Celebrating the Sports Stars and Clubs We Back

At Harwood, supporting our local community is at the heart of everything we do. We believe investing in local sport, culture and emerging talent is about creating opportunities, strengthening community ties and helping people thrive. In this article, we celebrate the clubs and athletes we’re proud to support, and look ahead to what’s next for them.

Jayden Sherwood: Rising Motorsport Star

We’ve backed Jayden’s journey for nearly ten years, watching him build a career on the track through hard work and consistent results. After a stellar 2025, in which he claimed the National Kart Cup Junior Championship, Jayden stepped up into the senior kart class for the 2026 British Kart Championship and has since secured a place on the Arden Academy development programme – a major milestone in his career.

He’s also passed his ARDS test (A Motorsport UK Novice Driver Training Course), opening the door to full car racing circuits. He has been selected as one of just 20 drivers nationally for the 2026/2027 Motorsport UK Academy Enhanced DiSE programme, which allows him to combine his academic studies with elite-level motorsport development.

“It’s a huge opportunity for me and another important step in my development as I continue working towards the move into circuit racing,” says Jayden.

Cricket: St Lawrence & Highland Court

It’s been a fantastic season for St Lawrence & Highland Court, who were crowned Kent Cricket League Premier Division champions – their first Premier Division title since 2007. They sealed the title with a hard-fought 19-run home win over Blackheath, completing the double over their rivals for the season.

St Lawrence & Highland Court went into the final day holding an eight-point lead, but it was far from straightforward; they slipped to 71 for 6 before steadying the innings and closing out a memorable victory posting 205-9 – a brilliant achievement for the club and a proud moment for everyone connected with it.

Rugby: Canterbury Rugby Football Club

Canterbury’s 1st XV finished 5th in National League Two for the 2025/26 campaign and have carried that momentum into a solid start to the new season. With the new season now underway, Canterbury 1^st XI had a tough opening match with a 31-34 defeat to Old Albanian, followed by their first win of the campaign: a commanding 38-15 victory at Dorking, in which the side crossed for six tries.

By backing clubs like Canterbury RFC, we’re helping ensure players of all ages and abilities have access to the facilities, coaching and opportunities they need to enjoy the game and develop their skills for years to come.

We’ll be supporting Canterbury throughout the campaign and wish them all the best in their upcoming fixtures.

Rugby: Snowdown Colliers RFC

Snowdown Colliery Welfare RFC has entered it’s 96th season, continuing a proud history as the last remaining “Colliery” rugby team in England.

As the club approaches its centenary, it has enjoyed a strong resurgence in recent years, finishing second in Kent Rural League A in 2023/24, winning the league in 2024/25 and reaching the Kent Vase semi-final in two consecutive seasons.

This season marks an important new chapter. The Miners have recruited 10 young players, nine of whom are completely new to rugby, and have moved into Kent Rural League B to give them the right environment in which to develop their skills and confidence.

Harwood has supported the club for the past 13 years, helping with kit, equipment and improvements to facilities. That support is particularly valuable for a small village club without its own permanent facilities, helping rugby remain accessible within the local community.

This season, we have also extended our support locally by sponsoring the kit for Snowdown Football Club.

We wish the club every success for the season ahead and look forward to seeing the next generation of local players develop.

Louise Evans: Athlete

This year marked our first season sponsoring athlete Louise Evans, and it’s been a rollercoaster. In her own words, it’s been her best season yet, and the summer months tell the story of why.

The year began with a disappointing indoor campaign, disrupted by factors outside her control, including collisions in the 400m. But after a tough winter training block, Louise headed out to Florida for a five-week training camp – part-funded by Harwood – which proved to be the turning point of her season. She returned to run her fastest-ever season openers, before earning an England call-up for the 100m and 4x100m at the Loughborough International, where she finished second in the 100m. The season was capped off with a first major championship on home soil, representing the GB team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – running the final leg of the 4x100m relay and helping the team qualify for the final in front of a home crowd, with her parents there to see it.

Looking ahead, Louise has her sights set on the World Championships and European Team Championships next year, with everything building towards 2028, where she’s aiming to secure her first Olympic team selection.

“Thank you again to Harwood for their support this year – none of this would’ve been possible without it,” says Louise.

Why We Support Local Sport

Ben Cheeseman, Commercial Director, said: “Supporting sports stars and clubs in and around our local community is something we’re incredibly proud of at Harwood. Whether it’s a club steeped in local history or an individual athlete chasing an Olympic dream, we see real value in backing the people and teams that make our community what it is. It’s been a fantastic year for all of them, and we’re excited to see what the next one brings.”

We’re proud of our role in these journeys and remain committed to continuing our support for local sport, culture and emerging talent in the years ahead.

If you’d like to learn more about the clubs, organisations and events we support, please get in touch