Top athletes awarded scholarships

Thirty-six talented athletes from the central North Island tonight received Prime Minister's Athlete Scholarships to help them reach their sporting and educational goals, Sport and Recreation Minister Trevor Mallard announced today.

The 36 athletes are amongst a group of over 550 nationwide who were offered scholarships this year, up from over 400 in 2004.

Trevor Mallard presented the scholarships at the New Zealand Academy of Sport Central in Wellington.

The Prime Minister's Scholarships are a government initiative established in 2000 to help athletes pursue academic or trade studies as well as sporting careers. The scholarships are administered by SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand) through their high performance network, the New Zealand Academy of Sport.

"Our government has committed $5 million each year for this programme because we want to support sportspeople who are striving for excellence in their field. These scholarships help relieve some of the pressure on athletes who are struggling to balance their sporting and academic lives." Trevor Mallard said.

"It is important that sportspeople have some balance in their lives and that they take steps to prepare for life after sport. Studying for a tertiary qualification while training in their sport ensures that other opportunities will exist for them once they retire."

Today's scholarship recipients include Black Sticks hockey players and Olympians Niniwa Roberts-Lang and Beth Jurgeleit. The Black Sticks earned a top 6 world ranking in Athens. Paralympic swimmer Sarah Powell who finished 8th in the 400m freestyle in Athens was also a recipient.

Trevor Mallard said athletes receiving these scholarships will have their full tertiary fees paid, up to $10,000 per annum.

Scholarships are available to athletes who are currently carded by their national sport organisation and accessing services linked to the New Zealand Academy of Sport, or to athletes from non-carded sports who are prioritised by their national sport organisation.
Name Sport Hometown
Matthew Adams Soccer Napier
Maehe Austin Rugby Opoutama
Liana Barrett-Chase Netball Palmerston North
Susan Blundell Beach Volleyball Tauranga
Sean Brown Touch Hawera
Anne Cairns Wild Water Kayaking & White Water Rafting Palmerston North
Mathew Cameron BMX New Plymouth
Monique Coleman Fencing Wellington
Shannon Clayton Swimming Wellington
Angela Croad Hockey Palmerston North
Edwin Crossling Cycling (Road) Wellington
Joshua Davis Rugby League Upper Hutt
Michael Dawson Slalom Kayaking Tauranga
Robert Foreman Rugby Pahiatua
Hannah Gloyn Equestrian (Eventing) Palmerston North
Tim Gyles Hockey Wellington
Piers Gordon Underwater Hockey Wellington
Tim Hawkes Athletics Wellington
Richard Hearn Shooting Wellington
James Hill Cricket Wellington
Sarah Jane Jones Roller Skating Lower Hutt
Beth Jurgeleit Hockey Wellington
Eamon Lui Fakaotimanava Waterpolo Lower Hutt
Sam Mallard Triathlon Wellington
Richard Maxwel Underwater Hockey Wellington
Miah Nikova Rugby Wellington
Timothy O'Hara Judo Wanganui
Natalie Page Equestrian (Eventing) Levin
Tania Perrett Canoe Polo Nelson
Sarah Powell Paralympics Swimming Napier
Niniwa Roberts-Lang Hockey Wellington
Kristina Jane Sue Touch Palmerston North
DavidThomsen In Line Hockey Palmerston North
James Trevena-Brown In Line Hockey Paraparaumu
Martin Van Barneveld Triathlon Wellington
Victor Vito Rugby Wellington

© Scoop Media