BayTrust sports scholarships closing soon

INSPIRING: Peter Burling is a past BayTrust Athlete Scholarship recipient. PHOTO: FILE

INSPIRING: Peter Burling is a past BayTrust Athlete Scholarship recipient. PHOTO: FILE A_160217NZHJOTEAMNZ02 Applications are now open for the March round of BayTrust scholarships.

The scholarships recognise both athletes and coaches aiming to support and assist Bay of Plenty sporting talent to achieve on the national and international sporting stage and allow coaches to develop new skills that can be delivered back to the community.

The scholarships are funded by the BayTrust as part of their contribution to Sport Bay of Plenty's CoachForce programme and fully supports Bay Trust's vision of strong, vibrant and healthy Bay of Plenty communities.

Both scholarships are open to sportspeople residing in the region covered by BayTrust and Sport Bay of Plenty, with the intention that the coaching expertise and sporting talent is retained in the Bay.

The athlete scholarship applications are available to any athlete from the Bay of Plenty aged 16 - 23 who has achieved national representation at their sport while the coach scholarships are for coaches currently coaching at a recognised and endorsed level by their respective regional sporting organisation or similar body.

The most well-known athlete recipient is Olympic sailor Peter Burling who won gold at the Rio Olympics.

Other past athletes include Sam O'Dea (volleyball), Joseph Millar (athletics), Dirk Peters (mountain biking), Kurt Pickard (BMX), Natalie Peat (surf lifesaving), Amanda Landers-Murphy (squash). Some of the past coaches include Melanie Bennett (basketball), Aaron Osborne (canoe slalom), Jay Carter (golf), Moehewa Armstrong (rugby league), and Julieta Diaz (synchronised swimming).

Applications close at 5pm on March 13.

Information: www.sportbop.co.nz/funding/baytrust-scholarships