Decathlete, Martin Brockman

Martin Brockman, the JWCT’s first grant recipient, is a decathlete from Maidstone, Kent and a member of Medway & Maidstone Athletics Club. Decathlon is a multi-discipline event which consists of the 100 metres, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400 metres, 110 metre hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500 metres, and involves extensive training and high equipment costs.

March 2011

The JWCT contributed an additional £1,000 sponsorship to Martin to help him build on his successes as funding has been difficult to find despite him winning a medal at the Commonwealth Games 2010, though he has continued funding from a Kent law firm and from the National Lottery. The Commonwealth Games has opened a few doors for Martin this year – he has been training with some of the top coaches in the UK doing some hurdles with sprint athlete Andy Turner’s coach, javelin with Mick Hill, and working with Dan Pfaff who is widely recognised as one of the world’s best athletics coaches. Martin will also be able to compete in some higher level competitions around Europe which means better weather, better tracks and a higher level of competition. He has competitions planned in Desenzano Del Garde, Italy, the National Championships in Bedford, UK, and is hoping to be selected for the European Cup of Combined Events, Italy.

June 2010

Martin has been awarded another grant of £1,000 by the JWCT to help him in his continued efforts to become a world-class decathlete. Martin is pushing for a score of over 7,500 points which would give him a place on the Great Britain team in the Commonwealth Games 2010 in Delhi, India.

Following a confidence-boosting effort in the National Decathlon Championships in Bedford in June 2010 where he came fifth despite injury, he is seeking a good score in his next competition at the South of England Championships.

May 2009

Martin has been awarded a third grant of £1,000 by the JWCT to help him continue his success. Martin over the last year improved from 6,500 points to 7,000 points making him the tenth ranked decathlete and the third ranked under-23 in the UK.

The Willson Family have been particularly pleased how Martin has been able to inspire other young people through his coaching. Tricia Willson, Jeremy’s mother presented the cheque to Martin on 24 May 2009, stating “Jeremy would be really pleased to see how his charity has helped such a hard-working and enthusiastic young athlete achieve his ambitions”.

May 2008

The JWCT has awarded further funding of £1,000 to Martin Brockman, a promising young decathlete with Medway & Maidstone Athletics Club.

Martin said “since receiving funding from the JWCT a year ago, I have had great success in both competition and in coaching. The money has allowed me to purchase essential equipment necessary for my training. So far I have used the money to purchase a number of event specific shoes, including sprinting, jumping, high jumping, throws and middle distance shoes, as well as two pairs of trainers. As well as this I have also purchased my own discus and shot to practise with.”

Martin added that his performance this year following second places at the South of England Championships held in Bedford and the Kent Multi-Event Championships held at Erith Stadium “has given me great confidence for the forthcoming 2008 season and I hope to go back to the Kent Championships and not only win but break the championship record which stands at over 6,800 points.”

April 2007

Martin was presented with a cheque for £1,000 by Jeremy’s twin brother Matthew at the Julie Rose Stadium at Ashford, Kent during a junior athletics match at which he was officiating.

Martin is a promising high-jumper and decathlete and is keen to improve his performances. He has made the decision to train full-time rather than go onto further education. The grant will contribute towards Martin’s equipment, training and travelling expenses to events during the next year. He has also committed himself to assisting with the coaching of other young athletes.