Talented Young Athletes presented grants
Left to Right – Sarah Gibson (Mitre 10 MEGA Wanganui), Renee Teers, Lucas Thompson, Drew Brenan, Jordan Herewini (slightly behind), Chase Morpeth, Jack Clifton, Ron Cheatley & Philippa Baker-Hogan (FCT Trustees)
The first Mitre 10 Mega Future Champions Trust round of 2019 has granted $9,500 to seven successful young athletes from Whanganui.
Velo Ronny’s Bicycle Store hosted a ceremony last night to present the grants and acknowledge the individual achievements. Former Olympic cycling coach, Dayle Cheatley and Cath Cheatley, former Olympic cyclists both gave inspirational talks on their individual journeys to success leaving athletes with some valuable advice for their sporting endeavors.
Naming rights sponsor, Mitre 10 Mega Wanganui, presented the grants on the evening wishing them the best for the future.
The Mitre 10 Mega Future Champions Trust aims to support our regions talented sporting youth with a “hand up” to reach their full potential at an international level in their chosen sport.
The Trust has been operating for four years and has granted $58,163 to forty seven individuals assisting them in participating in international events like World Championships and other major events in their chosen sport. Funding rounds are held twice yearly, at the end of March and September with the latest round providing grants to:
Lucas Thompson – Kayaking, selected to compete in the Asia Pacific Regatta in Lake Karapiro, New Zealand in May 2019 and the Junior World Championship in Romania held in August 2019.
Renee Teers – Speed Skating, selected to compete in the World Speed Skating Championship held in Spain in July 2019.
Chase Morpeth – Speed Skating, selected to compete in the Oceania Speed Skating Championship held in Australia in April 2019.
Drew Brenan – Speed Skating, selected to compete in the Oceania Speed Skating Championship held in Australia in April 2019.
Jack Clifton – Canoeing, selected to represent New Zealand in the CRNZ u18 team at the Asia Pacific Cup held in Cambridge, New Zealand in May 2019 and the ICF Junior World Canoe Sprint Championship held in August in Romania.
Joshua Valentine – Speed Skating, selected to compete in the Oceania Speed Skating Championship held in Australia in April 2019.
Jordan Herewini – Basketball, selected to attend the New Zealand Basketball Academy tour to Las Vegas.
Future Champion Trust Chairman and Olympian, Philippa Baker-Hogan says, “Future Champions Trust is incredibly grateful for Mitre 10 Mega and our sponsors for enabling us to keep supporting Whanganui’s promising young sports people to continue their pathway in high performance sport. One of our earlier recipients, Max Brown has just left New Zealand with the Elite Sprint Kayak Team, selected to represent New Zealand at World Cup events and aiming for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Max regularly talks about how the support of family, the local kayaking fraternity and Future Champions Trust helped him to achieve his goals.”
The Trust would like to acknowledge and thank their sponsors, Mitre 10 Mega Wanganui, H&A Print, Display Associates, Inferno Design, Sport Whanganui, Central City Pharmacy, Wanganui Lions Club, Doyle & Associates Ltd, Hogan Osteo Plus, Kelly Associates, Richard Millward & Associates, Markham & Partners.
Funding rounds are held twice yearly, the next funding round closes on 30 September. The Trust encourages athletes interested in applying to visit the website www.futurechampionstrust.org to assess the criteria for the fund and to access an application form.
All levels of support are appreciated and interested businesses are encouraged to contact The Trust through its website www.futurechampionstrust.org, or phone Philippa Baker-Hogan on 027 272 795.
River City Press 2/5/19