Council gives over £60k to help top athletes realise their dreams

With the Rio Olympics about to start, North Lincolnshire is celebrating its fair share of local sporting heroes.

The council has handed £6,500 to 13 sportspeople to enable them to represent Great Britain at European and world sports championship competitions.

Ruth Wilson from South Axholme is just one person to receive funding from North Lincolnshire Council to train with the talent squad for the Rio Paralympics which start in September.

The beneficiaries come from right across North Lincolnshire – Brigg, Hibaldstow, Scunthorpe, Kirton in Lindsey, Goxhill, Barrow, Epworth, Sturton, Wroot and Burton on Stather.

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The sports include figure skating, duathlons, boxing, waterskiing, badminton, ironman, triathlons and dance.

In addition, the council has given £54,425 to sports clubs and parish councils to help them improve leisure and sporting activities in their area.

The 13 people who received £500 each included:

• Axholme South individual triathlon training with talent squad for the para Olympics in Rio. Ruth Wilson
• European Championships – ETU Sprint Distance Triathlon in Portugal. Benjamin Baugh, Barrow on Humber
• 2016 Challenge Walchsee-Kaiserwinkl ETU Middle Distance Triathlon European Championships. Steve Clark
• Axholme Central Individual Team GB Dance World Cup Finals. Megan Durning
• Burton upon Stather and Winterton Individual Team GB European Triathlon championships. Jason Frary
• Ridge Individual 2016 Ironman World Championships. Steve Grocock
• Burton upon Stather and Winterton Individual Team GB World Duathlon Championships. Andrew Holt
• Ferry Individual GB Development Squad Figure Skating. Brandon Marshall
• Brigg and Wolds Individual Team GB World Duathlon Championships. Sheehan Quirke
• Lincoln Gardens Individual Boxing England Junior Development Team. Gemma Richardson
• Individual selected to Team GB for European Championships in Norway. Harry Spavin
• Ferry – World Senior Badminton Championships. Richard Traviss
• Town Individual GB Bobsleigh squad. Nathan Togun.

Councillor Carl Sherwood, cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Altogether this year, we have given 21 individuals and groups £70,000 to help them achieve their sporting goals, train and compete in major competitions, and improve leisure facilities in their community.

“This is a huge investment and demonstrates that North Lincolnshire Council is committed to recognising and supporting individuals to realise their dreams of competing at national and international level, and helping community groups improve facilities in their area.”

For more details about the community grants and to apply, visit the website.