SMS Academy
2018/19 squad assembles
Successful applicants to the 2018/19 SMS Academy announced along with sponsorship from Ride Scotland.
The successful applicants to the 2018/19 SMS Academy have been announced and have already attended Knockhill Racing Circuit today, for the first session of the Academy programme.
The SMS Academy was set up in 2017 to support young riders and drivers (aged 14-20) who are showing potential to excel in the sport. Having successfully supported 23 young drivers and riders in the 2017/18 programme, applications launched in August for a new fresh squad to come in and benefit from the Academy’s support. Since launching the application, we have received a huge amount of interest in the programme. This has made the job of the selection panel – which included representatives from Scottish Motor Sports, the Scottish Auto Cycle Union (SACU) and the Motor Sports Association (MSA) – extremely difficult but after some deliberation, the following competitors have been selected:
The SMS Academy members will each be allocated a coach to offer remote support and advice when needed across the year. Between now and August 2019, the members will take part in four development workshops, which will support them in all aspects of their development, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to maximise their performance.
The first SMS Academy workshop took place today – Wednesday 17th October – at Knockhill, where the Academy members are getting an introduction to the programme, creating their own development plan for the upcoming year and learning about sponsorship, amongst other subjects. The programme will again be delivered by fully qualified MSA Level 2 coaches; Blair Brown and Malcolm McNab will be continuing as Academy coaches but they will also be joined by SACU Enduro competitor, Kevin Murray, who – having went through his level 2 coaching qualification last year, will be tasked with leading some of the more technical discussions with the riders on the programme.
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