Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund helps High Peak swimmer
High Peak swimmer Russell Smith has been presented with a £300 bursary as part of a scheme to support Derbyshire’s sporting talent.
The 16-year-old, from New Mills, is a multiple national medallist who swims for regional and national teams, and was also selected by British Swimming for last year’s End of Year Tour to Asia and Australasia.
He is part of the 2012 Olympic Target Squad and is on the England Talent Development Programme.
He achieved Personal Bests in his main events (100 / 200 Breaststroke) at the recent Olympic Trials held in Sheffield.
He is one of 60 athletes from across Derbyshire who have been chosen to receive a bursary from the Fund, and was presented with a £300 cheque on Wednesday, May 7.
High Peak Borough Council Cllr Andrew Bingham co-presented the cheque, along with Janet Goodison, vice-chair of Derbyshire Sport.
The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund has been set up thanks to contributions from a number of partners, including local authorities and businesses, and supports sports performers from across the county who are competing for England or Great Britain or have the potential to do so within 18 months.
High Peak Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council are two of the local authorities to have contributed to the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund, which is managed by Derbyshire Sport.
Other contributors include South Derbyshire District Council, Derby City Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Amber Valley Borough Council, Bolsover District Council, Erewash Borough Council, Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire Dales District Council.
In addition, the University of Derby, Derbyshire County Cricket Club, Rolls-Royce, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Lorson International, Derby College, Spirita, Fairgrove Group, East Midlands Development Agency, East Midlands Airport, the Electrical Contractors Association and Derbyshire Building Society have all shown their support financially.
Performers from all sports recognised by Sport England are eligible for bursaries, except those already receiving individual lottery awards or TASS funding.
Bursaries will be used to help athletes further their sporting careers, contributing towards meeting training costs such as coaching fees, travel and equipment.