Surfing: McLeod receives scholarship

New Zealand surfer Mahorahora McLeod has been named as an International Surfing Association (ISA) scholarship recipient.

The 14-year-old from Waitara in Taranaki was one of 25 surfers to be announced as a scholarship recipient during the world junior surfing championship at Piha Beach in west Auckland today.

The ISA said it received 77 applications from 29 countries for this year's programme, which provides financial assistance for recipients to travel to surf contests and upgrade their surfing equipment, as well as continue their education.

"I believe the ISA scholarship programme is a huge step forward for the ISA to contribute to bettering the lives of junior surfers around the world," ISA president Fernando Aguerre said.

"Together, we are supporting the dreams and hopes of good students who are also good surfers."

Other recipients came from countries including Angola, Venezuela, Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica.

McLeod is the second New Zealander to win the scholarship, following Gisborne's Jayda Martin-Fitzharris, who received one last year.

- NZPA