Laura Gallagher receives her award

10:34am Thursday 24th January 2008

DEDICATION to training and determination to overcome injury helped Laura Gallagher win the World Under-19 Trampolining Championships - and a Pride of Somerset Youth Award.

Laura currently puts in around 20 hours training a week as part of the Great Britain Development Squad.

She went to Haygrove Community School, Bridgwater, where she was involved in several sports, gained her Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award, helped coach younger pupils, and worked with pupils from Penrose School.

She went on to Strode College in Street where she juggled 16 hours training a week and competitions with A-level studies and although she suffered a neck injury in her second year, she fought her way back into the Great British Team in competitions that took place during her summer exams.

Her nomination citation reads: "At school, college and at trampoline club High Flyers, Cheddar, Laura has been a shining example to others of what can be achieved by hard work, motivation and dedication and becoming world champion in Montreal, Canada, was the icing on the cake."