sport community who follows their journeys and supports the programme. Keep an eye on our channels for more updates (and hopefully a few more trophy-lift photos!) as the season unfolds.

The Ron Harrod Foundation, established by Harrod Sport in 2018, is dedicated to helping young sportsmen and women in the East of England reach their full potential. Each year, we provide up to £5,000 in funding to exceptional athletes under the age of 25, covering essential costs like equipment, training, travel, and accommodation. Our support has helped young talent achieve incredible results, turning dreams into reality.