NLIS 8
April 27, 2005
(Executive Council)
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)


Premier's Athletic Awards recipients named

Premier Danny Williams today announced the recipients of the first annual Premier's Annual Athletic Awards. A total of 95 athletes were recognized for their athletic accomplishments at a reception in St. John' s today, receiving financial assistance to help offset the costs of training at the Atlantic, national and international levels.

"Newfoundland and Labrador continues to produce an incredible calibre of athletes who are frequently competing at national and international competitions," said Premier Williams. "Government recognizes and celebrates their accomplishments and we hope that through initiatives such as the Premier' s Athletics Awards Program, we can assist in their continued success. Our government is committed to supporting sport, not only at the elite level, but at all levels. Physical activity is key to a healthy society, and we must encourage our young people to get active and stay active. The recipients of the awards today are role models for their peers and people of ages, and I am delighted to recognize their tremendous abilities."

Recipients were chosen by an awards selection committee consisting of individuals with an extensive knowledge of athletes in the province. Recipients received grants in the amounts of either $500, $1,000 and $1,500 to help them offset the costs associated with training, based on an athlete' s experience in competing at the Atlantic, national and international levels respectively. The total budget of the program is $75,000. Approximately 250 athletes applied for assistance under the Premier' s Athletic Awards Program this year.

Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Paul Shelley said that the interest in this year' s program reflects the increase in the number of elite athletes in the province each year. "Our athletes are becoming increasingly known at national and international competitions and are availing of opportunities, such as scholarships, that were unheard of years ago," said Minister Shelley. "The Premier' s Athletic Awards Program provides financial assistance to these athletes to offset the high costs associated with training, helping them to further develop their athletic skills."

The Premier' s Athletic Awards Program was open to all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador who are registered with a provincial sport organization. As additional criteria, athletes must have competed for Newfoundland and Labrador at the Canada Games or other national and regional competitions, and must be in attendance at an educational institution on a full-time basis.

Media contact:

Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960, 690-5500 or elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca

Tansy Mundon, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928, 685-1741

 

BACKGROUNDER - LIST OF RECIPIENTS

SPORT ATHLETE HOMETOWN GRANT
ALPINE SKIING Joel Ryan Corner Brook $ 500
ATHLETICS Julia Howard St. John's 1,500
  Hannah Moffatt St. John's 1,000
  Danielle Stacey Lord's Cove 500
  Johnathan Howlett Petty Harbour 500
BADMINTON Samantha Ralph Eastport 1,500
  Brittany Crocker Trout River 500
  Sarah Aubert Trout River 500
BALL HOCKEY Michael Sibley Botwood 1,000
BASEBALL Leo Donahue Mount Pearl 500
  Mike Pottle St. John's 500
BASKETBALL Jenine Browne St. Bride's 1,500
  Stephen Singleton St. Joseph's 1,000
  Brittany Dalton Harbour Main 1,000
  Amy Dalton Harbour Main 1,000
  Chad Warren Corner Brook 500
BICYCLE Zachery Garland St. John's 1,500
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING Andrew Casey Corner Brook 1,000
  Michael Casey Corner Brook 500
  Renee White Sandy Cove 500
  Kayla Gibbons Plum Point 500
  Stephanie Corbett Wabush 500
DIVING Kate McCarthy Holyrood 500
  John Daley St. John's 500
EQUESTRIAN Jessica Rhinelander St. John's 1,500
FIGURE SKATING Joey Russell Labrador City 1,500
  Natasha Osmond Little Bay 500
  Alexandra Young Corner Brook 500
  Matthew Young Corner Brook 500
  Erica Nixon Mount Pearl 500
GOLF Michael Furlong St. John's 500
  Brittany Cluett Garnish 500
  Jessica Norris St. John's 500
GYMNASTICS Luke Stritt St. John's 1,000
HOCKEY Tara Snow St. John's 500
  Karen Quigley CBS 500
  Peggy Wakeham Bay Roberts 500
  Victoria Thistle St. John's 500
POWERLIFTING Paul McDonald Conne River 500
  Kathleen Pike Grand Bank 500
ROWING Benjamin Stokes St. John's 1,000
  Ashley Peach St. John's 1,000
  Jason Rose St. John's 1,000
  Nicolle Hamlyn St. Johns 1,000
  Jeffrey Roche Outer Cove 500
RUGBY Adam Paul St. John's 1,500
  Robert Wilson St. John's 1,500
  Ciaran Geehan-Hearn CBS 1,500
  Michael Simpson St. John's 1,500
  Justin Pittman CBS 1,500
  Ryan Metcalfe CBS 1,500
  Michael Holloway CBS 1,000
SAILING Jonathan Ladha St. Phillip's 1,000
  Leo Simoes Re St. John's 500
  Daniel Inkpen St. Phillip's 500
SHOOTING Laurie Hearn St. Joseph's 1,000
  Brenda Greene St. Joseph's 1,000
SOCCER Erika Lannon St. John's 500
  Malorie Harris Mount Pearl 500
  Shannon Francis Burin Bay Arm 500
  Julie Woolridge St. John's 500
  Clinton Edwards St. Lawrence 500
  John Douglas Grand Bank 500
  Laura Breen St. John's 500
  Jessica Wade St. John's 500
  Leah O'Grady St. John's 500
SOFTBALL Stephen Mullaley Placentia 1,000
  Jason Hill St. John's 1,000
  Jill Colbourne Carbonear 500
  Sheldon Keough Goulds 500
  Victoria Davis Torbay 500
SPECIAL OLYMPICS Sarah Brown Gander 1,000
  Andrew Ash Paradise 1,000
SWIMMING George Colbert Mount Pearl 1,500
  Eileen Robinson Hr. Grace 1,500
  Laura Murray St. John's 1,500
  Ashley Brown St. John's 500
  Kelsey Alexander St. John's 500
  Margaret Jones Corner Brook 500
TAE KWON DO Deborah Doyle Paradise 500
  Alex Fitzgerald St. John's 500
TENNIS Sarah Entwisle St. John's 500
  Kendrick Au St. John's 500
  Heather Williams St. John's 500
TRIATHLON David Gillam Mt. Moriah 500
VOLLEYBALL Matthew Vivian North West Brook 500
  Sasha Wilkins Gambo 500
  Mark Burton Gander 500
  Meghan Perry Churchill Falls 500
  Jeremy Squires St. John's 500
WEIGHTLIFTING Nicolas Roberts Mount Pearl 1,500
WRESTLING Victoria Ralph Carbonear 1,000
  Marco Chiaramonte Portugal Cove-St. Phillip's 500
  Kerri-Ann Evely Carbonear 500
  Allison Rockwood Heart's Content 500



2005 04 27            4:25 p.m.


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