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Stephanie (pictured left) visited
Suffolk County Council’s headquarters this week where she
was presented with a Suffolk County Council SportsAid scholarship
by Councillor Jeremy Pembroke, Leader of Suffolk County Council.
Commenting on the award Cllr
Pembroke said “We are delighted to be able to support Stephanie and
play our part on her journey to London 2012. We know how much hard
work and dedication it takes to compete at the top level. She
is a great inspiration to us all”.
The Scholarship scheme was
established two years ago, in partnership with national sports
charity SportsAid and Suffolk Sport, to provide the most talented
sporting prospects in Suffolk
with a significant boost in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic
and Paralympic Games.
With less than two years to go
scholarship recipients have made steady progress towards achieving
the ultimate dream of competing at the ‘greatest show on
earth’. None more so than Zoe Newson (18) who recently won a
world junior powerlifting title. Representing Great Britain at the International
Paralympic Committee World Powerlifting Championships in Kuala Lumpur,
Zoe competed in the under 40kg class and took gold with a lift of
82.5kg. In addition to taking the junior title, she also
secured fourth place in the senior event. Zoe, from East
Bergholt, will now turn her attention to the Commonwealth Games in India
later this year. Zoe also met Cllr Pembroke to celebrate her
success.
The achievements of other
scholarship recipients include:
- the
first GB senior hockey caps for Harry Martin (18)
- a
climb to third place in the world 200m backstroke rankings for
Chris Walker-Hebborn (20)
- Abbie
Thorrington (23) recently claimed an impressive sixth place
finish at the London Triathlon
- javelin
thrower Matti Mortimore (17) won a bronze medal at the Bedford
International Games
- Lewis
Coleman (18) represented Great
Britain at the European Junior Swimming
Championships in Helsinki
- Joshua
Tonnar (20) is now training with the Great Britain
senior rowing team
- Tim
Carter (18) and James Hayward (18) represented Great Britain
at the World Youth Sailing Championships
- Louise
Jukes (26) continues to play regularly for the Great Britain
Handball team
- Brian
Alldis competed in the Paralympic World Cup.
- Lewis
Pryke (16), Holly Durbridge (17), Kimberley Aspland (16) and
Chelsea Dixon (17) were all selected to represent Great
Britain at the World Indoor and European Outdoor Athletics
Championships for athletes with a learning disability.
The athletes have also been
active fulfilling a range of ambassadorial duties from school
visits, to attendance at the Suffolk Show, events, launches and
presentations. Each is required to undertake ambassadorial duties
as a condition of receiving a scholarship.
Cllr Pembroke said “We created
our scholarship programme because we wanted to support our young
people and inspire local communities. We are delighted that we have
been able to play a small part in their success to date and we wish
them every success as they strive to represent both Great Britain
and Suffolk at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Recognising the importance of the
scholarship programme International Handball player Louise Jukes
said “the scheme has literally saved me from quitting” whilst Harry
Martin commented “the scholarship means a great deal to me. It is a
real honour and privilege to be recognised by the county in such a
way”.
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