BayTrust Scholarships have been awarded to six local sports stars to help them achieve on the national and international sporting stage.
BayTrust and Sport Bay of Plenty on Tuesday announced the recipients of the BayTrust Scholarships. The scholarships aim to recognise athletes and coaches by supporting Bay of Plenty sportingtalent to achieve on the national and international sporting stage and by allowing coaches to develop new skills to be delivered back to the community.
Among the Rotorua athlete scholarship winners were cross country mountain biker Amber Cross, triathlete Josh Kenyon and mountain bikers Katherine O'Neill and Nigel McDowell. Local coaching recipients were Sam Thompson for mountain biking and Wayne Johnston for squash.
The scholarships were funded by BayTrust's $400,000 annual contribution to Sport Bay of Plenty's CoachForce programme.
Both scholarships were open to sports people residing in the region covered by the BayTrust and Sport Bay of Plenty, with the intention the coaching expertise and sporting talent was retained in the Bay.
Athlete scholarship applications were available to any young athlete from the Bay of Plenty aged 16 to 23 who had achieved national representation at their sport while the coach scholarships were for coaches who were currently coaching at a recognised and endorsed level by their respective regional sporting organisation.
Sport Bay of Plenty coaching team leader Dave Clarke said a remarkably high number of quality applications were received.
"Applications highlighted the exceptional sporting and coaching talent that exists within the Bay of Plenty region, while demonstrating an overwhelming sense of appreciation for the hard work, commitment and dedication that these athletes and coaches give to their sport and communities."
