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Skier Sega Fairweather, rugby player Josh Gundry, swimmer Christopher Steeples and cricketer Harry White have each received a bursary, along with ten pin bowler Katrina Maciver and golfer Josh Thorley, between them sharing £1,710.

All of the athletes currently compete for England or Great Britain, or have shown real potential to do so within 18 months, and each of them will use their bursary to help meet training and competition costs.

Among the Fund’s financial backers are South Derbyshire District Council, Derbyshire County Council and the University of Derby.

Cllr John Lemmon from South Derbyshire District Council and Ollie Shearer, Sports Development Coordinator at the University of Derby, met the athletes to congratulate them at Etwall Leisure Centre on Monday, May 10.

The athletes have also been presented with free leisure passes for Etwall Leisure Centre, Melbourne Leisure Centre and Green Bank Leisure Centre to help them with their training as they bid to reach the top in their chosen sport.

Cllr John Lemmon said: “It is great to see such diverse sporting talent in South Derbyshire, and to be able to support local athletes in this way. My congratulations go to all of them and I wish them every success as their sporting careers progress.”

More about each of the athletes is below.

Now in its third year, the Derbyshire Talented Athlete Fund has been set up thanks to contributions from a number of partners, including local authorities and businesses.

In addition to South Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire County Council, other contributors include High Peak Borough Council, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derby City Council, North East Derbyshire District Council, Amber Valley Borough Council, Erewash Borough Council, Bolsover District Council and Derbyshire Dales District Council.

Rolls-Royce, the University of Derby, Derbyshire County Cricket Club, Lorson International, Derby College and the Electrical Contractors Association have also all shown their support financially for a third year.

Notes to journalists

The six athletes are:

Sega Fairweather (Skiing)

Swadlincote Alpine skier Sega represented GB in more than 30 races throughout America, Canada and Europe during 2009 in the senior field of female racers. The 19-year-old is British junior champion in downhill, super G, giant slalom and slalom and ranked third overall at senior GB level.

Josh Gundry (Rugby Union)

16-year-old Josh, from Weston-on-Trent, is part of the Leicester Tigers Elite Player Development Group and has represented the group at U15 level. This year he hopes to represent England at U16 or U18 level and become a member of the Leicester Tigers Academy.

Katrina Maciver (Ten Pin Bowling)

Katrina, from Swadlincote, played with the Junior England Team at the European Youth Championships, where the team won a bronze medal. She is currently ranked No.1 in the U21s rankings and won the Junior Scottish Open this year. The 19-year-old also qualified to compete for England at the Young Adult Triple Crown.

Christopher Steeples (Swimming)

Christopher, from Church Broughton, is a member of the 2012 Olympic Training Squad. The 17-year-old trains with Derventio Excel and after competing at the British Swimming Championships he has been selected to be part of the GB Junior European Swimming Team in Helsinki in July.

Josh Thorley (Golf)

13-year-old Josh, from Winshill, has played for the England Boys U16 team as a guest on several occasions and is striving for a full place in the team. He was also a member of Derbyshire’s U14 and U18 Midland Champions teams and was an individual winner in the U14 Championship.

Harry White (Cricket)

During the 2009 season 15-year-old Harry, from Willington, played county cricket for Derbyshire and was captain of the Derbyshire U14 team. He has been selected for the Mini Academy for the past three years and will be part of the Programme for the 2010 season.

Performers from all sports recognised by Sport England are eligible for bursaries, except those already receiving individual lottery awards or TASS funding.