Applications for BayTrust sporting and coaching scholarships highlight the exceptional sporting and coaching talent that exists within the Bay of Plenty region, says Sport BOP coaching team leader Dave Clarke.

Tauranga volleyball player Ben O'Dea, pictured here spiking the ball at a match at Mount Maunganui is among the BayTrust scholarship winners.

A remarkably high number of quality applications were received for the October 2010 round of the BayTrust scholarships.

The scholarships recognise both athletes and coaches and aim to support and assist Bay of Plenty sporting talent to achieve on the national and international sporting stage and coaches to develop new skills that can be delivered back to the community.

Sporting and coaching scholarships are open to sportspeople residing in the region covered by BayTrust and Sport Bay of Plenty with the intention of retaining coaching expertise and sporting talent in the Bay.

The athlete scholarship applications were available to any young athlete from the Bay of Plenty, aged 16-23, who have achieved national representation at their sport while the coach scholarships are for coaches currently coaching at a recognised and endorsed level by their respective regional sporting organisation or equivalent body.

BayTrust Athlete Scholarships:

Lana Davison, Tauranga (Rowing)
Lana's resumé is an impressive list of national titles and representative honours in rowing. As a member of the New Zealand U21 rowing team Lana collected gold medals in the LW2x, women's 4x and women's 8 at the Australasian Youth Cup in July.

Lana hopes to gain selection for the U21 squad again in 2011 and the U23 squad in 2012 for the World U23 Rowing Championships. Lana's ultimate goal is to make the New Zealand Elite Rowing Team in 2014 and add to the New Zealand medal count at the World Rowing Champs with a gold medal.

Awhina Savage, Tauranga (Touch)
Awhina is well on her way to achieving her sporting goals of representing New Zealand at the Touch World Cup in Scotland and the U21 Tran-Tasman Touch Championships in 2011. As a member of both the Tauranga Maori Women's and the Bay of Plenty Open Women's Touch teams, Awhina gained selection for the New Zealand U21 and Open Women's sides in 2010. She was also selected into the Invitational World Indeginous Team in 2008 and finished second with her NZ U21 Women's Team at the 2009 Youth World Cup.

Samual Shaw, Rotorua (Mountain Biking/Xterra)
As the Waikato Bay of Plenty U19 Mountain Bike Champion, Sam went on to become the New Zealand Mountain Bike Cup Junior Champion and gain selection for the New Zealand team for the Youth Olympic Games. A winning performance also saw Sam take out the U25 division of the Xterra New Zealand Championships and gain qualification for the Xterra World Champs. Samual has his sights set on finishing in the top 35 of the U23 Men's division at the 2011 Mountain Biking World Champs on his way to his ultimate goal of a medal winning performance at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Samara Sheppard, Rotorua (Cross Country Mountain Biking)
Samara Sheppard is no stranger to mountain biking both across the country and internationally. Waiariki Institute of Technology student lists various Nnational and international achievements to resumé. The New Zealand U23 Cross Country Mt Biking Champion was a member of the New Zealand Cross Country team in 2010, finishing 11th in the U23 division at the World Championships, third in the U23 division of the Racer-Bike Cup and 11th in the U23 race at the World Cup #5. Samara is aiming to wear the silver fern again in 2011 representing New Zealand at World Championships, while her long term goal is to finish in the medals at the 2012 World Championships.

Olivia Chance, Tauranga (Football)
Since putting on her first pair of football boots at age five Olivia hasn't looked back, playing every season for the last 12 years and loving every minute of it. After being named Player of the Tour of the New Zealand U17 Football tour of Australia in 2010, Olivia wore the silver fern once more during the U17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago impressing management to be named New Zealand Player of the World Cup. Olivia is also a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schoolgirls Team and the Northern Premier New Zealand Women's League winning side the Claudeland Rovers. She was also named National Women's League ‘Young Player of the Year' this year. The Tauranga Girls' College student lists her long term sporting goal as making the NZ U20 Squad for the World Cup in 2012 before to making the Football Ferms and becoming the most capped New Zealand women's player in history.

Michael Dawson, Tauranga (Canoe Slalom and Extreme Kayaking)
Michael is one of the countries top performing canoe slalom athletes while also dominating the extreme kayak arena. Michael was a member of the New Zealand team who took out the Extreme Kayak World Team Championship in 2010. The New Zealand Canoe Slalom National Champ also took out the Teva Extreme Outdoor Games and the Teva Mountain Games DR this year. The Tauranga athlete is well on his way to achieving his goal of taking out the Canoe Slalom World Championships and qualifying for the New Zealand Olympic team next year.

