A young fell runner has won a bursary to help him achieve his goal of representing England.
Zeke Sumner, 14, of Little Langdale, Ambleside, was awarded the Pete Bland Bursary by Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show.
The bursary is given to young athletes who show promise and dedication in their chosen sport.
Zeke, who joined Ambleside Running Club at the age of eight, has shown a strong commitment to fell running.
He came second in the under-17s fell race at Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show and is determined to secure the top spot in future events.
Zeke's fell running journey started with a weekly run up Loughrigg.
During the lockdown, he added his runs and in 2021, he was rewarded with third place in the under-12s British Open Fell Runners Associations (BOFRA) Championship, as well as fourth place in the under-13 Fell Runners Association (FRA) Championship.
His success continued in 2023 when he became the under-14 BOFRA Champion and was third in the FRA English Championship.
He was also the fastest Cumbrian runner in five out of six races.
On moving up to the under-17s, he achieved his goal of finishing in the top 10, by coming ninth.
However, he narrowly missed out on making the under-17 England team at trials in Cracoe and is determined to represent his country next year.
His application for the Pete Bland Bursary was a strategic move to help him progress over winter and achieve the required fitness.
The judges of the bursary applications, Pete Bland's son, Matt, and his mother, Anne, were impressed by Zeke's focus on his goal.
They recognised him as a talented athlete and admired the strong storytelling in his application, which provided a narrative of his athletics career to date, visuals, and a strong vision of how he would utilise the bursary grant of £500.
Matt Bland said: "Zeke’s powerful application stood out and we were assured he would put the financial support to excellent use.
"That is important, as the bursary is very personal for our family.
"We lost Dad in very tragic circumstances and the bursary recognises how the sport of fell running loved him and how he loved it.
"We see that same passion in Zeke."
Zeke plans to use the bursary to take out a membership to a gym facility, which can provide consistent training facilities and allow him to blend running, cycling, and swimming into his fitness regime.
He also plans to work on all muscle groups and gain the benefits of good aerobic exercise, by contributing to a new road bike.
Buying better waterproofs, a head torch, and higher standard running gear is the third aim and the bursary means not having to rely on parental financial support.
John Hibbert, chairman of Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show’s committee, said: "It is fitting this bursary is supported by Grasmere Lakeland Sports and Show, as it was a very special event for Pete Bland, although he never won the Senior Guides race.
"Perhaps Zeke can do that, with the bursary’s support.
"We certainly view him as a very worthy recipient."
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