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Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund supports local sporting talent for second year

4 February 2009

More than 100 promising sports performers have received £300 to help them with training costs such as coaching fees, travel and equipment.

Now in its second year, the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund is supported by all the local authorities in Derbyshire as well as a number of local businesses and organisations, all of which are keen to back local sporting talent.

A total of 108 athletes will receive a bursary this year, including sports performers from Chesterfield, Amber Valley, Derby, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, Bolsover, South Derbyshire, Erewash and North East Derbyshire, who are competing in more than 30 different sports, including archery, basketball, gymnastics, squash, table tennis and hockey.

And to launch this year’s Fund an event was held at the Heritage Centre at Rolls-Royce in Derby, attended by rugby union player Andrew Gates, kickboxer Molly Slifkin, archer Sarah Smith and basketball player Mikey Manghum – who have each received a bursary.

Joining them was Phil Horton from Rolls-Royce and Cllr Geoff Carlile from Derbyshire County Council, which are two of the organisations that are supporting the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund for a second year.

Cllr Geoff Carlile, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “Derbyshire County Council supports local people, and we are keen to do all we can to support these young people as they strive for sporting success.

“Each of the athletes are dedicated to becoming the best they can be, putting in hours of training each week, and we are pleased to be able to help them on their journey.”

You can see a full list of athletes who will receive a bursary this year in the Talented Athlete Fund section.

All the chosen athletes are competing for England or Great Britain or have the potential to do so within the next 18 months.

Cllr Clive Moesby, Chair of Derbyshire Sport said: “We are extremely thankful to all the funding partners for their support of the Talented Athlete Fund, which would not exist without their help.

“Athletes who benefited from the Fund last year told us the financial support was a great help, and they were also grateful for the recognition which the scheme gives.

“We are delighted to be able to support even more local athletes this year, and we hope that when they achieve international success, they will be able to reflect positively on their journey and remember that the Derbyshire community recognised their talent and supported them in the early stages of achieving their goals.”

The Fund is managed by Derbyshire Sport, and all of the local authorities in the county have contributed, along with Derbyshire County Cricket Club, the University of Derby, Rolls-Royce, Lorson International, Derby College, Derbyshire Building Society, East Midlands Development Agency and the Electrical Contractors Association.

Performers from all sports recognised by Sport England are eligible for bursaries, except those already receiving individual lottery awards or TASS funding.

Pictured above, from left, is Andrew Gates, Sarah Smith, Phil Horton, Molly Slifkin, Cllr Geoff Carlile and Mikey Manghum.