Funding boost for Derbyshire athletes

Some of Derbyshire’s most promising sporting talent can look forward to a brighter future after being handed financial backing through the ICON bursary programme.

A total of 127 athletes from across the county will receive up to £250 of the £22,925 fund raised through county sports partnership Derbyshire Sport’s business network.  They will also receive free leisure passes in the area where they train and be given valuable PR exposure.

Those supported in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire are listed below.

ICON was set up by Derbyshire Sport as part of the work to create a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Games in Derbyshire.

The bursaries have been made possible by the contributions of all 10 Derbyshire local authorities, plus a number of 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.

Director of Derbyshire Sport, Ilana Freestone said: “It’s only through the continued support of the ICON programme from our business members that we are able to give so many athletes a helping hand, so we’re very grateful to them.

“There is a fantastic spread of sports and ages being backed by the programme, and we wait with bated breath to see what these champion performers can achieve as they move up the levels.”

Athletes supported in Chesterfield

Isobel Ashley (Table Tennis) from Barrow Hill.

Alicia Barrett (Athletics) Newbold (pictured above).

Ella Barrett (Athletics) from Newbold (pictured above).

Bradley Buckland (Tennis) from Brampton.

Aaron Cobley (Taekwondo) from Staveley.

Ashley Davies (Squash) from Chesterfield.

Emily Hedger (Equestrian) from Sheffield and a member of Dunston Park EC, Chesterfield.

Athletes supported in North East Derbyshire

Jade Ashmore (Boxing) from Heath.

Amy Bell (Swimming) from Killamarsh.

Imogen Clark (Swimming) from Morton.

Matthew Cooper (Fencing) from Dronfield Woodhouse.

Caitlin Emerson (Athletics) from Shirland.

Niamh Emerson (Athletics) from Shirland.

William Gascoyne (Cycling) from Wingerworth

Bess Heath (Cricket) from Holymoorside.

Lauren Hill (Athletics) from Grassmoor.

Oscar Kelly (Swimming) from Killamarsh.

Adam Morewood (Cycling) from Dronfield Woodhouse.

Tilly Simpson (Athletics) from Eckington.

Morgan Swales (Ice Skating) from Calow.

Calli Thackery (Athletics) from Killamarsh.

Jessie Westnidge (Swimming) from Marsh Lane.

Millie Wilkinson (Skiing) from Dronfield Woodhouse.