A SERIES of small grants have helped Dumfries and Galloway’s sports stars of the future to make a name for themselves nationally and internationally.
Nithsdale area committee hands out financial support to various community organisations, with £60,000 being allocated towards Christmas events last year and a further £20,000 being splashed out on floral planting.
However, numerous talented sporting hopefuls received modest grants of £200, which helped them enter major competitions across the country and beyond.
They have since provided positive feedback to council chiefs, which has been compiled in a report for Nithsdale area committee’s meeting next week.
Georgia Dickie wrote: “Funding part supported me to attend and swim at the Aquatic Great British Summer Long Course Championships in Sheffield in July 2024 that included swimmers from across the UK.
“I completed the 400 and 1500 metre freestyle, achieving 2nd and 13th place respectively.
“Support from this fund allowed me to progress with Scottish and British age group swimming competitions and potentially entry to a Scottish University Swim Team in 2025.”
Scottish cycling star Kayla Dinnin spent a £150 grant on equipment for her bike to continue competing at a high level.
She wrote: “The funding from Nithsdale sports grants provided me with the necessary equipment which I needed to be as fast as possible when doing time trials and individual pursuit, of which I placed third in the Scottish championship and made the finals of the British championship.
“The tyres, chains and cassettes have allowed me to have the most efficient drivetrain, which has helped me on the road to get results, such as second place in the junior Scottish road race champs and consistent top 20 in national level events.
“I also represented Scotland internationally in the Netherlands at the start of this year on the track and got some top ten results.”
Teenager Libby Huntly was successful in gaining a £200 grant to support her busy schedule of competing in curling tournaments both locally and nationally.
Libby and her team (Team Tiler) have entered all the U17 Asham Slams and have had success.
The teen was grateful that the £200 sports grant covered the cost of her fees to make a step up to the U21 Asham slams to gain experience in the more senior competitions.
Those three-day events were held in Greenacres, Paisley, in September last year and in Lockerbie the following month.
Tennis hopeful Dominik Czopek invested in a new racket and shoes for on court. He was due to start Tennis Academy in September to develop his game and hopefully turn professional in future.
