Sport Bay of Plenty, BayTrust and Acorn Foundation are proud to announce the recipients of the second round of 2017 Athlete and Coach Scholarships.

The scholarships are gifted with an aim to support and assist Bay of Plenty sporting talent to achieve on the national and international stage, and allow coaches to develop new skills that can be delivered back to the community.

'The BayTrust Scholarships are funded from contributions to Sport Bay of Plenty's CoachForce programme and fully support one of BayTrust's key outcomes: active communities,” says Sport BOP spokesperson Laura Weaser.

'These scholarships are open to sports people residing in the region covered by BayTrust and Sport Bay of Plenty, with the intention that the coaching expertise and sporting talent is retained in the Bay.”

The Athlete Scholarship applications were available to any young athlete from the Bay of Plenty aged 16-23 years, who has achieved national representation at their sport, while the Coach Scholarships are for coaches currently coaching at a recognised and endorsed level by their respective Regional Sporting Organisation (or equivalent body).

This round also includes an annual scholarship donated by Christine Tustain through the Acorn Foundation. This scholarship recognises a young athlete from the Western Bay of Plenty who is excelling in sport and life in the community, as well as on the world stage.

Laura says applications highlight the exceptional sporting and coaching talent that exists within the Bay of Plenty region.

'These scholarships demonstrate an appreciation for the hard work, commitment and dedication that these athletes and coaches give to their sport and communities.”

Acorn Foundation Christine Tustain Scholarship

Morgan Ball (Otumoetai) – Duathlon

With impressive results on the Duathlon International stage during the past two years, Morgan has achieved her 2017 goals by winning the Women's NZ Duathlon Championship and placing third at the World Duathlon Championship (both for her 20-24 year age groups).

And 2018 is looking like another busy year while Morgan juggles her study at Toi Ohomai Institute (towards a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation), training demands, part-time work and World Qualifying races to make it to the next World Championships in Denmark.

Born prematurely, Morgan has a lifelong lung condition, but she is proving that with determination and drive, there is little that she cannot achieve and is a worthy recipient of the Acorn Foundation Christine Tustain Scholarship.

BayTrust Athlete Scholarships

Shalom Broughton (Papamoa) – Basketball

Shalom sports an impressive CV at the young age of 16, having represented New Zealand and Tauranga City Basketball for the past five years. His skills are not limited to the basketball court at Mount Maunganui College, as he's a great athlete on the athletics field as well.

Bayley Martin (Rotorua) – Crossfit

Bayley (17) has already established himself as an up-and-coming crossfitter nationally and internationally. He placed in the top 20 at the 2017 Reebok World Crossfit games for his age group and is stepping up to compete in the Open Men's Worlds next year in Wisconsin, USA.

Daniel Cossey (Tauranga) – Taekwondo

As a first Dan Black Belt in taekwondo, Daniel is working hard to becoming a second Dan Black Belt in 2018, and after receiving a silver medal in the teams event at the 2017 World Camps in Ireland, he is on his way to achieving his goals.

Ruby Matthews (Hairini) – Swimming

A finalist in the Swimming Bay of Plenty Awards and 2017 Sport Bay of Plenty Sports Awards, it is evident Ruby is on track as a member of the New Zealand Swim Development Squad. Inclusion in this squad is part of her plan to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in the near future.

Liam Moffatt (Ohauiti) – Water Polo

Liam is a talented sportsman in a number of codes, but more recently has been focusing on Water Polo. As part of the U15, U16 and U17 New Zealand Water Polo teams previously, Liam has again been selected in the New Zealand U18 Water Polo team, which is off to the Junior Worlds Championship in Hungary in 2018.

Lochlainn O'Connor (Pyes Pa) – Swimming/Surf Lifesaving

Lochlainn has been selected in the NZ Youth Swim team to attend the Youth Olympics in Argentina in 2018, along with selection in the NZ Youth Surf Lifesaving team to attend the World Champs in Australia. This follows a very successful year both in the pool and in the sea, highlighting Lochlainn's determination to make it to the Olympics.

Isobel Pettit (Te Puna) – Synchronised Swimming

After not enjoying ‘mainstream' sports, Isobel had a go at synchronised swimming and became hooked – along with the whole family. Success has included many podium finishes in teams and duet competitions, and most recently Isobel and her duet partner Eden Worsley, obtained a silver medal at the Singapore Open.

Isobel will compete at the Oceania Championships in Papua New Guinea and the Junior Worlds in Budapest as a member of the NZ Team and NZ Junior Duet team with Eden.

