Car dealership gives its backing to GB gymnast

Hendy Honda has thrown its support behind the Olympic hopeful Kelly, from Whiteley, and has even given her a new car to make getting to training easier.

The 21-year-old is aiming for a place in the GB team for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

With 15 women competing for just five places in the team, it means Kelly’s weeks are filled with countless training sessions across the country and she says the Honda HRV from Hendy Honda has already made her journeys a pleasure rather than a chore.

She said: ‘The car definitely makes life a lot easier. Our national training camps are held at Lilleshall National Sports Centre which is a three-hour drive. It’s a long journey and with all the training it’s a lot of time on the road.

‘The Honda makes the travelling a lot more comfortable and me and my coach can take turns to drive which allows me to switch off and focus before training starts.’

Kelly is a member of the Dynamo School of Gymnastics in Hamble-le-Rice and she has secured a haul of medals, including at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

Ian Bennett, from Hendy Honda, part of the Hendy Group, said staff across the company are rooting for Kelly in her mission to secure a place in the Olympic team.

He said: ‘We would love to see a Hampshire sportsperson represent the country at the Olympics and we believe Kelly has just what it takes.

‘Having been a part of the community for more than 150 years we’re immensely proud of our local sporting heroes and happy to do all we can to support them.’

Kelly’s family have been customers of Hendy Group for years and she said she is following in her father’s footsteps with her new car.

‘The last few cars my dad has owned have been Hondas,’ she said.

‘So I knew they were great. I genuinely get up and look forward to driving it.’