Bolsover sporting trio receive bursaries from talent fund

2 June 2008

Three of Bolsover district’s most promising sporting stars have been recognised with a bursary of £300 each from the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund.

Kickboxers Jack Griffiths and Tom Robinson, and trampolinist Ryan Rodgers were nominated to receive a bursary, and are among 60 athletes from across Derbyshire who have been chosen to receive cash help.

They were presented with their cheques on Wednesday, June 4, at Bolsover District Council’s offices.

Bursaries will be used to help athletes further their sporting careers, contributing towards meeting training costs such as coaching fees, travel and equipment.

The Fund, which is in its first year, 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.

Among the Fund’s financial backers is Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire County Council. (A full list is below).

Presenting the cheques on June 4 was Bolsover District Council Chief Executive Officer Wes Lumley and Cllr Eion Watts, Leader of the Council.

Tom Robinson, (15), recently had successful trials for Great Britain and will now compete in the 15-17 age category at the WOMMA World Games in Portugal in August for karate and kickboxing.

Last year he competed in the WOMAA World Games in Ireland, and won Bronze in the boys 12-14 age group in Karate and Gold in boys novice 12-14 in kickboxing.

Tom also helps teach both karate and kickboxing at Park Road, Shirebrook, New Houghton and at Shirebrook Welfare.

14-year-old Ryan Rodgers, from Whitwell, was placed 4th in his most recent Grade One national competition, held in Birmingham in May.

He has competed at Grade One level for the past five years, and qualified for the British National Finals in 2006 and 2007, although he did not compete last year due to injury. This year he has narrowly missed out in qualifying as he has had to pull out of some events due to a shoulder injury.

He competed at the recent National Schools Finals, representing Heritage Community School. He has also qualified to compete in the Feira Cup in Portugal in July, as part of the East Midlands Team, and will face trampolinists from around ten other countries.

Bolsover's Jack Griffiths, (9), has been training in martial arts for just over two years and specialises in freestyle kickboxing.

In March he took part in his first international competition, held in Austria, and came away with a silver medal in the mixed under 12 category.

He also 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.

Contributors to the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund include High Peak Borough Council, 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.

Pictured above is Tom Robinson and Ryan Rodgers with Chief Executive Officer Wes Lumley and Leader of the Council Cllr Eion Watts.

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