Eden Worsley (Bethlehem) – Synchronised Swimming

At 16 years old, Eden has a promising future in the sport of synchronised swimming. Her medal count nationally and internationally show the extent of her skills in the pool. Recently Eden and her duet partner Isobel Pettit, obtained a silver medal at the Singapore Open. In 2018, Eden will travel to Papua New Guinea for the Oceania Championships and Budapest for the Junior Worlds as a member of the NZ Team and NZ Junior Duet with Isobel.

Amy Robinson (Ohauiti) – Hockey

As a member of the NZ Hockey Junior Black Sticks, Amy is no stranger to international competition on the hockey turf. This enabled her to step comfortably into the NZ Hockey Black Sticks, who have recently competed in the World League finals, qualifying for the World Cup in 2018. She is also a member of the national winning University of Waikato Midlands U21 Women's Hockey Team, who recently won the coveted NZ Community Trust Junior Team of the Year Award at the 2017 Sport Bay of Plenty Sports Awards.

Briarley Rogers (Ohauiti) – Basketball

Playing for a number of basketball teams, including Aquinas College Senior Team and Tauranga City Basketball Association representative U16 and U23 teams, has readied Briarley this year for selection in U17 New Zealand team. The team's qualifying campaign was successful and now Briarley is working towards the Basketball Worlds in Russia in July 2018.

Anna Wong-Toi (Rotorua) – Ultimate Frisbee

Anna likens Ultimate Frisbee to a combination of netball and American Football, played on a full rugby field with only seven people. Though relatively new to this rapidly growing sport, Anna was selected for the NZ U24 Ultimate Frisbee team, which is competing at the Worlds in Perth Australia in 2018.

BayTrust Coach Scholarships

Bay of Plenty Badminton

BOP Badminton has made a commitment to producing future coaches for their sport. As part of this commitment, they want five of their coaches to attend the annual Badminton NZ Coaches Conference.

Matt Cairns (Papamoa) – Surf Lifesaving

Matt is the Head Coach of the Papamoa SLSC and works with a wide range of athletes, from juniors through to masters. Matt wants to keep growing his coaching qualifications by completing the AUT Post Graduate paper Performance and Movement Analysis.

Jeanna Cooney (Te Puna) – Basketball

Jeanna is the NZ U16 Koru Coach, touring to Australia in 2018. Here she will gain invaluable experience at this level and be able to attend further Coach Development opportunities while there.

Cameron Grieve (Pyes Pa) – Football

Cameron is a committed youth coach, who is looking to complete his NZ Football Junior Level 3 Coaching Qualification so he can continue to grow his team's skill set and football experience.

Clifford Harris (Matua) – Football

Cliff, after completing his Junior and Senior NZ Football qualifications, wants to complete his Oceania Football Confederation/NZ Football B License so he can continue to coach effectively.

Aidan Kuka (Te Puna) – Rugby

Aidan has progressed through his NZ Rugby Foundation and Development Coaching Qualifications and is now looking to complete his NZ Rugby Level 3 Coaches Course. Along with this, he will undertake the Sport Bay of Plenty Performance Coach Advance (PCA) programme.

Tom Morrison (Papamoa) – Rugby

Wanting to live and coach using effective coaching practices, Tom wants to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Coaching.

Tenga Rangitauira (Rotorua) – Hockey

Tenga's commitment to hockey is with a view to not only to grow himself as a coach (by attending the Sport Bay of Plenty Development Coach Advance (DCA) programme) but also to develop his club and the culture, to keep growing hockey in the region.

Suzanne Ribeiro (Papamoa Beach) – Synchronised Swimming

As the NZ Synchronised Swimming Assistant Coach and Head Coach for the NZ Development team, Suzanne wants to attend the Singapore Synchronised Swimming Open to attend a Choreography Coaching Clinic with world-accredited judges.

Stacey Roche (Mount Maunganui) – Boccia

With an extensive background in Boccia, and having competed at the Paralympic Games in her sport, Stacey has moved into coaching to continue to share the sport that she loves.

She wants to complete the Sport Bay of Plenty Development Coach Advance (DCA) programme and obtain equipment to support her coaching practice.

Squash Bay of Plenty

With access to three of NZ's top squash coaches, Squash Bay of Plenty wants to give a number of their coaches (foundation, development and performance) the opportunity to learn from the best.

Chris Watene (Tauranga) – Basketball

As a local junior representative coach in the Bay, Chris is looking to attend the Sport Bay of Plenty Development Coach Advance (DCA) programme and also take up an exciting opportunity with Basketball Queensland, Australia, to complete a Level 2 Coaching Accreditation Course.

Christine Young (Tauranga) – Taekwondo

As an experienced athlete, instructor and referee internationally, Christine is looking to continue her coaching journey by attending the International Taekwondo Instructors Workshop in Auckland.