A talented young Welsh surfer making waves on the national and international stage is once again receiving support from BCRS Business Loans as she prepares for another exciting season of competition.
Fifteen-year-old Josie Hawke, from Newgale in Pembrokeshire, has quickly established herself as one of the most promising young surfers in Wales since taking up the sport at the age of ten. After competing in events across the UK and Europe, she is now focused on continuing her development and gaining further international experience.
Last season proved to be a standout year for Josie and she delivered a dominant performance at the Welsh Surfing National Junior Championships, successfully defending her titles in the U14, U16 and U18 Girls categories. She also secured a close second-place finish at Boardmasters and won the U16 event at the Rip Curl GromSearch.
Josie said:
“Last season was really positive for me and this year I’ve set myself a number of goals, including doing well in national and European competitions, and expanding my surfing repertoire by exploring new surf breaks and different types of waves. I’m also focusing on my fitness, working on my cardiovascular training and spending time in the gym twice a week.
“I’m looking forward to competing in more events than last year, including some across Europe, and making the most of every opportunity to learn and gain experience.
“I’m very grateful for the continued support from BCRS and hope to make them proud through my dedication, hard work and ambition.”
Alongside supporting Josie, BCRS will also sponsor the Welsh Surfing Federation, backing a number of events and initiatives including the prestigious WSF Junior Surf Series. The organisation previously helped support Josie, a member of the Welsh Junior Team, to attend a week-long training camp in Lagos.
Josie’s mother, Izzy Pullin, said:
“Josie works incredibly hard and is always looking for ways to improve, whether that’s travelling to new surf spots or focusing on her fitness and training.
“The support from BCRS Business Loans means she can keep gaining experience at competitions and continue developing in the sport she loves.”
Stephen Deakin, Chief Executive at BCRS Business Loans, added:
“Josie is an exceptional young talent who has already achieved some fantastic results. Her determination and commitment to improving her skills are inspiring, and we’re proud to continue supporting her as she pursues her ambitions in the sport.”
Since BCRS was founded as a community development financial institution in 2002, it has provided loans worth more than £100 million to businesses across the West Midlands and Wales. A social impact report for the last financial year showed BCRS lent £9.9m to 124 businesses, safeguarding 889 jobs and creating 317 roles, adding £51.2m in value to the economy of the West Midlands, surrounding regions and Wales.
