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.

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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 Commercial Services, said:

“We are very pleased to support a number of highly talented athletes at Bangor University. We keep investing in up-to-date equipment to attract top athletes to the university. The athletes will also benefit from the expertise of staff at the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences.

“Since the University developed a partnership with Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) 4 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 11 students receive scholarships totaling £30,000 for a wide range of sports. The students to benefit from this year’s Sports Scholarships are:

Rakia Alouane, 24, from Northern Ireland – Taekwondo
Michael Farmer, 19, from Caerphilly – Weightlifting
Catrin Jones, 19, from Bangor – Weightlifting
Molly Nixon, 18, Southport – Sailing
Octavia Owen, 19, from the Wirral – Sailing
Sam Rogers, 18, from Wrexham – Rugby
Abi Senior, 18, from Malvern, Worcestershire – Triathlon
Molly Shuttleworth, 19, from Birmingham – Rugby
Joe Steward, 22, from Middleton, Manchester – Cross Country
Flo Tilley, 21, from Nottingham – Climbing
Huw Williams, 18, from Llanfyllin – Squash

Reigning Welsh Seinor Weightlifting Champion and recipient, Catrin Jones, said: “Bangor University have supported me for a number of years. I first received a local bursary before receiving the Sports Scholarship as a University student. The sports facilities at Bangor are top class and have helped me develop my training massively throughout the years. The staff at Canolfan Brailsford and at the School of Psychology have been very supportive throughout the years. I’m also looking forward to working with Sport Science students in areas such as psychology, which are areas I’ve never been offered assistance in before.”

Recipient Rakia Alouane, said: “The Sports Scholarship means everything to me. Being a student is financially challenging enough. This Scholarship will give me the opportunity to go to external training clubs, attend more competitions across the UK and even outside Europe. It has also given me resources that I would not have had the opportunity to receive, such as a personal trainer and additional funding for equipment. Without this Scholarship I would not be able to progress as an athlete in my sport and this also makes it easier for me to focus on my studies at the same time.”

Recipient Octavia Owen, said: “The Sports Scholarship has given me the opportunity to expand my sailing alongside my fitness, improving it greatly. It has allowed me to compete at more national level events which has enabled me to improve my international ranking. I have been selected to sail at the Women’s International Match Racing Series in St Thomas, US Virgin Isles, which takes place later this month.

“I am very fortunate to have this wonderful opportunity with such fantastic support from the University for competing at the WIMSeries and national events this year. I am very proud to be able to say I am the Ladies National Match Racing Champion. I hope to carry this on throughout the year and I look forward to representing Bangor at the BUSA Team Racing.”

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