Young & Talented Cornwall grants over £12,000 to county’s talented young people

Young & Talented Cornwall, The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund, has awarded £12,500 in grants to Cornwall’s rising sports superstars, in the latest round of applications received by the fund.

The current burst of grants celebrate the Duchy’s sportsmen and women – from athletes to rugby players, tennis stars to para-surfers; with the funded monies going towards the recipients’ elite training costs, kit, equipment and travel.

Young & Talented Cornwall supports talented young Cornish people at the forefront of sport, the arts, science and music. The fund seeks to provide grants to the county’s brightest prospects to support them in pursuing their dreams fully.

Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, who heads up Young & Talented Cornwall, explains “We were overwhelmed by the number of very worthy applications for this round of funding. The talent that we have on our doorstep here in Cornwall is incredible – particularly in our sporting community. All the grant recipients showed grit and determination to their craft and we are really pleased to be able to support them on their journey to stardom. These are the future sporting household names.”

Sam Brereton, 17, from Padstow

Sam started athletics at Newquay and Par AC at the age of eight and had an instant flair for the high jump discipline. This    year, he will be representing Great Britain U20s at the Manchester International – an event that showcases athletes with the potential to be future GB Olympic stars.

Sam’s £3,000 grant will support with travel and accommodation at the Manchester International, as well as other future events and elite coaching in Birmingham.

Charlotte Banfield, 21, Penryn

Charlotte is British Adaptive Surfer and Athlete on the Special Olympics GB basketball team and English Adaptive Surfing Team. This year, Charlotte had plans to compete in international para-surf competitions around the world in Hawaii, Huntington Beach, Costa Rica and the World ISA Para Surfing Championships in California.

On her plans for the future, Charlotte explains; “My biggest hope for the future stem from my passion for sport. Since I was very little, I have always dreamt of being in the Paralympics and I will not stop until I get there. I really hope to represent Great Britain in Para-Surfing one day. Able bodied surfing is in the Olympics this year, so it’s only a matter of time until us para athletes join in!”

Elijah Ashmore ,16, Newquay

Elijah is a talented tennis player who has aspirations to study at university in America to further his chances of playing tennis at international level. Elijah began tennis at 9 years old. Living in St Eval on an old RAF base, he would spend his days playing on an abandoned tennis court with a cheap racquet that his Dad got him. After seeing a sign for tennis lessons, Elijah’s mum signed him up as way to pass the time in the summer holidays, but he turned out to have a real spark for the sport. Elijah has been part of Heron Tennis Club ever since – and represents Cornwall County at U18 level. His £1,000 grant will help with kit, equipment and coaching costs.

Betty Matthews, 16, Tregony, near Truro

Rugby first caught Betty’s attention at just five years of age while watching her brother from the side line. Not wanting to miss out, she took up the sport. Fast forward and Betty is currently with Bristol Bears Women’s RFU Club on their U18 Centre of Excellence programme. This is directly below the National Talent Development Group from which the U18 England squad is chosen. She has earned herself a place at the internationally renowned Hartpury College – a specialist college which caters for elite athletes, offering high level coaching and athlete support around a quality A level syllabus. The £1,000 granted awarded by Young & Talented Cornwall will help with board and travel.