Regional stars win funds

More than 20 elite sporting prospects from the Geographe Bay region have been awarded 2012 Country Athlete Scholarships.

They were among 192 13 to 21 year-old West Australian athletes covering 33 sports who each received a share in $250,000 through the Royalties for Regions Regional Talent Development Network.

Previous winners such as Busselton cyclist Scott Sunderland have gone on to represent Australia at the Olympics.

The sole local netball recipient, Ariann Washbourne first picked up a ball about nine years ago and now travels to Mandurah twice a week to play with the Coastal Sharks.

“I think it will help me with the travelling and paying for fuel,” the Year 11 Cape Naturaliste College student said.

“Next year I’d like to try out for the State Schoolgirls 17s or 19s (in Perth).”

Seven hockey players won scholarships including Chloe and Dana Carter, Jacob Evans, Scott Reagan, Kaylee Kirk, Keaton Spencer-Wright and Liam Cremen.

Other recipients were Sam Guthridge and Baxter Thew (soccer), Duke Nagtzaam, Eliza and Mikaela Greene (surfing), Jazmyne Roberts and Meg Thompson (cricket), Tayla Bresland, Scott Jones and Luke Hutchins (Aussie rules), Brooke McFarlane (BMX), Emma Courtney- Bennett (pony), Matthew Schwier (surf life saving) and Jaymon Dunnett (clay target).