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IN 2013, ROBERT WON TWO OF THE KETTERING SPORTS AWARDS
JUNIOR SPORTSPERSON (DETERMINED BY A PANEL OF JUDGES) AND THE OVERALL SPORTS PERSONALITY (AFTER A PUBLIC VOTE)
ROBERT ALSO FINISHED RUNNER-UP IN THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE YOUNG SPORTSMAN AWARDS
IN BOTH 2014 AND 2015, ROBERT FINISHED RUNNER-UP IN THE KETTERING YOUNG SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR.
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Photo: Robert with 2014 winner, Emily Williams
Photo: Robert with his Kettering Sports Awards trophies and GW Motorsport team-mate, Kris Nash:
Pictured below are Robert, 2012 winner Amanda Harris and Mayor Keli Watts:
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2013 NOMINATION
Robert is 8 years old and a Year 4 pupil at Mawsley CP School. His sporting activities this year include:
• Member of Kettering Rugby U8 team, scoring many tries
• Solid defender for Finedon Victoria U8 Football team
• Working towards Level 3 diving with Corby Diving Club
• Level 4 gymnastics at Kettering Olympic Gymnastics Club
• In October 2012, Robert achieved his level 7 swimming award and graduated to become one of Corby Swimming Club’s youngest current members
• Robert went on to achieve his level 8 swimming award in July 2013
Robert’s real passion and his area of excellence is, however, karting.
Robert first drove a “bambino” kart when he was 5 and he made good progress, winning numerous trophies.
Between August 2012 and August 2013, his highlights have been:
Daytona, Milton Keynes
• Robert was the youngest ever participant at the Junior Race School in August 2012
• He set a lap record on the junior track for an under 8 in September 2012
• Robert became the youngest ever driver allowed on the main National circuit in October 2012 and then achieved the honour of being the youngest ever graduate from the Junior Race School
• As a 7-year old, Robert was the youngest ever participant in a competitive InKart cadet race (ages 8-15) in November 2012
MSA (Motor Sports Association) Racing
It was apparent that Robert had real, natural talent along with the passion and he successfully test drove a full MSA (Motor Sports Association) race kart before Xmas 2012.
In February 2013 at the Whilton Mill circuit near Daventry, Robert passed his Kart Racing test to become one of the youngest ever holders of a UK Motor Sports Licence (the record holder was just 6 days younger when he passed) and he was recruited by the GW Motorsport race team, based near Northampton.
Robert had to wait until his 8th birthday in May 2013 before he could compete, initially as a “novice”.
His racing highlights have been:
• In his first event, he missed winning the novice trophy by 0.2 seconds, but did set a new circuit lap record for a novice in his class
• In his next race, Robert again set a new lap record for a novice in his class at Whilton Mill, winning the novice trophy and was one of the first drivers to be awarded the “Teng Tools” award for displaying “sterner stuff”
• Robert went on to set novice lap records at two more circuits, winning more trophies and soon qualified from novice to full racing status
• In Robert’s first full race, Robert had to compete against a number of drivers who have competed in this year’s British championship, comfortably overtaking some of them and getting as high as 4th place in the final
The Highlight
In August 2013, Robert returned to Milton Keynes for the first time since April.
Against a strong field full of previous winners aged up to 15, Robert won the final, setting yet another record as the youngest ever winner of an InKart race.
Whilst Robert has achieved exceptional success in his favourite sport of karting, he has also been quite dedicated to his swimming and thoroughly enjoyed his rugby, football, diving and gymnastics.
His involvement in karting has provided Robert with a foundation which instils within him a maturity and confidence dealing with people that are rare in one so young.
Robert is very aware of the importance of teamwork, which is a cornerstone of his involvement in rugby, from which he has taken the values of competing hard and fair; applauding the successes of teammates and opponents alike; celebrating success and learning from defeat.
Robert’s karting has been featured in the Northants Telegraph and Kettering Extra and in June he also featured on BBC Radio Northampton.
During breaks between races, Robert is keen to change his driver’s gloves for a mechanic’s pair to assist in the setting up of his own kart and those of his teammates, which seems to give Robert a greater appreciation of some of the physics involved in motor sport.
His sporting achievements have not come at the expense of his studies. He is in the top set of his year for science, reading and literacy and was even accelerated into the year above for maths.
During the year, Robert was awarded “Excellence” and “Inspiration” honours at Mawsley School.
We have no doubt that Robert’s passion, enthusiasm, maturity and success make him an ideal role model for the local sporting community, whether young or old.