Granting wishes of skilful youths (From The Oxford Times)

Granting wishes of skilful youths

7:00am Saturday 21st January 2012 in Didcot By Andrew Ffrench

The group from Wallingford at South Oxfordshire District Council’s Young Achievers Awards Ceremony at Benson Parish Hall, with chairman Felix Bloomfield and vice-chairman Janet Carr; Niamh McGuckin is front left, and Conor Graney is rear third from left

A FEMALE boxer is among talented youngsters being given grants to help them achieve their dreams.

Young people from across South Oxfordshire have won £250 grants to help in sports, the arts or community work.

South Oxfordshire District Council has handed out the grants to 42 talented youngsters aged 11 to 19, totalling £10,200.

The council-run Young Achievers Award scheme is now in its third year, and the winners got their grants at Benson Parish Hall on Thursday from South Oxfordshire District Council chairman Felix Bloomfield.

Boxer Niamh McGuckin, 13, who trains with Berinsfield Amateur Boxing Club, is the Home Counties Champion at 40kg.

She has also reached an all-girls’ national final competition.

Niamh, from Berinsfield, near Wallingford, said: “I’m really pleased. I train four times a week and my dream is to make the Olympics one day.”

Her coach Mel Corrigan added: “This young lady is a true sportsperson. The club is very proud of what she has achieved and she a role model at our gym.”

The three categories in which young people applied to demonstrate their excellence were sports, the arts and citizenship.

There were nine young achievers from Didcot, 11 from Wallingford, eight from Thame, and 14 from Henley.

Conor Graney, 15, from Dorchester, received his award for his achievements in rugby and cricket.

He competes at county level in both sports and has been linked with the Wasps Rugby Academy and Gloucestershire cricket academy.

Conor said: “I would love to go on and play for the Wasps full premiership academy.”

Bill Service, cabinet member for grants at the council, said: “We are committed to improving opportunities for young people in South Oxfordshire.

“There is a magnificent pool of talented youngsters in the district and we want to help them develop their skills and encourage them to progress, whatever their field.”

TALENTED TEENS WHO MADE THE GRADE Niamh McGuckin, Berinsfield; boxer Alex Noakes, Thame; squash player Nina Ferber, from Chinnor; gymnast Maisie Sitwell Garrett, Wallingford; rower Jamie Goetz, Thame; swimmer Conor Graney, Dorchester; rugby and cricketer George Cox, Holton near Wheatley; equestrian vaulter Ashley Hayden, Henley; cricketer Harry Strudley, Benson; cyclist Charlie Minns, Wallingford: diver Charlotte Deeley, South Moreton; footballer Charlotte Smart, Didcot: swimmer Adam Fearnside, Henley; footballer Daniel Blair, Didcot; badminton player Jamie Blair, Didcot; badminton player Rebecca Blair, Didcot; badminton player Jessica Painter, Henley; footballer Zac Payne, Chalgrove; speedway cyclist Megan Knowles, Henley; table tennis player Jarred Knowles, Henley; table tennis player Tom Bowman, Henley; rugby player Rebecca Mayle, Woodcote; fencer Alex Nicholls, Didcot; golfer Calvin Williams, Didcot; short mat bowler Sam Costello, Wallingford; swimmer Tamara Driver-Jones, Aston Tirrold near Didcot; rower Christopher Currie, Wheatley; swimmer Sam Miller, Warborough near Wallingford; rugby player Evangeline Rodrigues, Sandford near Wallingford; fencer Alexander Johnson, Didcot; weightlifter Maddy Wynn-Jones, Henley; rower Georgia Cahill, from Thame: swimmer Ethan Ball, Wallingford; table tennis player Nathan Elliott, Thame; photographer Ellis Langford, Henley; musician Ben Hale, Milton Common near Thame; trumpet player Robyn Ayers, Sonning Common near Henley; painter Charlotte Ayers, Sonning Common near Henley; digital artist Zoe Pike, Sonning Common near Henley; clarinettist Madeleine Jacob, Stoke Row, near Henley; painter Robert Carr, Woodcote near Henley; citizenship leader Alex Stevenson, Woodcote, near Henley; citizenship leader