LEADING junior Rhea Southcott has been helped in her bid to reach the top with a grant from the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.

The Baildon youngster, who is the No 1 ranked girl in the United Kingdom for under-15 combined events – both indoors and out – aims to compete in pentathlon and heptathlon in the future, emulating her role model Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Southcott added to her tally by winning Yorkshire County Athletics' under-15 girls' pentathlon, comprising the 75 metres hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800m.

The teenager, who is coached at Leeds City Athletics Club by Matt Barton and is the only Yorkshire athlete in the top 20 nationally for combined events, will use the Foundation's grant towards getting specialist equipment to help with her training.

Foundation Trustee Ron Miller said: "Rhea needed new equipment and we are delighted to have been able to help her.

"She is working hard to become as successful as she can and is just the type of youngster that the Foundation was established to support."

The Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation distributes funds raised by the annual Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards, sponsored by McCormicks Solicitors.

The awards have now raised more than £1million since their inception in 2010. The 2015 awards take place at Leeds United's centenary pavilion on Thursday, November 19.