AN optician has pledged £500 sponsorship to a Richmond-based Canoe Slalom athlete for a second year.

Specsavers in Richmond has agreed to support Daisy Cooil to assist with her training costs and allow her to purchase the equipment she needs to compete at the top level of her sport.

The 14-year-old is part of the GB Canoeing Northern Super Regional Squad and is the top ranked woman of her age in the UK.

Since taking up the sport two and a half years ago, the Richmond School pupil has progressed rapidly to become J13 champion in kayak and J13, J14 and J15 champion in canoe racing.

Daisy said: “There is a lot of hard work and commitment required to become a top level athlete. Not many people get to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes and the amount of people it takes to train me.

“Specsavers in Richmond has been a great supporter of my career to date and the staff are always interested to hear how I am getting on. I would like to thank everyone at the store for their continued support and I hope I can do them proud.”

Ross Campbell, store director at Specsavers in Richmond, said: "It is great to be able to support an emerging talent like Daisy. Being successful in sport comes with a price tag and we want to help in any way we can to ensure Daisy is able to continue competing.

"The Cooil family have been customers at our store for years and it’s great that we are able to be a part of Daisy’s career."