Forty six sporting stars from the Isle of Wight, ranging from teenage prodigies to veterans have been successfully accepted onto the Isle of Wight Council's Talented Athlete scheme.
In December last year, the local authority announced it was providing grants of up to £400 and free access to its leisure centres to help support the Island's top sporting talent. Wightlink and Southern Vectis are also providing travel incentives as part of the scheme. The scheme was set up after the council’s sports unit secured external funding for a one year talented athlete programme. After receiving a large response, nearly fifty sportsmen and women in a variety of sports will receive support. Range of sports Among the people to receive support is Aidan Doughty who currently plays for the Wightlink Raiders ice hockey team, Nick Percy who is ranked in the world's top ten discus throwers for under 18s, and triathlete Cohan Tyler who is rising through the sports rankings. Also receiving support is 14 year old Renee Stewart who competes in Deaflympics swimming and Helen Little, also 14 years old who plays wheelchair archery. Fifty-nine year old Peter Newlands, whose sport is Blokart Landsail racing, has also been accepted onto the scheme, while at the opposite end of the scale, 11 year olds Daniel Cox and Ariela Richardson, who compete in cricket and athletics respectively, will now receive support. 'Proud history' George Brown, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member responsible for the economy said; "The Isle of Wight has a proud sporting history, ranging from the two NatWest Island Games we have hosted to producing Olympic medallists such as Louis Attril and Kelly Sotherton. "I am pleased the council, as well as Wightlink and Southern Vectis, are supporting dozens of our sporting stars to help them reach the next level in their sport and achieve more success." The full list of sports people accepted onto the scheme are: Wheelchair Archery Helen Little Athletics Ben Holdsworth Freddie Boyce Wallis Canning Tayler Canning Nicholas Percy James Forman Jessica Andrews Ariela Richardson Carla Plowden-Roberts Badminton Chris Massey Blokart Landsail Racing Peter Newlands Cricket Daniel Cox Ben Herridge Adam Hose Equestrian - Horse Driving Trials Julie Hoskyns Fencing Kieran Fradgley Golf Conor Richards Joshua Oddy George Faulkner Jordan Sundborg Hockey Saskia Janzen Tanisha Janzen Ice Hockey Aidan Doughty Motorcycle trials Becky Cook Road Cycling & Cyclo-Cross Rob Bolwell Rugby Union 7's Jaryd Robinson Sailing William Heritage Sophie Heritage Dan Atherton Josh Atherton Shooting Imogen Moss Matthew Reed Swimming Charlotte James Luke Herbert Izabella Blacklock Deaflympics Swimming Renee Stewart Tennis Regan Matthews Millie Coombes Michael Foulkes Triathlon Cohan Tyler Jack Grundy Liz Dunlop Steve Gratton Stephen Dines Weighlifing Lewis Ridett
Share on