Personalities, Sport | Posted on July 10th, 2026 | return to news

West Parley teen athlete is Young Achiever of the Year

Ellie Tompkins, 14, has been awarded a bursary from Wimborne Rotary in partnership with the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation.

A 14-year-old from West Parley is the winner of the 2026 John Thornton Young Achiever of the Year award. The bursary of £500 is funded by Wimborne Rotary in partnership with the John Thornton Young Achievers Foundation (JTYAF).

The funds will help Ellie Tompkins to achieve her aspirations in her chosen sport of trampolining. She has already used the award to assist her in entering an international competition, the 53rd Nissan Cup in Switzerland, where she qualified to the final in the 15–16 female category.

The judging panel was unanimous in selecting Ellie for her outstanding achievements in trampolining. Ellie was part of the GBR Development Squad from 2022–2024 and was selected last year to be part of the England Junior Squad for 2025, giving her opportunities to compete for her country for the first time.

In July last year, she represented England at her first international competition, the Scalabis Cup in Portugal, where she qualified in fifth place resulting in her first international final, and finishing in sixth overall. She then qualified to the English Championships in Coventry, from two qualifying events, and reached the final. Ellie came away from the event winning her age group and becoming English Champion 13–14 Women 2025.

In October last year, she represented England at the Loule Cup, her second International, where she made the top eight and qualified for her second International Final in second place, with a personal best. In the final she came third, obtaining her first International Medal for England. Ellie has also become Southwest Under 15’s Champion in the Southwest Closed Championship last December.

Brian Dryden, president of Wimborne Rotary, said: “We are delighted to present this year’s award to Ellie, who by her achievements has demonstrated all the qualities that we would wish to see in young people today. Ellie is to be congratulated on her achievements to date, and we wish her well for her future success.”