Thirty six of Staffordshire’s most promising young athletes have been recognised for their sporting achievements and awarded their share of £15,000.
Staffordshire County Council launched its “Staffordshire’s Talented Athlete Fund” in December to support some of the county’s most promising athletes with the costs of training and competing in their chosen sports.
The awards were made in three categories (Gold, Silver and Bronze), to reflect the broad range of talent in the County. After assessing a record number of applications, grants of £1000, £500 and £300 were awarded to young people in sixteen different sports.
Staffordshire County Councillor, Mike Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Communities and Localism said:
“With World Champions, world record holders and international medallists amongst our successful applicants, there is no doubt that this group of athletes represent Great Britain’s next generation of Olympians and Paralympians.
“We are delighted to be able to support these young people on their sporting journey and help them with the costs of competing at this level. It is also great to see that athletes from 16 different sports received awards, which is a reflection of the excellent health of our sporting club structure across the county and the skills and commitment of the many volunteers who support the young people.”
The exceptionally talented youngsters come from sports including athletics, cricket, canoe slalom, cycling and many more. The money awarded is used to support the cost of their training and participation in competitions, including expenses such as travel, equipment and accommodation. The Scheme is supported by Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Here’s a full list of the successful applicants, phew!
Gold Awards (receiving £1,000):
Emily Nelson, aged 17 from Lichfield is a Track cyclist. Emily is Junior World Champion – Team Pursuit, Junior World Record Holder – Team Pursuit, and Junior National Track Championship medallist – Individual pursuit. Emily said: “Coming back from school to find out that I’d been awarded the Staffordshire Sports Grant was really exciting! The money I’ve received will be a massive help for me in achieving my goals this year. My main aim is to make it onto Great Britain’s Olympic Academy Programme, which once I’m 18, I’m eligible to be considered for. I’m currently on the Olympic Development Programme (ODP for short) which is the Junior Programme. Coupled with that, medalling in the Omnium event and Team Pursuit event at the Junior European Track Championships in July are also goals for this season.”
“Looking beyond 2014, the road to Olympics is definitely the path I want to be travelling! The help from Staffordshire County Council will be really beneficial, so a massive thank you for awarding me with this grant!”
Oliver Webley, aged 17 from Stafford is a BMX racer. Oliver is a National Series Boys Champion and a British Boys Champion. He was selected to represent GB at the World Championships in Holland in July 2014 and he only began BMX racing in 2010. Oliver said: “I applied for the Staffordshire Talented Athlete Fund and when I found out I had been chosen as a winner for the Gold Sports Fund, I was completely shocked. It’s great to see my achievements and sport have this high recognition. The funds will go a very long way towards the season ahead of me, like the BMX World Championships in Rotterdam, Holland, as well as providing me with the funds for the essential equipment needed for a competitive season in BMX Racing.”
Cameron Sargent, aged 13 from Coven in South Staffordshire is a figure skater. Cameron is the Special Olympic Gold Medallist of 2013 and an International Inclusive Skating Competition Bronze medallist. He was selected to represent GB in Special Olympic in both singles and pairs at the Special Olympics in Vienna in April 2014. Cameron said: “When I found out I won the award it made me feel special. With the money I plan to have more skating lessons, I want to try harder and try more competitions to impress my coach and also inspire our County”
Cameron’s mum Alison said: “Cameron loves skating and he is very proud of his achievements, because skating is something that he can do, something he can excel at. He loves to please people and make people happy, and skating allows him to do that. He just wants to progress and progress and to show others what they can achieve if they try.”
Silver Awards (receiving £500)
- Harry Yates, aged 15 from Lichfield – Cycling;
- Tom Derbyshire, aged 15 from Wildwood in Stafford – Swimming;
- Jonathon Homer aged 16 from Stone – Canoe;
- Matthew Bowley from Burton upon Trent – Canoe;
- Ben Meir aged 16 from Newcastle in Staffordshire – Triathlon;
- Sarah Norbury from Oulton in Stone – Sailing;
- Beth Thomas aged 12 from Denstone in East Staffordshire – Swimming;
- Anna King aged 13 from Wheaton Aston in Stafford – Football;
- Emily Capewell aged 16 from Lichfield – Cycling;
- Bethan Rees aged 14 from Stafford – Athletics
Bronze Awards (receiving £300)
- Lauren Gregory aged 12 from Pipe Gate – Athletics;
- Imogen Smith aged 14 from Burntwood in Lichfield – Athletics;
- Emma Rathbone aged 16 from Cheddleton in Staffordshire Moorlands – Athletics;
- Annabelle Hicklin aged 14 from Cannock – Handball;
- Megan Jones aged 12 from Newcastle-under-Lyme – Cricket;
- Ellie Bruton aged 14 from Tamworth – Football;
- Lauren Finney aged 13 from Newcastle-under-Lyme – Gymnastics;
- Olivia Gonsalves aged 14 from Cannock – Netball;
- Ahalia Ibanga aged 13 from Cheslyn Hay – Netball;
- Charlotte Bardsley aged 12 from Kinver in South Staffordshire – Table Tennis;
- Thomas Randolph aged 15 from Tamworth – Athletics;
- Thomas Hill aged 14 from Stone – Canoe;
- Edmund Gaffney aged 13 from Stafford – Cricket;
- Ben Hudson aged 16 from Wombourne – Cricket;
- George Sellers aged 16 from Stockton Brook near Endon– Cricket;
- Sam Slater aged 16 from Leek – Cricket;
- Ewan Wilcox aged 14 from Newcastle-under-Lyme – Cricket;
- Matthew Downes aged 16 from Stafford – Golf ;
- Jake Meir aged 13 from Newcastle – Hockey;
- Sam Eyre aged 13 from Cheadle – Swimming;
- Kingsley Barber aged 14 from Newcastle–under-Lyme – Table Tennis;
- Robert Bellamy aged 17 from Betley near Newcastle-under-lyme – Volleyball
- William Downes aged 14 from Stafford – Golf
