Thirty-two of Staffordshire’s most promising young athletes have been recognised for their sporting achievements and awarded their share of £15K, including two young sporting stars from Stone.
The young people received their awards from the Staffordshire County Council fund to help with the costs of training and competing in their chosen sports, and sailor Sarah Norbury and cricketer Harry Brundrett were among the recipients.
Grants of £1000, £500 and £300 were awarded to young people in sixteen different sports, reflecting the broad range of talent in the county. This year the Staffordshire’s Talented Athlete Fund received over 100 applications representing sports including, figure skating, athletics, cricket, canoe slalom, cycling and many more.
Sarah Norbury received a Gold Award and £1,000. Sarah, 18, from Stone is an internationally recognised sailor who has competed in three World Championships and five European Championships in her sailing career to date. Over the autumn and winter, most weekends will see Sarah travelling across the country to train, from Rutland Water in the Midlands to Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in the South.
Sarah received the Gold STAF award in 2015 and said: “Sailing, when you are based in Staffordshire, means a lot of travelling and I am away most weekends from Friday to Sunday evening. I am really proud and grateful that my commitment and effort have been recognised by Staffordshire.
“Any athlete wanting to become successful in their sport dedicates a huge amount of time to it, and I am no different. I won a Bronze medal last year and hope to represent Britain again this summer in the World and European Championships. Thank you so much to all those who have supported me in my journey.”
Harry Brundrett is a 15-year-old cricketer from Stone who plays for Staffordshire County Under 15’s squad and is Vice Captain. He also plays for Stone SP Cricket Club at both junior and senior level, where he has been since the start of cricket at Under 9s.
Harry received the Bronze award and £300. He said: “I am delighted to have been recognised not just for playing cricket but for my desire to help other young juniors at my club, specifically the Under 7 & 9s at our FNICN (Friday Night Is Cricket Night). I am really proud to represent my home county of Staffordshire and Stone SP CC and wherever my career takes me, my heart will always be with Stone and Staffordshire.”
Harry is currently on tour in Barbados with Staffordshire Development Squad where he is captain.
