Youthful athletes receive cash boost - October 2015

Five new faces are the latest recipients of grants from the Mitre 10 Mega Wanganui Future Champions Trust.

The five students were announced as receiving $1000 grants each at Wanganui Girls' College during the Dub.Dee.See. Youth Committee Secondary School Sports Awards on Wednesday.

Previously, the seven recipients for the June 2015 intake, who were given $1500 each, included three who got back-to-back grants after being part of the 2014 inaugural group - coming from inline skating and kayaking.

This October's group features all-new faces to get money from the trust, which relies entirely on sponsors and contributions for the $1000-1500 grants, giving every cent it receives back to the athletes.

"It's exciting to once again be able to support some new athletes in sports that the two-year-old trust has not supported previously and this highlights the wide and varied sporting talent we are breeding in Wanganui," Trust chairwoman Philippa Baker-Hogan said.

"Trustees are so grateful to Mitre 10 Mega Wanganui and all our wonderful supporters, who make our regular twice-yearly grants possible."

One of those faces to receive a grant was Wanganui High School student Blair Osborne.  He was recently selected and competed for the New Zealand Under-17 Mixed Touch team in a development tour in Australia.

The allrounder has seen success in basketball, touch and rugby union while at Wanganui High School.