EAST Hampshire District Council’s efforts to support sporting talent in the district continues with the first round of its elite sports grants.

The grants were launched last year to help sportsmen and women, aged 10 to 24, to achieve national, international and even Olympic honours. Grants are awarded for travelling and coaching, qualifications or to buy clothing or equipment.

The first round of grants awarded totalled £5,900. Four of the athletes received the highest amount of £600, decided by a judging panel.

One was Luke Van Oudtshoorn, from Headley Down, who, in 2016, won the Triathlon and Biathlon European Championships.

He also won the British Modern Biathlon Championships and under-15-boys British Schools Modern Biathlon and under-14-boys Modern Triathlon. In the under-15 age group in the UK, he is ranked third for the 1,500m, first for the 3,000m and seventh all-time fastest for the 3,000m (Mo Farah was third).

Tennis player George Houghton, from Bordon, received £600 after making the semi finals of the first professional International Tennis Federation event. George plays in the National Club League in the National Division, in which he is number one singles player for the team. He helps with youth coaching.

Hampshire Disability Cricket star Hugo Hammond, from Bentworth, received £600 and is England’s first-choice wicketkeeper and competed internationally in the Tri Series Competition, losing to Dubai in the final. He helped his club team gain promotion to the Southern Premier League.

Charlie Dean, from Horndean, received £600. She was captain of the Hampshire cricket team that finished first in the England and Wales Cricket Board’s women’s under-15 cricket knock-out cup and third in the under-17 knock-out cup, among other successes. This year has seen her selected for the England Women’s Cricket Academy.

Julie Butler, portfolio holder for customer service, said: “We are very lucky to have such high calibre athletes in the district. Sport can be very expensive when competing at a high level, with competitions taking place in all areas of the country or even the world.”

n Nominations are now open and information can be found at easthants.gov.uk/elite-sports-fund.

Applicants are automatically considered for the East Hampshire Sports Awards.