With a suite of medals under her belt, a talented Basingstoke athlete is bidding for further European glory.
But Chloe Whiskin, from Brookvale, is struggling to find sponsorship to send her to the European Baton Twirling Championships in Turin, Italy in July.
The 26-year-old is hoping to raise up to £600 in a bid to compete for England in the individual and team events.
The sport involves contestants performing routines with a 30-inch metal baton, and incorporates elements of rhythmic gymnastics, ballet and interpretive dance.
A three-minute performance is marked out of 10, with up to eight judges awarding separate scores for technical merit and artistic expression.
And for Chloe, who works in human resources in Camberley, travelling to Turin is a chance to cement her reputation as one of the best in the little-known sport.
She said: “If I can’t get the funding then it will not stop me, but it will certainly present some problems. In the past I have put it all on my credit card or had to extend my debt payments. We don’t get any funding at all so all the costs add up.”
Chloe took up the sport in 1991 when she was six-years-old after seeing a friend perform.
She entered her first competition two years later. To date she has won two team gold medalsat the European Championships in 2001 and 2010. She has one team silver medal in the World Championships and three individual European bronze medals.
She said her success is down to hard work and dedication. Originally from Taunton in Somerset, as a teenager she travelled the 200-mile round trip to train at Fort Hill Community Centre.
Her usual weekend involves punishing, six-hour training sessions learning routines and perfecting the various twists and rolls required.
She said: “You did not go to many birthday parties.
“Travelling from Taunton to Basingstoke all the time was always difficult. But I have to be quite focussed and it is difficult. It’s always going to be tough working around training.”
And since moving to the town, Chloe spends her weekends travelling to Luton and Croydon to train with her teammates.
She said: “It is easier that my team is like a second family. We have all been through births, deaths and marriages together.”
One teammate, 37-year-old Neil Bone, also from Brookvale, added: “It is such an unheralded sport and to see the dedication people like Chloe put in to get out there is quite inspiring.”
To help sponsor Chloe, call 07808 714554.
