PADDLER Ryan Sneddon’s career has catapulted after the tall teenager secured a big enough boat.

The Worcester 17-year-old’s Olympic dreams were boosted when he was one of just 10 students from 7,000 hopefuls to join Canoe England’s talent ID scheme.

Hours of intense training have started to pay off for the Worcester Sixth Form College ‘A’ level student.

But it was initially a struggle for the teenager, whose 6ft 4ins, 14 stone frame was struggling to fit into standard-sized boats.

However, Sneddon is now the proud owner of a new canoe, thanks to £1,500 sponsorship from Taylor Wimpey Midlands.

The house builder behind the Diglis Water development in Worcester stepped in to offer their support.

Since he secured the new boat, Sneddon has accelerated to boys’ ‘A’ level and is now in England’s top 10 — something he believed would not have been possible before.

He said: “Having my own boat that’s better suited for my build has made such a significant difference to my training and performance at regattas.

“I’m thrilled to be ranked amongst the top 10 at country boys’ ‘A’ level, something which would have taken me a lot longer to achieve in borrowed boats.”

Sneddon’s coach Nick Fowler said: “The progress Ryan has made now he’s got his own boat has been phenomenal.

“I’d targeted him to reach boys’ ‘A’ level by this September and he’s already achieved that, plus over 1,000 metres Ryan is now more than a minute faster than he was last year.

“He’s training harder than ever and if he remains focused and dedicated to the sport I’m confident he’ll be representing Great Britain in the Junior European Championship’s in Moscow later this year in what I’m sure will be the first of many international championships he competes in.”

His intense schedule sees Sneddon train every day at 6.30am and then again in the evening.

Anne Wallace, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey Midlands, said: “It’s fantastic that our sponsorship has enabled Ryan to not only buy a new boat but also improve so rapidly.

“We’re 100 per cent behind his bid for Olympic glory and will continue to lend our support to him as he moves ever closer to achieving his ultimate goal.”

Sneddon added: “I’d like to say a big thank you to Taylor Wimpey Midlands as they have been a fantastic support and their sponsorship has meant I’m even closer to achieving my Olympic dream.”