Milton Keynes Community Foundation is proud to partner with SportsAid Eastern to award 7 local sports stars with bursaries of £1,000!
The presentation took place at Jurys Inn on 17th May 2019 at the MK Sporting Lunch. The winners were thrilled to be joined by Leon Lloyd, former England Rugby Player. The bursary money can be essential and is often used to contribute towards costs such as competition fees, coaching, purchasing new equipment and travel expenses.
The first bursary winner is Molly Chapman, Badminton Player, 18 years
This season Molly has been selected for both U19 European and U19 World Championships, reaching the last 16 at the Europeans. Internationally Molly has been successful, winning both the doubles and mixed titles at the recent U19 Slovenian Junior International, along with back to back wins in doubles at the recent Senior Gold Events in Wimbledon and Hampshire. Molly has now started her first year at University and is training regularly with Pete Bush. Molly hopes to use her bursary to fund her training and travel expenses.
Lisa Curtin, Badminton Player, 14 years
Lisa is currently ranked no2 in Europe for singles in her age group. Last year Lisa was selected for England at the U15 Europeans in Russia where she won a Silver Medal in the singles event. Internationally, Lisa has achieved further success winning two Gold Medals at the U15 Glasgow International, a Gold Medal in Mixed Doubles at the U15 Finnish Junior International were she also won Gold in U17 singles. Other recent achievements include winning Gold in U17 Polish.
She will be aiming to gain selection for the U17 Europeans in late 2019. Lisa is intending to improve on her identified technical, tactical and physical areas within her training environments so that she can challenge those full year U17 players throughout 2019.
Lisa’s ambition is to compete in the 2028 Olympics. She’s intending to use her bursary to support her with travel to tournaments.
Pamela Reyes, Badminton Player, 16 years
This year Pamela gained selection for U17 6 Nations event winning a Silver Medal in the singles event. Internationally she has won the singles title at the U17 French International title and reached the quarterfinals of the singles event at the U17 Estonian Junior International. Domestically, Pamela is U17 National Champion in singles and doubles, with Silver in mixed and U19 National Champion in singles. Recently she won a bronze medal in senior tournament in RSL Iceland International 2019.
She is aiming for selection for World Junior Championships later in 2109.
Estelle Van Leeuwen, Badminton Player, 14 years
Estelle has reached the semi-finals of singles and doubles events at the German U17 International. Estelle won the mixed in French, Belgium and Swedish Junior Internationals. In Belgium Estelle also won the ladies' doubles. She has recently won all three events at the U17 English Badminton Nationals being a year young and even picked up two medals in U19 Nationals. Due to her international results Estelle has qualified for the U17 European Championships late 2019. To gain further experience on the international circuit she intends to use the bursary to help her achieve this.
Ethan Van Leeuwen, Badminton Player, 17 years
Ethan is a member of the England Junior Pathway and was selected for U19 European Junior Championships and U19 World Junior Championships and reached the last 16 in the WJC doubles event and quarter finals of mixed and doubles at Europeans. Ethan has also won doubles and mixed titles at Estonian Junior International Series. Ethan is looking to gain more exposure at Senior Internationals to help his transition from juniors, along with further selection for the World Junior Championships late in 2019.
Emmanuel Filson, Wheelchair Basketball, 26 years
Emmanuel is working to develop his game in the Premier League to enable him to improve his skills and knowledge. His progress has led to him training at the centralised academy in Sheffield with the GB Men/Academy Players. Emmanuel hopes to achieve GB Gold Medal in European and World Championships and Paralympic Games, an All Star 5 Selection and to win EuroCup. Emmanuel has said that the bursary will make a big impact in his development as an athlete, helping him to get World class coaching, much needed equipment, travel and accommodation.
Ebony Carr, Athlete, 19 years
Ebony is a developing Athlete who aims to make, and continue to make, age group international teams over the next 2-3 years, developing the potential to make senior teams within 4-6 years. Ebony was awarded the Athlete of the Year trophy and won a Bronze medal at the World Junior track and field Championships held in Finland. She ran the anchor leg for the 4x100m relay team who came 2nd in their heat. Ebony has said the bursary will help her to travel to competitions abroad; she is hoping to be selected for the Olympics next year and aiming to be on the radar for the 2024 Olympics, which is her main ambition at the moment.
Roger Fennemore MBE, the Regional Director of SportsAid said:
"SportsAid endorse the impact that these bursaries make and remains committed to continuing the long standing partnership with MK Community Foundation. These talented winners join previous local recipients such as Greg Rutherford MBE and Gail Emms MBE, who have also received funding from SportsAid, a National charity set up in 1976 to provide support and assistance to talented young sportspeople.”
MK Community Foundation and SportsAid Eastern would like to wish all seven bursary winners every success with their sporting career and look forward to following their progress.
