Promising Bromsgrove water-skier targets Team GB after funding grant - The Bromsgrove Standard

Promising Bromsgrove water-skier targets Team GB after funding grant

Bromsgrove Editorial 26th Jan, 2019   0

A BROMSGROVE water-skier has been recognised for her promising talent after recently receiving a grant from the British Water Ski and Wakeboard federation at Queens Club in London.

12-year old Danielle Halford was one of a select few chosen to receive a £250 grant to assist with her training, and has her hopes set high on competing for Team GB and, should it become an Olympic sport again, an Olympian for Great Britain in the future.

Halford first got into the sport after participating in water-skiing at a number of Neilson activity holidays in Turkey, learning the basics first-hand and getting the bug to pursue her newfound interest back home.

The words of a water-skiing instructor resonated with her as an eight-year old, after being told she had the hallmarks to become a future British champion – a belief that would foreshadow what was to come when winning the under-12s National Championships in both the Slalom and Trick disciplines this year.




An extensive schedule sees the Bromsgrove athlete carry out training in a number of locations across the country to pursue the best possible training for her development whilst expanding her skill set.

She currently travels to Lancashire most weekend’s in the colder months for winter trick training, whilst spending her time in Droitwich in the summer months, during which time she is usually busy competing around the UK in numerous water-skiing events.


Additionally she has started attending David Lloyd gym in Bromsgrove, focusing on physio, nutrition and core training with the help of two trainers who have offered her one-to-one support – Halford evidently dedicated to gaining the best foundation for her promising career in the sport and achieving her big ambitions.

An awards ceremony at the world renowned Queens Tennis Club in London was the scene for the youngster to collect the grant, which she is set to use to buy protective equipment which will allow her to start jumping during water-skiing sessions.

Halford and her family anticipate that sponsors will be needed and kindly welcome potential supporters of a determined young Bromsgrove athlete, which will allow her to pursue quality jump coaching as she continues to add greater depth to her water-skiing ability.

Alison Halford, Danielle’s mother, spoke about the challenging schedule her daughter puts herself through to progress her development, but admits she feels immense pride.

“I am hugely proud of Dani, she loves her sport, puts in lots of time to train, even in difficult conditions in the winter months and so the award presented on Sunday at the Queens Club mean a lot to her,” she said.

“To be recognised as a youngster likely to represent her country this year – at the age of 12, I never thought that could be possible but it is all down to her resilience and spirit.”

Danielle Halford is very much dead set on her goals, and targets representing the under-14 Great Britain team this year, then the finals for the Slalom and Trick events at the 2020 European Championships.

A place in the Team GB camp for the World Championships in water-skiing and potentially the Olympics are her long-term dream goals, and she continues to take the right steps in making those dreams become reality.

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