Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund helps another 42 sporting stars on way to success
The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund – which provides emerging sports stars with cash to help them further their sporting careers – has selected a further 42 local athletes to receive bursaries.
The Fund was officially launched in December, when the names of the first 18 recipients, from eight sports, were announced, and more talent has now been recognised.
This includes sports performers from Chesterfield, Bolsover, Amber Valley, Derby City, Derbyshire Dales, South Derbyshire, Erewash and High Peak, who are competing in a wide-range of sports, from archery, basketball and boxing, to trampolining and triathlon.
Each athlete will receive Ł300, which they can use to help meet costs associated with training and competition such as coaching fees, travel and equipment.
As part of The Fund, The University of Derby have also offered ten full fee scholarships to performers in the programme who wish to study at the University of Derby.
A full list of bursary recipients is below.
The names of the 42 athletes were officially announced at an event at County Hall in Matlock, which was attended by Chesterfield athletes Scott Jenkins, Helen Solly and Garrett Nixon, and Derbyshire Dales athletes Sam Mak, Sara Shortland and Daisy Brooks.
Joining them was Derbyshire Sport Chair Clive Moesby, and Director David Joy, along with Cllr Geoff Carlile, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Ken Bull, Chairman of the District of Derbyshire Dales, and Cllr Keith Morgan, Chesterfield Borough Council Lead Member Healthy Communities and Leisure.
Cllr Clive Moesby, Chair of Derbyshire Sport, said: “I’m delighted that the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund has been able to identify so many promising sports performers in its first year.
“The athletes involved, and their parents, tell us that the bursaries are a tremendous help, and they also appreciate the recognition that the Fund gives. This is only possible thanks to the generous support of all the funders, and is a great example of partnership working across the county.”
All the chosen athletes are competing for England or Great Britain or have the potential to do so within the next 18 months.
The following local authorities have financially supported the Talented Athlete Fund: Derbyshire County Council, South Derbyshire District Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Derby City Council, High Peak Borough Council, Amber Valley Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, Erewash Borough Council, Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire Dales District Council.
A number of local companies have also contributed, including Derbyshire Building Society, Derby College, Derbyshire County Cricket Club, Lorson International, East Midlands Airport, Electrical Contractors Association, Fairgrove Group, Spirita, East Midlands Development Agency, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Rolls-Royce and the University of Derby.
The Fund is managed by Derbyshire Sport.
Details of each of the 42 athletes are below:
Archery
Sarah Smith (Amber Valley)
16-year-old Sarah Smith from Denby is currently ranked 1st (under 16) and 3rd (under 18) in Great Britain. She has shot for Great Britain four times, competing at the World Indoor Championships in Turkey, the European Championships in Portugal and the European Cup in Cyprus and the Ukraine, and has been selected to compete at the European Indoor Championships later this month.
Basketball
Ben Atterbury (Derby)
16-year-old Ben Atterbury from Oakwood plays for the Derby Trailblazers and is also part of the England U18 squad. He was involved in the England programme 2007 as a fringe player within the squad, and as a member of the Derby Trailblazers team represented the age group team in the National Basketball League.
Louise Bradley (Erewash)
Louise Bradley, (15), from Ilkeston, is currently the only Derbyshire girl in an England squad at any age group. She is a member of the Ilkeston Outlaws U18 team, and also plays in the National Basketball League for the Nottingham Wildcats U16 team. In October 2007 she was selected from the Area Performance Centre to train with the England U16 squad.
Nick Lewis (South Derbyshire)
18-year-old Nick Lewis from Swadlincote currently plays basketball for Derby Trailblazers U18 and Mens team. He attends Derby College Basketball Academy and also plays for Streetball Extreme. Last year he represented Wales U18 in the European Championships where they finished 2nd, and as captain of the East Midlands Basketball team he will compete in the National Finals.
Mikey Manghum (Derby)
Mikey Manghum, (17), plays for the Derby Trailblazers and England U18 squad. He represented the country on the England programme 2007 as a member of the team, and travelled to Estonia to the U16 European Championships (B Division) where he helped the team finish 3rd. As a member of the Derby Trailblazers team, Mikey played for the 2nd team in Division 4 of the National Basketball League.
