2008 Youth Sports Scholarship Recipients

Angela Smit (Angie) - Athletics

In 2008 Angie earned the titles of Canterbury Secondary School Outstanding Female Athlete, Athletics Canterbury Junior Athlete of the Year, Athletics Canterbury Middle Distance Athlete of the Year and Sport Canterbury Outstanding Summer Young Sports Achiever. She also won the title of Rangiora High School Outstanding Track and Field Athlete in 2007.

Angie competed in the World Junior Track and Field Championships in Poland in July 2008 and achieved a 4th placing in the semi-final of the 800 metres. She is the New Zealand national women's under16 800 metre champion. Angie won the 2008 New Zealand Secondary Schools National Senior Girls 800 metre title. She gained 3rd place in the British Championships under 20 800 metres and won both New Zealand Secondary Schools 400 and 800 metre titles. Angie has been selected to represent New Zealand at the Pacific School Games in Canberra in November.

"I would really love to get to the London Olympics in 2012 when I will be just 21", says Angie.

Angie is the winner of the $5,000 MainPower Youth Sports Scholarship. She currently attends Rangiora High School.

Georgina Allison (Athletics)

Georgina was selected to represent New Zealand at the Youth Commonwealth Games in India in October 2008. Over the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Georgina achieved several secondary school and national grade titles, including open title holder of the 300 metre hurdles at the National Secondary Schools' Athletics 2007 and the Women's under 16 100 metre hurdles at the Track & Field Nationals in 2008. Georgina also holds the Women's under 16 Heptathlon titles at the Combined Events nationals in both 2007 and 2008.

Georgina says her aim is to win the 100 metre and 300 metre hurdles at the secondary school nationals and to gain a medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games in October 2008.

"Looking even further ahead I am aiming to qualify for the World Junior Games in Moncton, Canada. As this event is in 2010, this is a long term goal which requires a lot of steps in between", says Georgina.

Georgina presently attends Rangi Ruru Girls School and is the winner of a $2,000 scholarship.

Jessica Loe - Rowing

Jess was placed 7th in the world in the Women's under 23 coxless fours in 2008. She holds Canterbury, Otago and South Island 2008 premier women's titles and was placed in the top four places in five events in the under 21 women's section of the New Zealand 2008 Rowing Championships.

Jess aims to achieve a medal finish at the 2009 under 23 world champs, gain selection in the New Zealand Elite team for 2010 and 2011 and the 2012 New Zealand Olympic Rowing Team.

"I have always had a dream of representing my country at an elite level and attending the Olympic Games" says Jessica. "In my chosen sport of rowing, I believe I have found my niche", she says.

Jess is currently employed on her parents' farm in Oxford. Jess received a $2,000 scholarship.