Our Double Olympic Champion

Sevenoaks District’s Olympic champion, Lizzy Yarnold MBE, made history in February when she became the first British athlete to successfully defend her Winter Olympic title. The sensation retained her Olympic Gold at the Korean Winter Games in PyeongChang after she won Gold at the Winter in 2014. Lizzy, who grew up in West Kingsdown in the District, was the only Brit at this year’s Winter Olympics to clinch a gold medal. Lizzy is a talented all-round athlete who took up the Skeleton after entering a talent search in 2009. It takes nerves of steel to take part in this sport, as competitors slide down a frozen track, lying face down on a sled, reaching speeds in excess of 90 miles an hour, with no brakes! When Lizzy took up the Skeleton, the Sevenoaks District Sport Council, funded by Sevenoaks District Council, awarded her a grant to help with the transition to the new sport. Lizzy Yarnold, says: “It still hasn’t really sunk in that I am now a Double Olympic Champion! The last four years have been tough and at times I wasn’t sure if I would be able to defend my title, but it just shows, if you dream big and work hard then who knows what you can achieve. Thanks to everyone in the Sevenoaks District for all their support. I can’t wait to come and visit and show as many young people as possible my two Olympic Gold Medals - dreams can come true!”

Come along and congratulate Lizzy for her record- breaking achievements. If you are planning to bring a group of people to stand by the roadside, please let us know by Victory calling 01732 227000 or e-mailing communities@ parade route sevenoaks.gov.uk & timings inside We will make every effort to slow down the bus as it passes you. Share your photos with us on Twitter @sdc_ newsdesk or using #lizzyparade or via Facebook @ sevenoaksdc

Share your photos with us on Twitter @ sdc_newsdesk using #lizzyparade or via Facebook @ sevenoaksdc See our double Olympic Champion Lizzy Yarnold This publication is available in large print and on her open top bus victory parade can be explained in other languages by calling 01732 227000. on Wednesday 18 April March 2018 throughout the District www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/lizzygold www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/lizzygold sdc_newsdesk #lizzyparade Sevenoakssdc Farningham Road Orchards Academy 11.35am Swanley Horton Kirby Swanley Market Primary School 11am 12.20pm

Farningham

Eynsford

Eynsford High Street 10:45pm

Eynsford

Hever Road Shops 1.10pm Finish West Kingsdown Primary School 1.15pm

West Kingsdown

Shoreham Station 10:35pm Shoreham

Otford

Otford Kemsing Lizzy Yarnold Open top bus victory tour Otford Pond 10.30am Wednesday 18 April See Lizzy Yarnold on her victory bus tour. The tour will begin in Sevenoaks at the District Council offices making its way to Swanley, stopping at the bottom of Swanley High Bat & Ball Street (by the steps next to the NatWest bank) before Trinity School finishing in West Kingsdown. 9.45am Unfortunately, the public are not allowed entry into any of

5 the school grounds on the tour. 2

2 A All timings are approximate. The Vine: 9.35am For up-to-date progress of the tour, please follow us on Sevenoaks Twitter @sdc_newsdesk Sevenoaks 1 © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 Start Ordnance Survey 100019428 Leaves Sevenoaks District Council: 9.30am