Sponsorship deal boosts Cowen's Olympic hopes (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Sponsorship deal boosts Cowen's Olympic hopes

3:50pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Sport By Sports Desk

One of Yorkshire’s Olympic hopefuls is a step closer to her dream of competing at the London 2012 Games after securing a major sponsorship deal.

Diver Jenny Cowen, from Cross Roads, near Keighley, is to use the cash – provided by leisure and entertainment specialists EZE Group – to pay her competition entry fees and travel and accommodation costs, thus improving her chances of making Team GB diving for the Olympics.

The 20-year-old, who trains and dives for City of Leeds Diving Club, is close to the Olympic squad after a string of impressive performances, and believes the link-up with EZE Group will help her make the improvements she needs to qualify.

It will help her enter more competitions, like the CAMO Invitational in Canada last December, and as a result pick up the points she needs to win selection to Team GB – many of the diving places will be decided on the number of points collected at international competitions.

Her mum Helen Cowen said: “The sponsorship will help enormously as at the moment Jenny has to train during the day and work most evenings to cover her costs.

“It will help her cut her working hours and get more rest, as well as buying new training gear and covering the cost of entering more competitions around the world.

“She’ll be fresher in training and competition, so that will improve her performances, and will help her pick up points as she aims to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.”

As part of the agreement, Jenny will become an EZE Group ambassador, alongside some famous faces from the world of football, including former Republic of Ireland captain Steve Staunton, who was once on loan at Bradford City.

EZE Group's European sales and marketing director Gerald Tiernan said: “We hope Jenny will be the first of many – we are looking for sponsorship opportunities and other good causes to support.

“In the short-term though we hope Jenny can win medals and inspire the divers of tomorrow.”