Your Move Falkirk has committed fresh backing to local athletes heading to this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, confirming £1000 sponsorships for three competitors with links to the district, including Falkirk Phoenix boxer Stephanie Kernachan.
The support comes via franchise partner Steve Hardaker Ltd, which owns 13 Your Move branches across Scotland and is sponsoring eight athletes in total from communities where it operates. In Falkirk, the branch is also providing £1000 each to weightlifters Beth Ashbee and Corey Duncan, adding to a Scotland-wide effort to help competitors meet the costs of preparing for and competing at an international event.
Local focus as Glasgow prepares to host
The Games, which run from 23 July to 2 August, will draw national attention to athletes representing Team Scotland on home soil. For Falkirk supporters, the inclusion of a Phoenix boxer alongside two weightlifters offers a clear local thread to follow as the competition gets under way.
Explaining the decision to channel funding to athletes where the group operates, Steve Hardaker said branches wanted to back the people they serve every day.
“We are delighted that our branches across Scotland are sponsoring so many of their local athletes ahead of this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. We are so proud of our world-class athletes representing Scotland on the international stage, and to be able to support them in this journey is a privilege. All of our team will be supporting our athletes this summer as they compete, we wish them every success and will be cheering them on!”
Support spread across Scotland
Beyond Falkirk, the franchise has distributed sponsorships to athletes connected to neighbouring and further-flung branches, reflecting a spread of sports and para-sport disciplines. The Stirling branch is backing debutant boxer Leo Church, while Your Move Dalgety Bay has thrown its support behind fighter Niamh Mitchell. In Fife, Your Move Dunfermline is supporting Finlay Davidson, announced as Team Scotland’s first Para-Powerlifter, and Your Move Glenrothes is backing Paralympic gold medallist Ben Sandilands in the T20 1500m. Your Move Dumfries has committed to T53/54 para-athlete Sean Frame.
| Athlete | Branch | Discipline |
|---|---|---|
| Stephanie Kernachan | Falkirk | Boxing (Falkirk Phoenix) |
| Beth Ashbee | Falkirk | Weightlifting |
| Corey Duncan | Falkirk | Weightlifting |
| Leo Church | Stirling | Boxing |
| Niamh Mitchell | Dalgety Bay | Boxing/Fighting |
| Finlay Davidson | Dunfermline | Para-Powerlifting |
| Sean Frame | Dumfries | Para-athletics (T53/54) |
| Ben Sandilands | Glenrothes | T20 1500m |
Why the backing matters locally
For athletes, small-scale sponsorships can make a difference to training, travel and equipment costs in the countdown to competition. For Falkirk residents, the decision by a high-street firm to fund three competitors offers a straightforward way to identify local faces among Team Scotland’s delegation and to rally behind them during the Games.
- £1000 per athlete has been provided by Your Move branches, including Falkirk.
- Eight Scottish athletes are being supported across the 13-branch network.
- The Glasgow-hosted Games run from 23 July–2 August.
Broader picture across the Your Move network
The approach taken by Steve Hardaker Ltd aligns sponsorship with the firm’s footprint, ensuring the benefits are locally felt in each town or city where Your Move operates. In Falkirk, pairing a boxer with two weightlifters offers a balance of combat and strength sports in which Scottish athletes have historically been competitive. While performance on the day will dictate results, tangible backing from local businesses provides an extra layer of support as the athletes finalise their preparations.
With the opening events now days away, Falkirk’s focus will naturally fall on Kernachan, Ashbee and Duncan. Whether following the boxing ringside narratives or the lifts on the platform, the trio’s participation gives the area a direct stake in the Games as Scotland competes on home ground.
