Sports funding: World champions given special grants

David Gerrard is flanked by Hamish Bond and Alison Shanks at a Skeggs Foundation function at the...
David Gerrard is flanked by Hamish Bond and Alison Shanks at a Skeggs Foundation function at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery yesterday. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
A special Skeggs Foundation grant was given to world champions Alison Shanks and Hamish Bond at a presentation function in Dunedin last night.

The pair were jointly awarded a Skeggs Foundation Special Merit Award which was presented by David Gerrard on behalf of the Skeggs Foundation at a joint function with the New Zealand Academy of Sport (South Island).

Each athlete received $2500 in recognition of their achievements on the world stage and to help them stay at the top.

The Special Merit Award is granted annually for a sporting performance which, in the opinion of the foundation trustees, is of particular merit or distinction.

The performances of Shanks in winning the world title in cycling's individual pursuit and Bond in capturing his second rowing world title, in the coxless pair with Eric Murray, brought prestige and honour to Otago sport.

Shanks won a second gold medal in the teams pursuit and Bond won gold medals at the Munich and Lucerne World Cups.

The Skeggs Foundation has been supporting Shanks since 2001 and Bond since 2004.

This is the second time Shanks has received the Merit Award.

Skeleton racer Tionette Stoddard is the other recipient.

Twenty-six Otago coaches received foundation grants that are funded by the Community Trust of Otago.

The most prominent of these were Andy Adair and Gennadiy Labara (swimming), Raylene Bates and Jim Baird (athletics), Glen Sinclair (rowing), Peter Becker (curling), Mark Gribben (squash) and Martyn Williamson (cycling).

The foundation's coach and athlete grants have been administered since April 2008 by Sport Otago.

New Zealand Academy of Sport (South Island) chief executive Kereyn Smith noted that the past year had been successful for New Zealand, especially in sports such as cycling and rowing.

"We strive to provide the best possible support to athletes and coaches here in Otago, and it is rewarding and inspiring to see athletes like Ali and Hamish winning on the world stage," Smith said.

The New Zealand Academy of Sport had an ongoing programme that next year would focus on the Winter Olympics in Canada and the Commonwealth Games in India, Smith said.

"Athlete performance was underpinned by the work of the Academy and we continued to strengthen our network in Dunedin and in the rest of the South Island through successful business, community and sporting partnerships.

"This includes the Skeggs Foundation."

Smith listed the Dunedin City Council, the Otago Community Trust and the University of Otago as important stake holders.

 

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