Ben Morley (Erewash)
15-year-old Ben Morley from Ilkeston is currently the only boy in his age group representing Derbyshire in the England squad. His achievements to date include being selected for the East Midlands regional squad 2005 to represent the region at the Lilleshall National tournament, and from this tournament being selected for the first draft of the England squad. He was included in the England squad training programme for all of 2006 and 2007 and is now through to the last 14 for final selection for the European Championship squad for 2008.
Tom Pereira (Derby)
Tom Pereira, (17), is a member of the Derby Trailblazers and is also captain of the England U18 squad. He represented his country on the England programme 2007, and travelled to Estonia to the U16 European Championships (B Division) where he helped the team finish 3rd.
Boxing
Danny Hunt (Derby)
18-year-old Danny Hunt from Chaddesden is a national champion and part of the Derbyshire Amateur Boxing Association Performance Squad. He will be hoping to win the Junior ABA Championships when he competes in April.
Scott Jenkins (Chesterfield)
17-year-old Scott Jenkins is a national champion and four nations silver medallist. He is a member of the Derbyshire Amateur Boxing Association Performance Squad, and competed in the final of the Clubs for Young People Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield earlier this month.
Usman Malik (Derby)
Usman Malik, (19), from Littleover, is a national semi-finalist and part of the Derbyshire Amateur Boxing Association Performance Squad.
Brett Sykes (Amber Valley)
15-year-old Brett Sykes, from Alfreton, is a national champion and part of the Derbyshire Amateur Boxing Association Performance Squad. His goals for the next 12 months include continuing to hold his current titles of Derbyshire Champion, Midland Champion, Northzone Champion and National Golden Glove Champion, as well as retaining his ABA No.1 ranking at class, age and weight.
Canoe Polo
Nick Archer (Derby)
Derby’s Nick Archer, (30), has had an established paddling career both within Canoe Slalom and Polo, specialising within Polo for both the Great Britain Team and Viking Canoe Club. He has helped the GB Team gain medals at both World and European level, and remains a strong contender to help GB succeed at the 2008 World Canoe Polo Championships being held in Canada in July.
Andrew Petrie (Derby)
21-year-old Andrew Petrie has represented the Great Britain Canoe Polo Under 21 Team for the past five years and at the 2007 European Championships in France finished 4th. He now has the potential to gain full recognition into the Senior Team and compete for Great Britain during the 2008 World Championships in Canada in July.
Chinese Martial Arts (Wushu)
Sam Mak (Derbyshire Dales)
Matlock’s Sam Mak, (15), is Britain's first and presently only World Champion in Wushu taolu. He is also reigning European and National champion. He has been undefeated National Junior Wushu Champion since his first year of competition in 2002. Among his goals for the next 12 months is to retain the Junior National All Round Champion title and be selected to represent Great Britain in the second World Junior Championships in Bali in December.
Equestrian Vaulting
Sara Shortland (Derbyshire Dales)
14-year-old Sara Shortland, from Crich, is a member of the English Vaulting Squad. Among her many achievements was a first place in the Junior Individual event at the English Championships in 2007. Later this year she is due to compete internationally as part of the English Vaulting Squad in France and Germany, and at the World Championships Selection Trials in Scotland and Wales.
Fencing
Helen Solly (Chesterfield)
Wingerworth’s Helen Solly, (16), was selected by British Fencing Association to compete as part of the U17 Great Britain team in Slovakia in October 2007 and Germany in November 2007. She also fenced in Cabries, France as part of GBR U17 squad last year and was selected for the third year in succession to fence for the East Midlands Region (England Fencing) at the annual national inter-region two day fencing competition (Winton Cup) as part of a three-women team.
Gymnastics
Ricky Blampied (Derby)
16-year-old Ricky Blampied, from Allenton, won the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Sevice Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year title at the 2007 Derbyshire Sports Awards, and was also shortlisted for the BBC East Midlands Sports Awards. Ricky has competed at national and regional competitions for the past seven years. He competed in the National Championships in May 2007 in which he won six Silver medals and gained him a place in the World Special Olympics in Shanghai in October 2007, representing Great Britain. In this competition Ricky gained two Gold and five Silver medals.
Charlotte Caunt (Derby)
Mackworth’s Charlotte Caunt, (11), only started taking part in gymnastics two years ago and, through representing Derby City Gymnastics Club, has worked her way up through Derbyshire County Tumbling, through to regional competitions. In her first year in the National Squad she proved herself worthy of her place by finishing 17th at the World Age Group Championships (11-12 years) Women's Tumbling Qualification.
