Awards for best talents (From Witney Gazette)

Awards for best talents

12:41pm Friday 22nd February 2008 in Witney By David Horne

SIXTEEN of West Oxfordshire's best young talents have received awards and financial help to develop their sporting and artistic skills.

They include Witney student Josh Benfield, who already has the county championship for hammer throwing, and Imogen Shayler, also from Witney, who is a member of the Great Britain freestyle kickboxing team.

All 16 were selected for a round of grant applications under a scheme operated by their district council.

Some are already representing their county on the sports field, and will be using the grants, which have a ceiling of £250 each, to help pay for further training, equipment, and travelling.

The council scheme has been operating since the 1990s to encourage and help develop talented young people.

The full list of achievement awards and grants are . . .

ARTS . . .

Kim Jenkins, Witney, £100. She is in her second year in Wood Green School Band, and is becoming a proficient young trumpeter.

Oliver Godwin, Hailey, £85. He is a member of Chipping Norton and Oxford Playhouse Youth Theatres, and is auditioning for the National Youth theatre this year.

SPORT . . .

Josh Benfield, Witney, £110. The county champion for hammer throw in 2007.

His brother, Sam Benfield, Witney, £130. He has been in England AAA trials for the 60 metres, and is county champion for his age group at 400m.

Victoria Cole, Ducklington, £130. She is a member of the county under-17s hockey squad, and has trialled for the south of England.

Jamie Coles, Ledwell, £190. In his sport, cricket, he has been selected for the Gloucestershire Academy.

Emily Fisk, Eynsham, £130. She has represented Oxfordshire at under-17s in badminton, and was mixed-doubles champion in the county's schools competitions at under-15s and under-17s.

Hannah Jarvis, Long Hanborough, £170. She has been selected for the county hockey team, but plays senior ladies hockey for West Witney.

Natalie Ng, Finstock, £150. She is part of the county under-17s badminton team, and also the county's senior third team.

Her brother, Vincent Ng, £170. He is in the county senior squad at badminton, and also a member of the Bristol University team.

Fritha Morris, Kingham, £120. At cricket, she has been selected for the county's emerging player programme.

Joanna Muddle, Shipton-under-Wychwood, £150. She reached the county under-18s girls' doubles final at tennis last year.

Sunny Ricketts, Ducklington, who is a member of county under-15s squad at hockey, £170.

Imogen Shayler, Witney, £220. She is a member of the Great Britain freestyle kickboxing team.

Josh Tipping, North Leigh, £170. At squash, he is a member of the county under-15s team, and was eighth in the age group's junior open competition at Solihull.

Jade Timms, Ducklington, £85. She has represented the south east region at synchronised swimming.