PENNY Southwood wants to hear from Herefordshire’s gifted sports people.

She will be identifying and promoting the development of the talented sports stars of tomorrow.

Southwood has been appointed as the new Herefordshire Sport’s Aspire officer.

The objective is to find the potentially gifted athletes and assess their needs in helping them reach the highest level.

“There is a lot of work being done by schools, clubs, sports organisations and governing bodies throughout the country to both identify and develop gifted and elite sports people,” she said.

“The introduction of a role that will focus specifically on the people of Herefordshire is a unique opportunity. This year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing and the prospect of London 2012, make it highly pertinent that this process is begun now, using local resources and knowledge and drawing on specialist sports science advice from Worcester University, English Institute of Sport and work being undertaken by centres of sporting excellence nationwide.

“My role will be to pull all of this work together and use it to provide a greater degree of focus and support to Herefordshire athletes.

“In addition to gathering information on those that have been identified as having potential, there are already many athletes living within the county who perform at a high level in their chosen sport who gain little support or recognition within the county.”

Southwood is being employed on a part-time basis by Herefordshire Sport - formerly known as Herefordshire Sports Council.

She already has a wealth of experience working with community groups, schools and sports organisations in Herefordshire.

Southwood moved to Herefordshire from Hertfordshire six years ago and has been with Halo Leisure for four years.

Her full-time position is the Halo Community Partnerships Manager, based at Broad Street in Leominster.

Southwood teaches fitness classes, is an under-9 rugby coach at Luctonians, has a close association with Sport England and is a member of the Obesity Taskgroup for Herefordshire.

The Herefordshire Sport Aspire concept was put together in March 2006 and backed by a range of organisations, including Herefordshire Council, Halo Leisure and the Herefordshire School Sport & PE Strategy Group.

A working group was originally formed from the Herefordshire Schools’ Sport and PE Strategy Group but Herefordshire Sport later took over the project.

Herefordshire Sport secretary Bryan White, who came up with the concept, said: “Great Britain’s achievements in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing have focused attention on the need to seek out and develop those with sporting abilities to be even more successful in London 2012.”

“Herefordshire had representation in four Paralympic sports in Beijing – swimming, blind football, wheelchair rugby and shooting.

“This level of representation must be seen as exceptional for a community of our size.”

Herefordshire Sport has recognised sporting success and achievement, for the past 30 years, through their annual Sports Personality Awards.

But the organisation has decided to put in place a county-wide project to focus on individual sporting success.

"This ambitious task can only be successful through a co-operative approach between schools, colleges, clubs and governing bodies of sport who are prepared to see elite achievement as an aim,” said White.

“Crucially, it is important to have the involvement and understanding of those adults who have direct family responsibility for the young people.

“The synergy of Penny’s current role and that of her responsibilities in Herefordshire Sport’s Aspire programme will be the key to the success of this exciting development.”

Southwood said: “There are so many factors that contribute to making an athlete successful in their chosen sport.

“It may be that while they are able to access excellent coaching they are either not aware of, or able to access, sports injury advice or treatment, nutritional advice or be aware of potential funding, for example.

“By looking at best practice around the country, and by talking to the athletes themselves, I will aim to draw together a resource that can provide information to elite sports people and to those identified as having potential.”

More details are available by e-mailing Penny Southwood on: penny.southwood@haloleisure.org.uk