TJ Baldwin, Great Britain's No 1 Junior racer, has just received a huge cash boost to help fund his programme on the GB Europa Cup ski team. For the second year running the 19-year-old from Tharston has been awarded the maximum �5000 grant as part of the Norfolk Rising star awards.

TJ Baldwin, Great Britain's No 1 Junior racer, has just received a huge cash boost to help fund his programme on the GB Europa Cup ski team.

For the second year running the 19-year-old from Tharston has been awarded the maximum �5000 grant as part of the Norfolk Rising star awards.

The awards are funded by the Norfolk Sports & Cultural foundation which supports young talented athletes and artists on the road to Olympics including London 2012.

TJ will be racing in the Europa Cup Downhill and Super G series throughout this season and some NorAm cup races in Canada in December.

'I am really delighted to get the Rising Stars funding again. It is a massive boost to me and will help to fund part of my season training and racing with the GB team in Europe and North America. I will now definitely be able to compete in all of the Europa Cup Downhill and Super G races this season and at the World Junior champs in France in February.

'Without the funding I was in serious danger of not being able to compete full time. Competing on the Europa Cup circuit and gaining a top 20 result will qualify me to race at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February.

'I am also aiming for a top 10 in both Downhill and Super G at the World Junior Champs.

'It's fantastic that I have been awarded the maximum amount again, and hopefully I will pull off the results to justify it.'

TJ is currently ranked No 1 GB Junior in all five disciplines - Downhill, Super G, GS, Slalom and Super Combined. He is also top 30 in the World Junior rankings in both Super G (28th) and Downhill (30th).