Search
shop

Yellow Jersey announce University Triathlon Scholarship winner

Congratulations to Laura Rose Smith - announced today as the winner of the Yellow Jersey University Triathlon Scholarship
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -

Last year (HERE), Yellow Jersey Insurance announced a Triathlon Scholarship opportunity to support a UK-based student through the 2018 triathlon season.

After a fantastic response, the judging has been completed and the winner of the scholarship is Laura Rose Smith. Here is the full announcement – we’ll have an extended interview with Laura available on the site later today.


Manchester student, Laura Rose Smith has won the inaugural Yellow Jersey University Triathlon Scholarship. Laura, a post-graduate dental student at the University of Manchester, was chosen as the standout winner by the judging panel.

The aim of the scholarship was to encourage more students to both take up and keep up triathlon, as research reflects a marked drop off in triathlon participation at University level. The judges were looking for a student who could demonstrate how they would increase participation among their peers and community, as well as someone who is passionate about the sport.

Applicants were judged on factors such as their community spirit, entrepreneurialism and achievements within triathlon, all of which Laura excelled in.

Judging the applications were industry experts John Levison, editor of Tri247; Ryan Georgiades, MD of Yellow Jersey; Brian Adcock, MD of Castle Triathlon Series; Oliver Heald, lead for Children and Young People at British Triathlon; Gary Roethenbaugh of Triathlon Industry Association; and Jodie Stimpson, professional triathlete.

Support for Laura’s 2018 season comes from a range of industry-leading British Triathlon partners including Yellow Jersey, ROKA, KitBrix, Training Peaks, SIS, Castle Triathlon Series. The scholarship package will help support Laura both practically and financially to reach her ambitious performance goals this year.

Despite being a runner from a young age, Laura is a relative newcomer to the world of triathlon. Her first introduction to the sport was in 2014 when she started her first degree at the University of Birmingham where she loved the sport so much, she set up a club at her local gym to allow non-students to enjoy the sport. However, since then Laura has fully immersed herself in the sport, competing as an age group duathlete and triathlete, and she has played an active role in the triathlon scene at both University of Birmingham and Manchester University. With this experience under her belt, Laura has also co-founded a coaching business.

Yellow Jersey’s Head of Marketing Emily Conrad-Pickles commented:

“Laura embodies everything that we were looking for when we founded the scholarship. She has a clear love for the sport, along with experience gained from her coaching business and setting up a triathlon club.

We feel that Laura will act as an excellent student ambassador for triathlon and look forward to working with her over the course of the year to help encourage more students to take up the sport.”

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Dave Ellis / Luke Pollard - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
Golden opportunity – British Triathlon launches search for LA2028 paratriathlon guides
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2024 - Anne Haug on run course
Best marathon shoes for Ironman – the ‘legal’ super shoes you CAN wear to level up your run split
Challenge Sanremo 2024 - Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
How to fuel your triathlon training: Expert nutritionist tips to help you nail every session
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
latest News
Richard Varga Jonny Brownlee Arzachena
Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee reveals ‘Last Dance’ motivation behind latest challenge
IRONMAN Kona 2022 Age Group Results
How will “re-imagined” IRONMAN World Championship at Kona actually look for Age Groupers?
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2023 Finish
IRONMAN World Championship goes ALL IN on Kona again with men and women to race on same day from 2026
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
Nice gets consolation prize of 70.3 Worlds after IRONMAN World Championships return to Kona
Kona scenic 2022 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
The survey results which prompted IRONMAN’s dramatic Kona U-turn
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...