EIGHT Upper Hunter athletes were among those who picked up a handy financial windfall this week.
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Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon recognised the outstanding achievements of the youngsters at an official presentation event in Cameron Park on Monday.
A total of 28 locals between the ages of 12 and 18 years - including Muswellbrook's Joe Hamson (swimming), Abigail Howard (netball), Alice Small (swimming), Mackenzie Pollard (netball) and Audrey Sinclair (netball), as well as Singleton trio Isaac Barry (cricket), Hallee Tanzer (netball) and Alix O'Bryan (swimming) - received Commonwealth Local Sporting Champions Grants, which award athletes' sporting achievements while supporting their competitive endeavours with a cash bonus.
Successful applicants received between $500 and $750 to contribute towards the cost of attending their championships.
The scheme acknowledges the distance many young, regionally-based athletes travel to compete in their chosen fields with increased funding available for people who travel more than 800 kilometres.
The latest round of recipients represent a variety of sports including swimming, tenpin bowling, mountain biking, soccer, netball, cricket, rowing, athletics, ice skating and hockey.
"The recipients of the Local Sporting Champions grants have displayed dedication and drive to reach a high level of achievement in their given fields," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"I congratulate them on their efforts.
"Thank you also to the parents and carers, sporting coaches and the many volunteers at local sporting clubs who have invested time and effort in helping these young athletes reach their best."
For more information about upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.joelfitzgibbon.com/grants
Sporting Champions recipients
Kaiden Smith (Abernathy) - hockey (Newcastle Men's Junior Hockey): NSW Under-13 State Indoor Hockey Championships
Merrissa George (Cessnock) - netball (Cessnock District Netball Association): 2019 Senior State Championship U'17s
Kiara Walters (Nulkaba) - netball (Cessnock District Netball Association): Junior State Titles
Mackenzie Petrysen (Nulkaba) - netball (Cessnock District Netball Association): Netball State Age Championships
Ella Andrews (Cessnock) - netball (Cessnock District Netball Association): NSW State Age Netball
Joseph Hamson (Muswellbrook) - swimming (Knox Pymble Swim Club): 2018 SNSW Senior State Age Championships
Halle Eick (Teralba) - soccer (Newcastle Jets Academy): FFA National Futsal Championship
William Eick (Teralba) - soccer (Newcastle Jets Academy): FFA National Futsal Championships
Chantelle Finlay (Edgeworth) - ice skating (Hunter Ice Skating Club): Mozart Cup
Ashley Probert (Booragul) - ice skating (Hunter Ice Skating Club): Amade Cup and Helvelius Cup
Tyler Brown (Morisset Park) - swimming (Macquarie Shores Swim Club): 2019 Hancock Prospecting Age Championships
Abigail Howard (Muswellbrook) - netball (Muswellbrook Netball Association): Senior State Titles, 2019 Australian Junior Championships
Samantha Clifton (Cardiff) - tenpin bowling (TBA): 2019 Australian Junior Championships
Isaac Barry (Singleton) - cricket (Singleton District Cricket Club): NSW All Schools Carnival
Tahlia Draper (Bellbird) - netball (Cessnock District Netball): State Championships
Alice Small (Muswellbrook) - swimming (Singleton Amateur Swimming Club): Australian Age Championships
Hallee Tanzer (Singleton) - netball (Singleton Netball Association): Senior State Titles 2019
Taylah Koeford (Cessnock) - netball (Cessnock District Netball Association Inc.): Netball NSW Junior State Titles
Hannah Scarborough (Nulkaba) - rowing (Hunter Valley Grammar School): 2019 Sydney International Rowing Regatta
Alix O'Bryan (Singleton) - swimming (Singleton Amateur Swimming Club): 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships
Trent Beashel (Balcolyn) - mountain bike (Hunter Mountain Bike Association): 2019 MTBA National Championships
Grace Baker (Kilaben Bay) - athletics (Macquarie Hunter Athletics Club): Athletics Australia Combined Event Championships
Hallie Dederer (Cessnock) - netball (Kurri Kurri Netball Association): Junior State Titles 2019
Mackenzie Pollard (Muswellbrook) - netball (Muswellbrook Netball Association): Junior State Titles
Audrey Sinclair (Muswellbrook) - netball (Muswellbrook Netball Association): Junior State Titles
Charlotte Moore (Kearsley) - netball (Cessnock District Netball Association): NSW Netball Junior State Titles
Jack Sellars (Mount Vincent) - swimming (Valley Aquatic Club): 2019 Hancock Prospecting Australian Age Swimming Championships
Ebony Van Eynde (Barnsley) - baseball (Toronto Tigers Baseball): National Women's Championships
