Two emerging sporting talents receive Coleman-Smith Foundation funding

The Foundation aims to provide modest funds to young people in the Stuarts Point and Eungai areas who have exceptional sporting ability.

Foundation Chairperson Nicky Smith attended the Stuarts Point Workers Recreation and Bowls Club on Friday, 28 November for the presentations.

She said 12-year-old Lilly had an “amazing year of sporting achievements”, particularly in school sport.

“In the past 12 months, Lilly has competed at state level twice,” she said.

“In March she competed in the State Athletics Championships at Olympic Park for Little Athletics where she competed in long jump and the 400m sprint, in which she ran a personal best and came 19th overall.

“In October Lilly competed in the schools state championships at Sydney Olympic Park as part of the North Coast team, where she performed strongly across all her events including long jump.

“Lilly achieved a new personal best (PB) of 4.17m (up from 3.97m) and placed 18th out of 39.

“In the high jump, she cleared 1.30m and placed 19th out of 40 competitors and, in the 200m sprint, again a new PB and finished 17th out of 40 competitors.”

Lilly has also attended Centre of Excellence holiday camps in Sydney, one in April and another in October, for athletes 10-14 years of age.

Wolfe Hudson, 16, has been playing soccer since he was five years old.

“Wolfe has been playing in the National Premier Youth League since he was 11 and we provided him with funding the first time around when he was 12,” Nicky said.

“More recently Wolfe was selected to attend the George Cowie National Camp.

“Players who do well in this camp are invited to participate in the UK development tour with the West Ham Academy.

“The tour involves giving talented youth players from Australia a chance to train under West Ham coaches, experience professional training and club culture, play exhibition/tour matches, and be immersed in an elite-academy environment.”

By Jen HETHERINGTON