A TEENAGER with her sights firmly set on a future Olympic Games is seeking funding to allow her to continue her top level training and competing around the UK.

Daisy Cooil, 15, from Richmond, was inspired to aim for the top after attending the London 2012 Olympics with her family.

Despite only having a go at canoeing once before, she is now ranked ninth in the country for canoeing and 16th for kayak.

Her father, Dave Cooil, said that living in the North is frustrating as the top coaches and facilities are based further south.

And as the national squad trains in Nottingham, Daisy finds it impossible to get to weeknight training after school - and the coaches do not work on weekends.

She has to continue training at Tees Barrage, where the squad only gets an hour a week on a white water course, and must share the course with the public.

Mr Cooil said: “She is lucky the coaches at Teesside allow her to join in and they are fantastic. But if she were able to go to Nottingham she would have better access to the facilities and have more one-on-one time.”

Daisy, who has already been invited to try out for the senior GB team, has already had some funding from several Richmondshire businesses and organisations.

Most recently, Richmondshire Leisure Trust has stepped in to promote her and try to boost her funding, to pay for travel costs and hopefully a new boat.

Austin Gordon, manager of Richmondshire Leisure Trust, said the trust is now leading the charge in trying to get sponsorship for Daisy.

To sponsor Daisy contact the leisure trust on 01748-824581.