Sixteen-year-old Talbot Varcoe has been blitzing the local athletics scene and has caught the attention of Sports Travel Australia, but to get there he must pay the $7875 trip cost by June 1, something that has become a hurdle for his dairy farming family.
‘‘The season has been ridiculously difficult,’’ Talbot’s mother Janet Hodge said.
‘‘This is mainly because the water price has just gone crazy — and the drought doesn’t help, of course, as that’s just pushed the water price up.’’
Talbot will leave for Vancouver in June and will get straight into training to acclimatise before his first competition.
‘‘We can pick four events to compete in and I’m pretty sure I will go with javelin, triple jump and the 100 and 200m sprints,’’ Talbot said.
‘‘I enjoy doing a range of events, so I may change my mind — but those are my preferred events.’’
Talbot will first travel to British Columbia to compete at the Jack Brow Meet in Kelowna, then at the British Columbia Provincial Championships at Kamloops.
Hosted by Okanagan Athletics Club, the annual event sees more than 500 athletes from British Columbia and adjoining provinces compete.
Janet said her son’s sporting achievements followed those of his father Jason Varcoe and grandfather Morris Varcoe.
■Anyone interested in sponsorship can call Talbot on 0458 793 933 or donate by visiting: gofundme.com/talbots-athletics-canada-tour
