Bangor’s Elite Athletes Awarded Sports Scholarships

Every year, Bangor University supports students with sporting ability by offering a number of Sports Scholarships for students studying for a degree in any subject area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

These Sports Scholarships are awarded to recognise and support sporting excellence and achievement. They are aimed at helping talented and high performance students to combine their academic study and sporting performance to assist them in achieving their full potential. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Bennett, Director of Sports, said: “Following the extensive investment in facilities, we are very pleased to also be able to expand the number of sports bursaries awarded. The athletes will also benefit from a partnership with colleagues from the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences who will be offering tailored one-to-one support to athletes during the next 12 months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Since the University developed a partnership with Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) two years ago, talented rugby players identified by RGC have been able to progress into higher education whilst being able to continue to play rugby at high level and remain in north Wales, thanks to the Sports Scholarships.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This year saw sixteen students receive scholarships totaling £30,000 for a wide range of sports. The students to benefit from this year’s Sports Scholarships are: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

George Roberts, 18, Wrexham – Rugby (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences)
Efan Jones, 18, Wrexham – Rugby (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences)
Kirsty Smith, 20, Caerphilly – Karate (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences)
Thomas Gore, 19, Blackpool – Tae-kwon-do (School of Envirionment, Natural Sciences & Geography)
Laura Riches, 23, Manchester – Athlete (School of Education)
Jiri Tykal, 24, Czech Republic – Kayaking (School of Music)
Harry Misangyi, 19, Conwy – Weightlifting (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences)
Philippa Darbyshire-Jenkins, 21, Munich, Germany – Lacrosse (School of Biological Sciences) ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The following talented athletes received a Sports Scholarship for a second year: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Danny Cross, 19, Wrexham – Rugby (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences)
Sam Jones, 19, Llanidloes – Rugby (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences)
Will Bryan, 20, Caerwys – Rugby (School of Electronic Engineering)
Ianto Pari, 20, Aberdaron – Rugby (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences)
Chelsea Nasmyth-Miller, 20, Harpenden – Lacrosse (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences)
Rhiannon Williams, 18, Llantrisant – Tae-kwon-do (School of Biological Sciences)
Lewis Parker, 19, Nottingham – Golf (School of Sport, Health and Excercise Sciences) ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scholarship programme is part of a wider commitment to raise the profile and reputation of the University through sport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Additionally, each year Canolfan Brailsford awards a local bursary to an elite athlete from the local community. This year it was awarded to weightlifter Catrin Jones. Catrin, 17, is a pupil at Friars School Bangor is current Wales Senior Champion 2016, British Senior champion 2016, British Youth Champion 2016 and is ranked 1st in Commonwealth, 3rd in Europe and 8th in World. Catrin’s aim is to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in 2018. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​