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Winter Olympics hopefuls among 107 sports stars to be supported by Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund

16 February 2010

Alpine skier Sega Fairweather, ice hockey player Will Weldon and bobsleigh breakman David Smith are all hoping to follow in the footsteps of Derbyshire Winter Olympians Nicola Minichiello and Ellie Koyander, who are currently competing in Vancouver, and are among a total of 107 athletes who are to receive a bursary from the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund for 2010.

The Fund offers financial help to sports performers who live in or represent Derbyshire and who compete for England or Great Britain or have the potential to do so within 18 months, with bursaries of up to £300 awarded to help meet training-related costs such as travel, coaching or equipment.

The athletes supported by the scheme this year are competing in more than 30 different sports, including many Winter and Summer Olympic sports.

19-year-old Sega Fairweather from Swadlincote, 16-year-old Will Weldon from Long Eaton and 28-year-old David Smith from Derby all hope to make the GB team in their respective sports for the Winter Olympic Games in 2014 in Sochi, Russia, and helped launch this year’s Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund at Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre.

Other athletes who are supported by the Fund and compete in Winter Olympic sports include ice hockey players Thomas Soar, Callum Bowley, Lauren Scruby and Judith Browne, and freestyle skier James Machon.

Now in its third 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.

Among the organisations to be supporting the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund for a third year is Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby and Derbyshire County Council. The Electrical Contractors' Association is also continuing to support the Fund and has this year doubled its contribution to £1,000.

Cllr Clive Moesby, Chair of Derbyshire Sport, said: “We are very grateful to all the funding partners for their continued support of the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund, which would not be able to support so many talented young sports people without their help.

“The athletes and their families tell us that the bursaries really do help, and they are also pleased to be recognised as some of most promising sports performers in Derbyshire.

“It is great that each year we have been able to support even more local athletes, and we hope that when they reach their goals they will be able to look back and remember that the Derbyshire community recognised their talent and supported them on their journey.”

Performers from all sports recognised by Sport England are eligible to be nominated for a bursary, providing they are not Lottery funded or receiving help through the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS). 

The Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund is now in its third year, and this year will award bursaries of either £270 or £300 each to of the 111 athletes. 80 athletes who are currently competing for England or Great Britain or have already been selected to compete in 2010 have been awarded £300 each.

A further 31 athletes who are in a national development squad with the potential to represent England or Great Britain or a development squad with the potential to become contracted to a professional sports club within 18 months have each received £270.

In addition to the financial contributions, the University of Derby offers full fee scholarships to athletes who are part of the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund and choose to study at the university.

All of the local authorities also provide free access to their gyms and swimming pools to all athletes benefiting from the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund.

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, East Midlands Development Agency and the Electrical Contractors Association.

Athletes can apply for a bursary each year, and there are a number of athletes who have been supported by the scheme for the past three years.

The following local authorities have financially supported the Derbyshire 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.