Bridport Sport

Gymnast Jes wins endeavour award

By Ky Capel

8:53am Wednesday 25th January 2012

HONITON gymnast Jes Kennaway is the inaugural winner of the prestigious Patricia Wade Trophy – the highest UK accolade that an acrobatic gymnastics can be awarded for endeavour in their sport.

The annual memorial award is presented to a UK gymnast that has excelled in many areas including overcoming adversity to achieve their gymnastic goals.

Sixteen-year-old Kennaway, who attends Exeter College and has trained at Honiton Gym Club since she was just five, was selected to win the trophy because of her determination to succeed, despite being diagnosed with type one diabetes at the age of six.

In spite of falling into more than 10 comas in the past decade as a result of low blood-sugar levels, having to follow a strict diet, and having to inject herself five times every day, the teenager has never used her diabetes as an excuse or let it affect her training.

In fact, Kennaway has proven to be one of the most successful gymnasts in the history of Honiton GC.

This includes winning several south west titles, taking the gold medal in the national development plan finals, finishing in the top 10 at the 11-16 British Championships, and taking fourth place at the Flanders International Acro Cup in Belgium.

She now competes at junior international level and is currently in preparation for the British Championships.

Kennaway said: “It’s a great honour to win such a prominent award, but I don’t see my diabetes as an issue at all. It’s just something that – despite being potentially fatal – is now part of my daily routine.

“And it would never stop me doing the sport I love.”

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