YOUNG sailing star Douglas Lloyd Haynes has been named as one of the first recipients of the Asda Sporting Chance grant.

The 15-year-old from Caerleon is in year 10 studying for his GCSEs at Caerleon Comprehensive and has been identified as one of the UK's best future sport stars.

He will receive a grant of £500 from Asda Brynmawr which will be used towards training sessions, food and travel expenses.

Asda, with the help of SportsAid have complied a list of the best emerging young talent in the UK and Haynes was chosen to receive their grant for his outstanding performances in sailing.

Over the next five years, Asda Brynmawr will be giving out a further nine £500 grants and provide further support to each athlete.

"I am so thrilled to be chosen for this fantastic grant," he said.

"I think this is a really great thing Asda is doing for all young athletic rising stars. I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity given to me."

Haynes learned how to sail when he was six years old in New Quay, west Wales.

Since then he has lived in the water, spending hours every summer surfing the waves.

When he was 13 he was chosen to join the Welsh Junior sailing squad and trained and raced for Wales.

Training is run throughout the winter months in Plas Menai north Wales which is the headquarters for the Welsh Yachting Association.

During the summer season he attends sailing events all over the UK where he races against other teenagers.

Haynes sails a Topper which is a dinghy of about ten feet long and last year he was selected for the British squad and has spent the winter training with both the British and Welsh squads.

He has even had lessons on nutrition and what he should eat to maximise his stamina on the water. He also spends weekends in Weymouth at the Olympic Sailing Academy training.