Garrett Nixon (Chesterfield)
14-year-old Garrett Nixon, from Staveley, has progressed through county and regional competitions to gain a place in the British Squad after first starting training at Queen’s Park Leisure Centre. His achievements in the last year include a first place in the British Championships (13-14 years) Men's Tumbling, and 12th place in the World Age Group Championships (13-14 years) Men's Tumbling Qualification.
Greg Townley (Amber Valley)
11-year-old Greg Townley, from Belper, won the University of Derby Junior Sportsman of the Year title at the 2007 Derbyshire Sports Awards.
Since being selected for the British Team, Greg has become the British Champion in his age group and achieved 1st place in the British Championships (11-12 years) Men's Tumbling and International Age Group Competition, Poland 11-12 years Men's Tumbling. He was also placed 9th at the World Age Group Championships (11-12 years) Men's Tumbling Qualification.
Damien Walters ( Derby)
25-year-old Damien Walters from Derby is the current British Champion, having won the British Championships (Senior Men) last year. He achieved 5th place at the World Cup in Belgium in May, and 4th place at the World Championships (Senior Men's Team) in November 2007.
Demi Watkins (Derby)
At just 11 years old Demi is already in the Great Britain Squad. Her achievements to date include 1st place in the International Age Group Competition, Poland 11-12 years Women's Tumbling, 4th place at the British Championships 11-12 years Women's Tumbling and 6th place at the World Age Group Championships 11-12 years Women's Tumbling Final.
Hockey
Laura Bridge (Amber Valley)
Duffield’s Laura Bridge, (18), is now part of the England U21 squad, having won a Gold medal at the England U18 European championship in Edinburgh and a Silver medal at the Euro 4 Nations in Barcelona in 2007.
Richard Cassidy (Amber Valley)
16-year-old Richard Cassidy plays hockey at Belper Hockey Club which is currently in National Division 1, and also plays for Trent College. He was selected to play at regional level last year, a year early, and was also considered for the England U16 team. This year he hopes to win a place in the England U18 squad, and play regional hockey for the Midlands U17 again.
Joanna Lane (Amber Valley)
15-year-old Joanna Lane, from Duffield, has achieved three national U15 Cup Gold Medals and an U16 indoor Silver medal through playing Hockey at Belper Hockey Club at National North Division. She has also represented the county, winning a national county Gold medal at U15, region, winning two Gold medals at U15. Through school hockey she has won four national schools titles at U14 and U16. Her representative honours include England U16 training squad in 2007 and selection for the U16 squad.
Jet-Skiing
Anya Colley (Erewash)
15-year-old Anya Colley, from Long Eaton, is the 2007 European Ladies Champion and 2007 Junior World Champion. She was the first girl to win the Junior Drag Race World Champion. Anya has so far represented England and Great Britain in Russia, USA and most European countries, and was named Sports Person of the Year by the governing body Jet Sport Racing Association of Great Britain.
Kickboxing
Jessica Collier (Derby)
Oakwood’s Jessica Collier, (16), won a Gold medal in the (Light Continuous) 50kg young ladies representing Great Britain in the WAKO European Championships and also scooped a Gold medal in the same event at the WAKO UK Championships last year.
Jack Griffiths (Bolsover)
Bolsover’s Jack Griffiths, (9), has been training in martial arts for just over two years and specialises in freestyle kickboxing. He competed in the WAKO British Championships at the Harvey Hadden Sports Centre in Nottingham in February and came away with a Bronze and a Silver.
Duane Reid (Derby)
27-year-old kickboxer Duane Reid, from Alvaston, is the British No1 in Sport Kickboxing (81kg - 86kg). His titles to date include WKA/IAKSA World Champion, World Peace Games Gold Medallist, IAKSA World Cup Winner, WAKO European Champion, Cimac Super League Grand Champion, PKA, EMA, Cimac English and British Champion. This year he hopes to compete regularly in the Kickboxing Super League.
Tom Robinson (Bolsover)
Tom Robinson, (15), competed in the WOMAA World Games held in Ireland last April and won Bronze in the boys 12-14 age group in Karate and Gold in boys novice 12-14 in kick boxing. He has now moved up to the 15-17 category and hopes to qualify for this year’s World Games in Portugal, which will be held in August.