Shaquille Jordon Te Kawau Stone, Rotorua (Touch)
Talented athlete Shaquille is aiming high for a gold medal as a member of the New Zealand U19 Boys Touch Team at the Trans Tasman Tournament in Australia in January. This won't be Shaquille's first time in the black jersey; the young Touch player donned the silver fern for New Zealand in 2010 as a member of the New Zealand Open Mens Team and the New Zealand U19 Mixed Team. The Rotorua Boys High School student was also a member of the New Zealand Maori Men's team who took out the World Indigenous Tournament this year.

Ben O'Dea, Tauranga (Volleyball)
Pairing up with his sibling Sam, Ben finished 19th at the World Junior Volleyball Championships in Turkey this year. This result followed first place wins in the Indoor Trans Tasman Series and U21 Beach Volleyball Nationals and four podium finishes and two gold medals on the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour this year. Domestically Ben finished second overall on the New Zealand Beach Volleyball Pro Tour and was named 2010 Tour MVP. The young player has his sights set on finishing the 2011 Asian Tour ranked in the top two Asian Team and collecting a podium finish at the 2011 U21 Beach Volleyball World Champs.

Mike Cochrane, Tauranga (Athletics)
2010 has been a busy year for Tauranga hurdler Mike Cochrane. Mike represented New Zealand at the IAAF World Junior Championships finishing and impressive 16th in the 400m hurdles and 30th in the 110m hurdles. Mike kicked off the year in form breaking New Zealand records in the 110m and 400m hurdles at the New Zealand Champs and collecting a gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the Australian U20 Championships. The New Zealand season has just begun for Mike who is aiming to finish in the Top 3 in the 400m hurdles at the Australia Senior Champs in March and the Top 8 at the World University Games in August next year.

BayTrust Coach Scholarships:

John Keepa, Whakatane (Rugby)
Eastern Bay's John Keepa has spent the last few years sharing his rugby knowledge and coaching expertise across the region and the globe. John spent 2008-09 in Tennessee (USA) at the Middle Tennessee State University involved in the coaching of 14 rugby teams before his next post with the Red Deer Club in Canada in 2009. During the northern hemisphere off season John returns home to Whakatane assisting in the coaching, development and introduction of safe training techniques with the Whakatane Mustangs League, Whakatane Marist, Ruatoki Rugby, Opotiki Rugby Club and Whakatane Football. John also shared his expertise with Bay of Plenty Netball this year delivering strength and conditioning sessions. John will use his BayTrust Coaching Scholarship to further his coaching education on the IRANZ course while holding seminars to educate coaches and assisting in the development of local rugby players.

Scott Bartlett, Mount Maunganui (Surf Lifesaving)
As head coach at Omanu Surf Club since 2008 Scott ensures structured programmes to retain members within the sport and more lifeguards on New Zealand beaches. Scott is also the current National head coach and has been since 2005. In 2010 he led his national team to 10 gold medals at the Australian Pool Champs and to victory at the World Champs. He is passionate about providing pathways in his sport for elite athletes. John will use his BayTrust Scholarship to further his coaching education and ensure he stays on the cutting edge of pool swimming and surf lifesaving.

Duncan by de Ley, Katikati (Rowing)
As a coach at Tauranga Rowing Club Duncan has encouraged, assisted and enabled a wide cross section of athletes to set and achieve their goals on the national and international rowing stage. He lists his coaching goals for 2011 to gain selection as New Zealand U21 Coach and New Zealand Junior Coach with a long term goal looking ahead to 2014-16 to seek selection as a coach of New Zealand elite crews. Duncan will use his BayTrust Scholarship to further develop his technical rowing knowledge at the Australian Institute of Sport.

John Bryant, Tauranga (Surf Lifesaving)
As head coach at Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service John has achieved a large amount with his athletes in 2010. The club finished fourth at the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Pool Nationals, first at the Eastern Region Pool Champs, first at the New Zealand Surf Nationals, third in the New Zealand Surf League and 1st place at the Bay of Plenty Champs. John hopes to keep Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service at the top of surf lifesaving in New Zealand by mentoring and coaching surf sport athletes to become world champions. John will use his BayTrust Scholarship to attend coach development opportunities at the Australian Lifesaving Pool Champs in 2011 and gain insight and learning of the latest techniques and coaching from Australia.

Lucy Whale, Papamoa (Netball)
Lucy is passionate about Netball and heavily involved in the sport as both a player and coach. While captaining her Tauranga Girls' College League 2 Team this season, Lucy also coached a Year 12-13 team and a Bay of Plenty U15 Development team. Lucy has also been a willing volunteer and coach at Netball Bay of Plenty Summer Camps and was nominated by Netball Bay of Plenty for the New Zealand Youth Volunteer of the year award in 2010. Lucy lists her coaching goals as coaching the Bay of Plenty U15 Reps in 2011 while gaining a recognised coaching qualification and fine tuning her skills and confidence as a coach.