Talented Chesterfield athletes to receive ICON bursary funding
Some of Derbyshire’s most promising sporting talent is bidding to follow in the footsteps of this summer’s Rio stars after being handed financial backing through ICON.
City of Derby swimmer Adam Peaty won Olympic gold and team-mate Lewis White, from Swadlincote, a bronze at the Paralympics, having both received support from the programme, set up to create a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympics.
Other ICON-backed athletes to appear out in Brazil included Chesterfield tennis player Liam Pitchford.
Now 119 athletes from across the county (listed by area below) in 33 sports will receive up to £250 each of the £18,150 fund allocated for 2016-17, which has been raised through county sports partnership Derbyshire Sport’s business network.
Those on the programme will also receive free leisure passes in the area where they train and be given valuable PR exposure.
Chesterfield athlete Ella Barrett, who has this year won the England Under-20 Indoor Championships over 400m, as well as a silver medal at the England Senior Outdoor Championships, is among those to have benefited from ICON support in 2015-16.
The 18-year-old Chesterfield AC athlete said:-
“I have had competitions up and down the UK in this past season and the bursary I have received has helped pay for the travel and also entry fees, which can really add up.
“The leisure pass has been really valuable because I have been able to get in the gym every week – and also in the swimming pool on the way back from injury. The media coverage is great for helping to show sponsors that what you have achieved is of a high standard.”
The ICON bursaries have been made possible by the contributions of all 10 Derbyshire local authorities, plus business members from across the county. Each successful applicant must live in one of the county’s nine district and boroughs or compete for a Derbyshire-based club and must already compete at a high level.
All should already be representing their country or Great Britain, have won a national championship medal, are part of a recognised development squad or a development squad aligned to a professional club or have been selected for the Derbyshire Institute of Sport.
Hayley Lever, Director of Derbyshire Sport, added:-
“There’s been some superb performances by athletes from across the county in the past 12 months. It’s not easy to reach the high level that this talented group have.
“They have helped put Derbyshire on the sporting map, and we look forward to hearing about more successes with the help of ICON support and that of their family, coaches and clubs.”
