Canoe Sports: Taradale High School paddler Henry Hall scores scholarship

Taradale High School kayaker Henry Hall has received a boost in the countdown to the coming season. Photo / Supplied

Talented Hawke's Bay kayaker Henry Hall will be training in a new kayak thanks to being the latest recipient of the Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sports Trust Scholarship.

Taradale High School's Hall was presented with funding support of $2500 at the Hawke's Bay Secondary School Sports Awards, in Napier this week, by the trust's co-chair Damon Harvey.

Hall was one of eight finalists for the scholarship, each putting forward what the funding would be used for and why they should be the successful recipient.

"The club boat I'm using does not currently match my ability. The scholarship is going to enable me to buy a new boat in time for the upcoming season, perform well at nationals and hopefully get myself a place in the New Zealand Development squad."

"I always remind myself that talent is nothing without hard work. Sport has taught me important life skills such as tenacity. This means to reap rewards you must push yourself by sticking to a tough training schedule even if it's cold, dark and raining," Hall said.

The scholarship is a partnership between Sport Hawke's Bay and the trust.

Sport Hawke's Bay commercial manager Ryan Hambleton said the scholarship is a further extension of the support of the trust which is also a major funder of the STARS (Supporting Talented Athletes Reach Success) support programme.

"We have some fantastic sporting talent in the Bay, many of who represent New Zealand. It is great we are able to support athletes such as Henry compete on the world stage".

"Fortunately, we have trusts like Jarrod's that want to ensure local sporting talent can reach for the stars. The scholarship is a great way to provide financial assistance that helps take away some of the burden of wearing the silver fern," Hambleton added.

Hall, who was also a finalist in the canoeist category at the awards, was one of eight finalists for the scholarship.

Male award winner, Karamu High School athlete Nick Palmer and netballer of the year, Asher Grapes of Hastings Girls' High School, were other finalists.

"I would like to thank the trust for this scholarship, this will help me with my sporting journey in the future. It's a huge honour and I am extremely grateful to receive this scholarship.

"I would also like to thank the Hawke's Bay Canoe Club for introducing me to the sport, Hawke's Bay Kayak Racing and Matt McKnight (NZ Youth Olympic Games team coach) for getting me to where I am today," Hall added.

Harvey said the philosophy of the trust was to keep youth in sport and remove barriers to participating when the costs become too high.

"It is great to support athletes throughout Hawke's Bay. This scholarship is awarded to athletes not just because of how talented they are on the court or in the water but also how they show leadership and demonstrate how much of a good sport they are off the field."

This is the third year the scholarship has been awarded to Hawke's Bay athletes with past recipients being New Zealand swimming rep Bobbi Gichard (2015) and New Zealand squash representative Rhiarne Taiapa last year.

2018 Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sports Trust Scholarship finalists were:
Amy Wiltshire (Equestrian, Massey University), Asher Grapes (Netball, Hastings Girls' High School), Casey Hales (Canoe Slalom and Canoe Polo, Taradale High School), Georgia Hulls (Athletics), Henry Hall (Canoe Sprint and Canoe Slalom, Taradale High School), Joseph Field (Cricket, Hastings Boys' High School), Niamh Lee (Kayaking, Havelock North High School), Nick Palmer (Athletics, Karamu High School), Rosalia Samia (Basketball, Napier Girls' High School).