close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • Young Whanganui sports talent receives financial boost from Mitre 10 MEGA Whanganui Future Champions Trust
    news

    Young Whanganui sports talent receives financial boost from Mitre 10 MEGA Whanganui Future Champions Trust

    Vaseline Posted on

    The following recipients have been announced for this funding round:

    • Jake Newton – selected for the finals of the 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships and the 2024 World Rowing Beach Championships in September in Genoa, Italy.
    • William Herd – also selected for the 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships and 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint teams. William was initially selected as a non-travelling reserve, but after impressing in training he was offered a place to row in the endurance race and as a reserve for the sprint event.
    • Jayde Bell – Qualified to represent NZ at the World Youth Darts Championship held in Budapest in October. Jayde started playing darts when he was 8 years old and joined the Whanganui Dart League. Last year he received a New Zealand ranking after finishing ninth in an open tournament against national youth and junior players.
    • Lucas Munn – Lucas will represent New Zealand at the Australian Schools Judo Championships. He will also be at the Brisbane International Open where he will defend his 2023 title.
    • Michaela Ross – selected to represent New Zealand in the women’s roller hockey team at the World Skate Games Italia 2024. This will be the first time in 34 years that New Zealand can participate in the World Skate Games.
    • Ngarongokaumoana Ponga – selected as part of the Aussie Drop Bears softball team for the Babe Ruth World Series in Florence, Alabama, USA in July-August 2024.
    • Symone Belton – selected to participate in the 21st North American Sadie Simpson Scholarship and Highland Dance Weekend in Hawaii in September 2024.

    To date, almost $100,000 has been awarded to 73 talented young athletes since the Future Champions Trust was established over a decade ago. The funding comes from local businesses and individuals and is designed to help talented, emerging athletes compete internationally and progress in their chosen sports.

    The funding will cover the costs of travel to international events, flights and accommodation for the team, coaching, competition entry fees, uniforms, insurance and day-to-day expenses abroad.

    AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.

    Mitre 10 MEGA Whanganui naming sponsor Hayden Gibson said: “We are proud to be part of our community and to support the young people who represent us with pride. Seeing several previous recipients representing New Zealand at the Olympic Games really shows that we are successful in helping our young people achieve greatness on the world stage.”

    “We look forward to seeing these young athletes perform in their respective sports,” said Gibson.

    Athletes interested in applying for financial support are encouraged to visit the fund’s website to review the fund’s criteria and download an application form. Funding rounds are held three times a year in February, June and October. The next funding round closes on October 31.

    The Fund is grateful for the generous support of Mitre 10 MEGA Whanganui, Arthur Wheeler Leedstown Trust, Shane Stone Builders, Sport Whanganui, Wanganui Lions Club, Inferno Design & Digital and the many local businesses and individual donors who have provided their support over the years.

    Community support is always welcome, with businesses and individuals particularly invited to join “the $250 club”. Interested parties can get in touch via the Trust’s website www.futurechampionstrust.org.

    ■ The trust is hosting a fundraising lawn bowls tournament at Aramoho Bowling Club on Friday 18 October to help raise funds for young athletes. The afternoon will include raffles, a sausage sizzle and a sports memorabilia auction. Teams of three can register at bit.ly/fctbowlsfundraiser24 or contact Sport Whanganui on 06 349 2300 for more information.

    Vaseline
    View all posts