Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Thirty six sportspeople, from a variety of different codes, are the recipients of the first round of BayTrust Athlete, Coach and Official scholarships for 2019.

The BayTrust Scholarships are funded from contributions to Sport Bay of Plenty’s CoachForce programme. The aim is to support Bay of Plenty sporting talent to achieve on the international stage, and a coaches and enable officials to develop new skills that can benefit the sporting community.

Of the 43 applications received, 19 athletes and 17 coaches were selected for scholarships. Sport Bay of Plenty’s youth sport systems advisor Belinda Muller says the team are pleased to see a variety of applications for the first scholarship round in 2019.

“There was a real cross-section of sports covered in this round including everything from canoe slalom and volleyball, to Muay Thai boxing.

“The range of sports demonstrates the depth of talent we have in the region. It’s great to be able to foster the talent of these athletes by helping them compete internationally, and to encourage the development of local coaches to ensure we have a strong local sport system that supports participation and emerging talent.”

Recipients include 2016 paralympian Fraser Sharp, Rotorua white water rafting athlete Maraea Grant and four coaches from the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Athlete scholarship applications are open to any young athlete residing permanently in the Bay of Plenty aged 16-23 years who has achieved national representation at their sport. The aim of the scholarships are to help the athletes compete internationally.

The coach and official scholarships are for coaches and officials residing in the Bay of Plenty that are currently coaching and officiating at a recognised and endorsed level. The scholarships support development opportunities that will have a significant impact on the coach or officials respective sporting communities.

A second scholarship round will open September 2019. Details will be available on the Sport Bay of Plenty website.

BayTrust Coach and Officials Scholarships

The following coaches working within athletics, cricket, rugby, rugby league, basketball, netball, swimming, rowing, Judo and wheelchair rugby received scholarships to support their ongoing development. From obtaining formal qualifications, attending workshops and upskilling themselves with mentoring opportunities, they will be able to make a significant impact on their respective sporting communities.

• Coach Jason Cameron, Rotorua
• Coach Richard Francis, Rotorua
• Coach Alastair Johnson, Rotorua
• Coach Audri Abbot, Whakatāne
• Coach Matt Adsett, Ōropi
• Coach Karen Berghuis, Whakatāne
• Coach Neisha Brooking, Whakatāne
• Coach Jeanna Cooney, Tauranga
• Coach Ryan Coupe, Tauranga
• Coach Neil Cudby, Pāpāmoa
• Coach Steven Finlayson, Tauranga
• Coach Summer Kerr, Pāpāmoa
• Coach Atirau Ohia, Mt Maunganui
• Coach Allen Pryor, Kawerau
• Coach Barry Ririnui, Tauranga
• Coach Jodi Tong, Mt Maunganui
• Coach Russell Williams, Pāpāmoa