Building Hampshire's Olympic legacy - 2013 Hampshire Talented Athletes announced
Monday, 25 February 2013
The successful applicants for the Hampshire Talented Athlete Scheme (HTAS) 2013 have been announced with 218 athletes from across the county set to receive support this year.
The scheme, which is funded by Hampshire County Council and administered by the County Council in partnership with Sport Hampshire & IOW, helps rising sports stars reach their sporting potential, and achieve success on the world class stage.
Athletes receive a range of benefits including help with training, equipment, physiotherapy, grants up to £400 and travel. Free bus passes are provided from local bus companies Bluestar, First and Stagecoach, as well as sports science support from Southampton Solent University.
HTAS aims to help with some of the sacrifices that athletes and their families have to make and support them with their dedicated commitment to their respective sport. At a time when costs associated with training and competition are on the increase the scheme can be a vital support on the way to European and World Championships and for some, the Olympics and Paralympics in Rio in 2016. The scheme is seen by many current and previous recipients as a much needed injection of support.
Since it began in 2008, over 700 of Hampshire's most promising sportsmen and women have received funding, including Olympic gold medallist Dani King. Many more athletes benefit from free access to training facilities.
Councillor Ken Thornber, Leader of Hampshire County Council, said: "Following the success of so many Hampshire athletes at the London 2012 Games, it is fantastic to see even more athletes than ever before receiving support from the Hampshire Talented Athlete Scheme. The Olympics may be behind us, but they have left an amazing legacy not only in Hampshire, but throughout the country as a whole. The achievements of Team GB Olympic and Paralympic athletes have inspired the nation, as well as helping to change public perceptions around disability, and wider health and wellbeing issues. The Hampshire Talented Athletes Scheme enables promising athletes to achieve their goals by benefiting from first class facilities thanks to support from local businesses. The costs of competing at this level are very high, and the margins between winning and losing are incredibly small. The Hampshire Talented Athlete Scheme goes a long way to providing much needed support to the committed, talented and determined sportsmen and women. We are delighted to be helping another group of athletes achieve their goals in 2013."
In the New Forest 24 athletes have been selected from over from 10 different sports. These include Discus thrower Phoebe Dowson who has been English Schools Champion for the last three years. She is currently ranked second Under 20 in the UK. Great Britain and Olympic Handball player Dan McMillan plans to continue to help drive GB Men's Handball forward and qualify for the World Championships. Swimmer Alice Tai qualified for the British Swimming World Class Podium Potential Squad, won nine gold medals at the DSE National Junior Championships, was voted Hampshire and Isle of Wight Junior Disabled Athlete of the Year and was an Olympic Torch Bearer.
In Winchester 21 athletes have been selected from 12 different sports. These include Emma Buckett who is ranked second in the U20 heptathlon in Great Britain. In 2012 she was selected to compete in the heptathlon at the IAAF World Junior Championships and was invited to compete in 100m hurdles at the Aviva Olympic Trials & UK Championships. She also won the England U20 Combined Events Championships in May. Gymnast Kelly Simm was eighth at the British Championships 2012 in the all-round competition, third in the vault final and fifth in the floor final. Annabel Vose sailed her way to third place at the 2012 ISAF Youth Worlds and won the Junior European Championships.
In Eastleigh and Southampton 39 athletes have been selected from over ten different sports. These include Joe Coombs who was English Champion in Canoe Slalom in 2012 and is currently ranked eleventh senior and fourth Under 23 in Great Britain. He has been the British Junior Champion and British Universities Champion four times and was seventh in GB selection in 2012. Jeamy Navarro-Schrank has an impressive medal record in Taekwondo including British National Champion 2010, 2011 US Open Silver medallist and Swedish Open gold medallist 2010 and 2012.
In Test Valley 26 athletes have been selected from over from 12 different sports. These include Badminton player Ira Banerjee who won the U15 National Championships in the girls and mixed doubles. She also won the Swiss Junior International and the U15 8 Nations competition in girls doubles. Goalball player David Knott and his brother Adam Knott were both selected for the London 2012 Paralympic Goaldball squad, with Adam being the top goal scorer. Sailer Matthew Wallis finished second in the 2012 RYA Youth Nationals. His brother Scott Wallis became 420 Junior National Champion in August 2012.
In Basingstoke 29 athletes from 15 different sports were awarded HTAS support. These include 400 metre runner Rob Tobin who was part of Team GB's 4x400m relay team at London 2012, Decathlete Ben Hazell who is currently ranked in the top three in the UK, Gymnast Jordan Lucas who has his sights set on a medal at the World Tumbling Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, in November and Daniel Reynaldo, cricketer for the Hampshire Disability and England Physical Disability Cricket teams, who was part of the first ever international series for people with a physical disability in February 2012 held in Dubai.
In East Hampshire nine athletes from six different sports were awarded HTAS support. These include Paralympic medallist Olivia Breen who won her bronze medal as part of the 4 x 100m relay (T35/8) team. Joseph Brown, athlete and hockey player, who came second at the English Schools Championships in the Javelin, as well being selected for the Under 16 England Hockey Squad for 2012/13. Brothers Hugo and Alex Hammond are both members of the England Physical Disability Elite Performance Squad, Alex scoring 80 runs for England against the Army U25 in August and being England's highest runs scorer this year.
In Fareham, Gosport and Havant 34 athletes have been selected from over 14 different sports. These include Sam Potts who competes in judo for Gosport Judo Kwai and Team Bath. In 2012 he won gold at the British Trials and silver at the Senior Maltese Open. Yasmin Parsons was chosen to represent Great Britain netball in Cape Town for the FISU Netball World University Championships where they won gold. She has played for England U21 in several internationals and in October was asked to represent England Seniors in the latter part of the Quad series in Australia and New Zealand. BMX rider Ayesha McLelland competed in her first World Championships in 2012 placing her number 4 in the world in the 17+ women's class.
In Rushmoor and Hart 36 athletes have been selected from over 14 different sports. Among them is Isobel Pooley , who benefited in 2012. She became British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Indoor and Outdoor High Jump Champion and went on to be named BUCS Sportswoman of the Year 2012. She represented Great Britain at the 2012 European Championships and was the McCain Challenge Series Winner, as well as being selected for the World Student Games in 2013.
Calendar
twitter
facebook