Young Stone athletes who are making the grade on the national stage have been recognised by Staffordshire County Council.
Forty-two young athletes putting pride into Staffordshire attended a ceremony at Cannock Cricket and Hockey Club this week. They were presented with a cheque from Staffordshire County Council’s Young People’s Sports Performance Grant Scheme.
All are members of their national governing body’s performance or development squads and many are already competing for their country in their age group.
Young athletes from Stone who received a cheque were:
- Adam Burgess, aged 18, canoe slalom
Member of the British Canoe Union’s World Class Olympic Development Programme
1st in Great Britain Junior Selection in April last year
Won gold at Junior World Championships in France in July in C1 Team Event
National Great Britain C1 Junior Champion in October - Joe Clarke, 18, canoe slalom
Member of the British Canoe Union’s World Class Olympic Development Programme
Top ranked Junior in Great Britain in 2010, 1st in Junior and Under 23 selection and was first reserve for the senior team
Won silver in the European Championship team event in August
Won British Open International race in October beating an Olympic silver medallist and previous world champion becoming the only junior event to win the event - Rebecca Dell, 16, rowing
Rowed for England as part of a girls eight in July and again in August in the Ireland Home International Regatta where the team gained a silver medal
Won two gold medals at the British Rowing Championships in the eight and the quad
Won bronze at Henley Women’s Regatta in June in the quad - Robert Harratt, 15, canoe slalom
Junior 14 National Champion in C1 class and runner-up in K1 category
Member of Canoe England Junior Training Squad
Finished season ranked 2nd in his age group in the country
Selected in C1 and C2 for Under 16 Canoe England team - Elizabeth Miles, 15, canoe slalom (from Swynnerton)
National Champion in K1 slalom in her age group in June 2010
Member of the England Junior Development Squad
Qualified for final at European Tacen Teen Cup in August in one of the quickest times
Ranked number 2 in her age group in the National Premier Division - Samuel Miles, 16, canoe slalom (from Swynnerton)
National Champion in K1 slalom in his age group in June 2010
Member of the England Junior Development Squad
7th place in the European Tacen Teen Cup in August
Ranked number 1 in his age group in National Premier Division - Sarah Norbury, 14, sailing
West Midlands Regional Young Sailor of the Year 2010 and ranked number 1 girl in Britain and 7th overall
British Ladies Optimist Champion 2010, won on the 2012 Olympic waters in Weymouth
Represented Great Britain at events in Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Germany achieving many 1st place finishes
Top British Girl at the Optimist Europeans in Poland in July - Stuart Taylor, 16, archery
Member of the Great Britain Development Squad
Competed for Great Britain at European Championships in Germany in July
Staffordshire Junior and Senior Champion, West Midlands Junior Champion and Junior National Champion
Awarded Archer of the Year in December - Emily Woodcock, 18, canoe slalom
Selected for the Under 18 Great Britain team in April 2010
World Junior Team Champions in France in July
Junior European Team silver medallist in Germany in August
Ranked 8th in the Country on the Olympic Development Programme
Olympic badminton player Tracey Hallam relayed her experiences to the athletes at the ceremony. Tracey, from Burton, competed in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008 and was Ladies Singles Champion at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Each year the scheme provides funding to support young sportspeople who either live or go to school in Staffordshire and have proven to excel in their field. The money awarded is used to support the cost of their training and participation in competitions, including expenses such as travel, equipment and accommodation.
People receiving the awards were from a wide range of sports including athletics, snowboarding, swimming, canoe slalom and volleyball.
Each of the athletes received £380.
