WILTSHIRE’S up-and-coming sports stars were celebrated at the 2022 Sports Scholarship grant presentation ceremony held at County Hall, Trowbridge.

Sports Scholarship grants of £500 were awarded to ten young athletes aged between eight and 18 years who compete at either a regional or national level in their chosen sport.

Bradford-on-Avon’s Matilda Carey (tennis), Chippenham’s Imogen Drew (badminton), Broad Town’s Charlotte Jordan (fencing), Malmesbury’s Eirlys Jones (rhythmic gymnastics), Ludgershall’s Harriet McRae (judo), Trowbridge’s Will Smith (pentathlon and triathlon), Corsham’s Theo Spurrell (javelin), Ludgershall’s Aidan Stanbrook (para-swimming), and Devizes’ Annabel Townsend (BMX cycling) all received recognition.

The Sports Scholarship grant programme is part of the Funding Future Olympians and Paralympians Foundation which is funded by money raised from the annual Wiltshire Business and Sports Gala Dinner.

To date, the grant has supported 55 young athletes, with £38,500 in funding being distributed to local talented athletes to support their development – providing access to training, equipment and competitive opportunities.

The gala dinner Gold Sponsors CGI, Landmarc and MiPermit were on hand to present the grants to this year’s recipients, and guests were provided with an inspirational insight into what it takes to be an elite athlete from special guest and previous grant awardee, Team GB Tokyo Olympian, Tom Gale.

Tom said: “I know how important it is to get the support right from the beginning. I remember when I received my Sports Scholarship grant in 2015, knowing that my local community was backing me inspired me to dedicate myself to my training to see how far I could get within my sport!”