Solid Energy Amateur Sports Awards Trust rewards eight talented West Coasters

12 December 2011

Eight young athletes from the West Coast who are excelling in sporting fields such as basketball and hockey are receiving grants in the Solid Energy Amateur Sports Trust’s latest round of funding.

Greymouth hockey players Rachel Coll, 17, Tiffany Wilkins, 16, and Sioux Morgan, 16, have been identified by New Zealand Hockey as having the potential to reach the top level of their sport, with Rachel being selected for the under-18 test series against Australia. Their grants from the Trust will go towards travel and training.

Westport’s Jesse Forsyth, 15, also a standout hockey player, has represented Buller in the sport at a range of age levels. His goals are to be captain of the Buller under-18 squad and eventually make the Blacksticks. This grant will allow Jesse to attend the Future Elite Hockey Training Camp in Napier in December.

For several athletes, this grant is the latest of numerous donations that have been issued by the Trust. Westport’s Charlotte Elley,15, who has continued to shine in basketball by making the 2011 New Zealand under-16 basketball team, used last year’s award to fund a training trip to Australia and the Trust’s latest support will allow further training opportunities. Hokitika’s George Schroder, 16, has once again been chosen for an award because of his swimming achievements. He holds first place championships for breaststroke in New Zealand and Australia.

Also from Hokitika, Holly Robinson, 16, gave impressive results at the 2011 International Paralympic World Championships as well as successfully competing in athletic events in Australia, the Netherlands and Germany. She holds two national records, for javelin and shot put, and will use this latest grant to help her compete at every opportunity in the next year, including the 2012 Paralympics in London.

The eight successful applicants are rounded out by water skier Alex King, 17, who is ranked eighth in the world ranking for under-17 boy’s jump. Alex, who lives at Lake Kaniere, will use his grant to attend several international water skiing tournaments in the next year.

More than $170,000 in support since 1997

Solid Energy has supported the Amateur Sports Awards Trust since its establishment in 1997. The Trust was set up to identify and help West Coast sportspeople who are either representing at a regional or national level, or have the potential to do so. Over $170,000 had been distributed to about 150 recipients since inception and the assistance is paid to the player’s club or association to provide further training or offset the cost of travelling to compete. Applications for grants are taken in March and September, with awards being made twice a year.