Run of brilliance for top skier

A young skier from the Black Country has been named top of his age group in two national contests.

Jordan Fellows from Wood Green High School in Wednesbury won two titles at the British Children's Ski Championships which took place in France and Austria over the Easter holidays.

The 12-year-old from Walsall gets extra help from school teachers who make sure he is ahead of classes before taking any time off for his skiing. He was awarded a sports scholarship to the Wood Green Road school which receives 900 applications for 250 places every year.

Jordan competed in both slalom and downhill events and usually trains on a dry slope in Telford using plastic skis.

Director of sport and deputy headteacher Gary Steele said: "Jordan is a very bright student who is in top sets for academic subjects and he has a fantastic attitude.

"When he came to us he had already won several local and regional contests.

"This is the best season he has ever had and he was able to compete in nine runs."

Jordan is looking for sponsorship to develop his talent.

Mr Steele said: "His family are really supportive but the difficulty he has is that as he gets better and better the equipment he needs becomes more specialised and more expensive.

"It would be fantastic if anybody could offer him some help. He has a great future ahead of him with the right backing."

Jordan, from Bloxwich, began skiing on a family holiday in Andorra in 2001 aged just six.

When the family returned to England he started lessons at the Snowdome in Telford and has been turning out to compete ever since.

He carried on lessons at Telford Ski Slope and joined its Saturday morning kids club the following year.

He joined the West Midland Race Squad in 2005.

This year he has won the British Indoor Championships, the NWSF Grand Prix, Bromley Club National and the Pendle Club National.

Anyone who could offer help is asked to call the school on 0121 556 4131.