Scholarships have been awarded to ten athletes via the Kauri Club to help them advance their sporting careers and athlete development over the next year.

The recipients are Alec Jackson (Alpine Skiing), Charlotte van der Zwan (Equestrian), Brodie Cochrane (Hockey), Hayden Ganley (Hockey), Kyren Andrew (Para Cycling), Ana Allen (Rugby), Bella Earl (Cross Country), Flynn Venmore (Squash), Ry Luff (Swimming) and Matthew Rakena (Waka Ama). All the athletes are either representing New Zealand, apart of New Zealand squads or achieving nationally at a very high level in their chosen sports.

Through the generous support of Alan and Jackie Lints in partnership with the Kauri Club, the Kauri Club has been able to offer these annual scholarships over a 12-month period up to the value of $2,000. Previously, the Kauri Club made smaller grants of up $500 twice a year.

Thirty applications were received from across 21 different sports from athletes aged between 16 – 20 years old. The objective is to support talented young sports people in Northland and give them every encouragement to advance their sporting careers and develop as an athlete and as a person. In following the Balance is Better principles of athlete development, the scholarships aim to assist athletes over a year financially to further their development as an athlete. The scholarship money is to be primarily utilised to invest back into their learning and development with the aim of the athlete growing and applying their learning to their sport and throughout life. Each athlete will also be provided support by Athlete Support Advisor, Ady McKenzie who is a well-known, local high-performance athlete that has represented New Zealand throughout her career as a triathlete and runner.

George Goodhew, Kauri Club Panel member says “Once again we had a difficult task with a very high calibre of young, promising athletes, looking to further their careers. Congratulations to those who were successful”.

The Kauri Club was formed in July 2000 by Sport Northland, after a donation to the Trust by the family of the late Garry Frew, the legendary sports editor of the Northern Advocate.

Scholarships will be open again next year in September 2023. For more information visit www.sportnorthland.co.nz