The aim of our scholarship scheme is to assist local sporting talent to perform to the best of their ability, by assisting them financially so they have access to greater sporting opportunities.
Lachlan has been competing in shearing sports for the last two years, and in the past season, he competed in fourteen events and made the finals in thirteen of these. He won the Waipukurau and Ohara Shows, came 3rd in the Golden Shears, and 2nd at the NZ Nationals. Lachlan aims to develop his skills to rise through the ranks and represent New Zealand.
Aria is an up-and-coming cricketer with goals to play for NZ internationally. At just 15, Aria is currently captain of the girl's first XI and is a pace bowler for the Boy's first XI at Feilding High School. For the last ten months, she has been training with a professional coach to improve her skills to reach her goals.
Abby plays for several cricket teams, including the Manawatu Women's Central Districts U19, and was recently selected for the NZ U19 squad. She was selected for the Manawatu U18 hockey team to compete in Christchurch. Traveling from Pahiatua five times a week for training and games all around the country for tournaments and to Christchurch for NZ training, Abby is highly dedicated to her sports, and we are happy to support her in her endeavours. Scholarship award accepted on behalf of Abby by her father.
Since he was four, he has been racing in triathlon and cycling. Tyler is now concentrating on an Aquabike, a 1.5km swim, and a 40km bike. Tyler was selected to attend the upcoming Aquabike World Champs 2024 in Spain. To qualify, he secured the gold medal in the 16-19 age group and the overall National Title at the Nationals in Taupo, with his nearest competitor three minutes behind.
Jessie has also qualified to compete in the Aquabike race at the World Triathlon Champs in Spain in October this year. Jessie looks forward to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we are happy to support her in her endeavours.
In September 2023, Ryan competed in Finland for the NZ Taekwon Do National team amongst 126 other countries. He placed in the top 20 in the world for sparring. In the next twelve months, along with preparing for the 2025 tournament in Croatia, Ryan is also coaching regionally for the nationals. He is completing his Medical Imaging and Technology degree at UCOL and a bachelor's degree at MIT to become a qualified radiographer
A Manawatu U17 rep and Whanganui U17 rep, Olivia has also played for Auckland at the Easter Classic. Olivia was invited to play softball in America at the Babe Ruth Championship with over 800 other softball players in July this year. Last year, she made it into the NZDSOX extended squad. Olivia's dream is to be offered a scholarship and to have a shot to make the Junior White Sox.
Mareta won the Freyberg Secondary School Sports Female of the Year for 2023 and was acknowledged at the Manawatu Sports Community Awards for her participation in various sports. This year, she was selected to represent NZ Indoor Netball in a TriNations series in July. She also represents Manawatu in netball, indoor netball, touch, and basketball and volunteers to coach school and community sports.
Nathan has been speed skating since he was ten years old, and now, a 16-year-old year 11 student at Freyberg High School – Nathan has represented Manawatu at many National Championships and Oceania Competitions and gained many medals, national records, and awards along the way. In April, he competed in the Oceania comps and gained two silver medals in only his second year in the junior men's. Next year, he intends to nominate again for Oceania's and Worlds in the Junior Men's age group. He is also a volunteer skate coach for the Manawatu Skating Club.
A Manawatu Rep, Lachy, plays for the Property Brokers Jets and is an NZ Rep who has just returned from playing in the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2024 in Turkey in June. He is the only player from Manawatu who has been on an NZ basketball team for the last few years. Lachlan was also named Supreme Male at the 2023 Manawatu Secondary School Sports Awards.
For the last two European Summers, Caleb has been living out of a van while racing in the XCO World Cups and completing the final year of his accounting degree. Caleb has the following events lined up to compete over the next few months, and we wish him well. World Marathon Mountain Bike Champs – West Virginia, USA in September. World Cup XCO Mountain Bike – Vermont, USA, also in September. World Cup XCO Mountain Bike – Quebec, Canada in October.
Diego is a current member of four different golf clubs and has been playing for four years. During that time, he played in several regional and inter-regional tournaments, and in 2023 and 2024, he was named Palmerston North Boy High School's number one golfer and captain. Diego was also selected to represent Manawatu/Whanganui in the 2023 and 2024 NZ Junior Interprovincial teams, 2021,22,23 and 24 Quadrangular Tournament teams, and, in 2022, was in the U17 Eagles National Tournament.
Hayley achieved a podium finish for Junior Elites U19 Oceania Champs, Gold in the mixed team relay at the same event, Gold in the NZ Secondary School Triathlon, and has qualified to go to Spain to represent NZ at the World Triathlon Champs.
Without opponents in his weight class or age category for fight experience, it has been Toby's sheer grit, determination, and high work ethic that has got him selected to represent NZ in the Black Gloves Team at the 2023 IFMA Youth Muay Thai World Championships in Thailand in September.
Isabella is part of the NZ U16 Water Polo Team and competed in the World U16 Water Polo Champs held in June in Turkey. She also represents Manawatu in multiple age groups and senior women's levels and is coaching the next generation of Manawatu water polo talent.
Liam represented Palmerston North Boys High School at the 2023 National Secondary Competition, named in the tournament team and Captain of NZ U18. He was also selected for the U21 Men’s Canoe Polo team (Junior Paddle Blacks), competing in China this October.
In 2023, Ben became NZ and Oceania Champion in three roller skating disciplines and represented NZ at the World Figure Cup in Germany, coming 2nd. He also won three gold medals at the Americas Cup competition in Florida, USA. Later this year, Ben is traveling to compete in the World Champs in Italy. Bellissimo!
Kate was the 2022 U21 Junior Paddle Ferns captain, which won the World Champs in France. Along with training, Kate is also a full-time nurse at Palmerston North Hospital and, last year, was head coach of the NZU18 Women's team for the Oceania series against Australia. This year, Kate has been selected for the NZ Senior Women's Canoe Polo team (Paddle Ferns) as team captain to compete in the October 2024 Canoe Polo World Champs in China.
Anabel is a member of the NZ team that competed at the World Junior Squash Championships in Texas in July. She is also the 2024 Head Girl at Freyberg High School and has won several titles, including five nationals and one Oceania. Anabel has been awarded the Dame Susan Devoy Trophy twice for the most outstanding junior in NZ and is a volunteer coach at the Squash Gym Junior Academy.
Kai was selected for the U21 Men's Canoe Polo team (Junior Paddle Blacks) and is competing in China this October. He is working hard to raise funds for his trip and giving back to his sport by refereeing and coaching younger teams.
Liam Brown – Rugby Referee Tyson Salanoa –Rugby League Alex Willis - Swimming Zachary Woollett – Track Cycling
Recipients photographed with Paul Roache, Property Brokers Manawatu & Wairarapa Regional Director and Simon Manthel, Sales Manager Feilding.