Sailing
Daisy Brooks (Derbyshire Dales)
17-year-old Daisy Brooks, from Ashbourne, is one of two girls to have gained a place within the National Windsurfing Youth Squad. She will compete at a number of international events this year, including the RSX Youth Europeans in Sicily in August and the RSX Youth Worlds in Thailand in December.
Simon Foskett (Derby)
17-year-old Simon Foskett, from Allestree, has teamed up with Matt Rainback this year in the 420 (double handed sailing dinghy). Their first event together was the National Championships with a 13th place. Since the National Championships the pair have competed in the 420 Inland Championships and were placed 6th, and the 420 end of season championships (both national level events) and were placed 5th. Simon has been selected for the National 420 Youth Squad, and will compete internationally at the 420 World Championships in Athens this summer.
Matt Foskett (Derby)
15-year-old Matt Foskett, from Allestree, has progressed well with the Intermediate Optimist squad in the past year and has gained selection to the National Optimist squad for 2007/8. Matt finished 30th at the GBR Optimist National Championships (21st GBR boat), an international event with several top International countries sending teams to the event, including USA, ESP, IRL, DEN, UAE. Matt finished the year with a national ranking of 27th.
Ski Racing
Sega Fairweather (South Derbyshire)
17-year-old Sega Fairweather, from Swadlincote, took Gold in the Super G event at the Eastern Alpine Championships in Sugarloaf last month. She is currently attending Burke Mountain Academy, a prestigious ski school in America. She is currently ranked No.2 overall in Great Britain in Giant Slalom, 4th in Slalom and 5th in Downhill.
Snooker
Hannah Jones (Derby)
11-year-old Hannah Jones is currently ranked 15th by the World Ladies and Billiards Snooker Association 2007. Among her achievements to date was a 3rd place at the European Team Championships 2007. She was also a Derbyshire Under 15 finalist in 2007 and the youngest representative at the World Amateur Snooker Championships in Thailand (senior competition) 2007.
Swimming
Olivia Sefton (Erewash)
Olivia Sefton, (15), is part of the Derventio eXcel Swim Squad. She is a Double National Youth Champion at 100m and 200m Butterfly, and was selected for the End of Year Tour to Asia and Australasia.
Russell Smith (High Peak)
16-year-old swimmer Russell Smith, from New Mills, is a multiple national medallist. He swims for regional and national teams, and was also selected for the End of Year Tour to Asia and Australasia.
Taekwon-do
Gavin Bradshaw (Amber Valley)
Alfreton’s Gavin Bradshaw, (16), is currently ranked 3rd in the Cadet Division for sparring. His current titles include Scottish Heavyweight Mens Sparring Champion and Silver Medallist in Patterns Northern Open Champion. He represented England at the World ITF Takwon-Do Championships in Birmingham in 2007.
Kimberly Bradshaw (Amber Valley)
18-year-old Kimberley Bradshaw, from Alfreton, is ranked No1 in Britain and No2 in the world. She won the University of Derby Junior Sportswoman of the Year title at the 2007 Derbyshire Sports Awards, and has captained the England girls team on a number of occasions. She helped win the overall Junior Championship Trophy, and at the World Championships won the overall girls team Champions Trophy.
Kelly Gough (Amber Valley)
As a junior, 16-year-old Kelly Gough, from Alfreton, won a Gold medal in the British Championships at Sparring, a Gold medal at the 'World Kup' Championships at Birmingham and many additional medals for both Sparring and Patterns around the country. As an adult competitor Kelly won a Silver medal in Sparring at the British Championships in November 2007.
Trampolining
Ryan Rogers (Bolsover)
14-year-old Ryan Rogers, from Whitwell, was placed 7th in his most recent nation competition, and qualified for the British National Finals although he did not compete due to injury. He also competed in Prague in September 2007, finishing 9th in the Youth event, with more than 16 different countries taking part.
Triathlon
David Bishop (Derby)
16-year-old David Bishop, from Allestree, was placed 2nd at the National Youth Duathlon Championships and Inter Regional Triathlon Championships, and 4th in the National Youth Triathlon Championships. His main goal for 2008 is to qualify for the European youth relay team, which will compete in the European Championships in Spain in September.