Tue 6th December, 2011
Twenty-two talented sporting stars and coaches at the University have received financial support to aid their progress.
The students, on a variety of courses, have been selected to receive Platinum Sports Awards of up to £1,500 this year to support their sporting commitments.
They all compete, coach or officiate at national or international level in a range of sports including rounders, cricket, bobsleigh and dodgeball.
Four of the sports scholars received awards for coaching or officiating. Martin Knight and Johnathan Rudland coach the British dodgeball teams, Georgina Tweddell coaches women’s football and Joshua Smith is an official for football.
The remaining students received awards for their sporting excellence. Joanne Horwood, Charlotte Porteous, Emily Stephenson and Lauren Weil are all part of the British women’s dodgeball team, with Arney Noden, Ed Pickerin and Thomas Stonehouse playing for the men’s squad. James Tuthill plays dodgeball for Scotland and all play for the University.
Helen Blencoe plays rounders, Joanne Cook, cricket; Abigail Fitzgerald, hockey; Daniel Fryer, karate; Jack Goodwin, athletics; Robert Green, Olympic weightlifting; Gemma Newson and Karissa Rodney, football. Jessica Saville plays lacrosse and Antoe Walters competes both in athletics and the GB bobsleigh team.
The awards were presented by Mike Rayer, Director of Rugby at the Bedford Blues and a former Welsh rugby union international, at a special evening at the University’s Bedford campus. All of the winners attended the awards - apart from Antoe who was bobsleigh training in America.
Director of Sport, Professor John Brewer, said: “It is an exciting time to be involved in sport nationally and at the University. We are continually increasing and improving both our sports performance and reputation.
“This scholarship programme has always been fantastic, but with the introduction of the awards for coaching and officiating we have taken it to a different level. We’ve also increased the amount of money this year which demonstrates our commitment to sporting and coaching excellence.
Sport Development Manager Julia Lines said: “This really is a group of elite performers and we look forward to following their progress. We’re really pleased that the Sport Scholarships have been expanded to include coaches and officials – they’re all fantastic ambassadors for sport at the University.”
Latest news» 2011» December» White-hot sporting scholars receive financial support
