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º£½ÇÖ±²¥ welcomes this year’s Elite Athletes

This year’s performance sport scholars have been officially selected and welcomed to º£½ÇÖ±²¥.

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ Sport’s Performance Sport Scholarship exists for student athletes performing at a high level, providing them with the opportunities and support they need to balance their university studies with competing in their sport. The group of 14 elite athletes compete at national and international levels in sports including tumbling, judo, cricket, rugby, boxing, taekwondo, netball and high jump.

The scholarship is individually tailored to the needs of each person and is worth up to £5,000 per year. It offers students a holistic package of financial support, access to state-of-the-art facilities, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, nutrition advice and more.

Previous sports scholars have included England Lioness Beth Mead, professional boxer, Savannah Marshall, Commonwealth GB cyclist, Harry Tanfield and Commonwealth GB para-triathlete, Jade Hall (Jones).

This year, the University has welcomed Grace Trimble, who plays women’s rugby union for Darlington Mowden Park Durham Sharks in the Allianz Premier 15s league – the top national league in the sport.

Also joining the scheme this year are talented tumblers Jess Brain and Lewis Westwood. They were part of the women’s and men’s GB Tumbling teams, both crowned World Champions at the Trampoline, Tumbling and DMT World Championships in Bulgaria on 17 November.

Will Jones, Head of Sport at º£½ÇÖ±²¥, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome this year’s performance sport scholars to Team º£½ÇÖ±²¥. It is fantastic to be able to support talented athletes across a range of sports, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing their development across the year.’

‘At º£½ÇÖ±²¥, we’re passionate about enabling students to make the most of every opportunity while at university. The performance sport scholarship will help exceptional athletes to excel both academically and in their chosen sport.’

This year’s elite athletes are:

• Saidi Bakare, Karate
• Jessica Brain, Tumbling
• Mary Corbyn, Kickboxing
• Emma Feeney, Boxing
• Harley Harbisher, Taekwondo
• Eve Jackson, Judo
• Joe McNeill, Judo
• Gian-Piero Meade, Cricket
• Hollie Smith, High Jump
• Olivia Stephenson, Netball
• Grace Trimble, Rugby
• Lewis Westwood, Tumbling
• Eleanor Whitmore, Judo
• Sophia Maycroft, Boxing