2009 Scholarship Recipients

More Don Oliver awards than ever in new format

Eleven young Waitakere sports people this year joined the elite group who have been awarded a Don Oliver Youth Sports Foundation scholarship. This is more than ever before in a single year.

The DOYSF has been “picking winners” from among the cream of Waitakere’s pre-elite sporting youth for the last 12 years. To qualify, the young athletes have to be aged between 14 and 21 years, live in Waitakere, be pre-elite but have the X factor that says they have what it takes to represent their sport and their country on the world stage.

There were 5 past scholarship winners at the Beijing Olympics and 5 medal winners at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games were past scholarship winners.

This year “the Don Oliver” has divided the awards into Gold, Silver and Bronze scholarships, each of a different value.

“This is a logical step because the needs of young athletes at 14 are almost always going to be smaller than those of athletes who are on the edge of breaking into the top level,” says “Don Oliver” chairman, Dai Bindoff.

“At the same time we can be reasonably certain that the older ones will break into the top level whereas that is by no means certain with young protégés, who may or may not kick-on in their middle teen years and later.

“So, by splitting the awards into three levels, we can meet needs much more exactly and provide more scholarships than if we stick with just one level of awards,” Bindoff says.

Apart from receiving financial support from the Don Oliver Youth Sports Foundation itself, recipients are given free membership at The Trusts Stadium Gym, and access to mentoring and other professional advice in conjunction with Sport Waitakere.

The $23,000 that is provided in scholarships this year is part provided by the DOYSF and part by sponsors Alloy Yachts, Babich Wines, Canam Construction, Heron Plumbing, Molloy Furniture, Rotary Club of Henderson, Tracy Group and Waitakere Architects.

The Foundation presented the scholarships at its annual awards and fundraising dinner on August 19th at The Trusts Stadium in Henderson.

The foundation honours Olympic weightlifter, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and prominent Westie, Don Oliver who died in 1996.

2009/10 Scholarship Recipients:

Teresa Adam
Sport: Triathlon

Teresa’s achievements in 2009 included a credible 2nd place at the U/19 National Sprint Triathlon Champs, 6th place finish in the sprint triathlon at the Youth Olympics and 7th placing at the Oceania Junior Champs. Teresa’s long term goals include competing and finishing in the top 3 of the World U/23 Champs (2010-2012), with her ultimate goal being to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games.


Meghan Ashford
Sport: Sport Aerobics

In 2008, Meghan competed in the FISAF World Junior Championships in Moscow where she placed 6th. Earlier this year Meghan was the 1st place senior individual at the FISAF Nationals and world qualifying event. She is also a member if the FISAF National Development Squad to train for the World Championships in Australia, 2011. Meghan is aiming for a top 3 finish at the Senior World ISAF Championships (2011/12) on the way to becoming world champion.


Luke Charlesworth
Sport: Badminton

Luke is a member of the Waitakere young elite badminton squad and the Pan Pacific U/19 team. He has returned from Australia where he was runner up in the Australian U/17 badminton championship. In 2008 Luke competed in the World Junior Competition in India. Luke’s long term goal is to represent New Zealand at the 2016 Olympic Games and become the first New Zealander to win a badminton medal for the country.


Danielle Jones
Sport: Hockey

Danielle’s has been selected for the Junior Black sticks representing New Zealand at the World Cup in Boston later this year. She is also a trialist for the Black Sticks squad at the age of 17. Danielle’s long term goal is to be selected for the Black Sticks World Cup team.


Elizabeth Lamb
Sport: Athletics – High Jump

Currently ranked 4th in the 2009 World Rankings for the U/20 women’s High Jump, Liz set a new New Zealand record and PB at the 2009 nationals, of 1.85m for the 17 and 18 years and under age group. She was also named “jumper of the meet” after winning the 2009 Porrit Classic with a jump of 1.80m. Liz’s goal for the upcoming season is to represent New Zealand at the World Junior (U/20) in Canada and the Commonwealth Games. Her long term goal is to represent New Zealand at the 2012 London Olympic Games.


Mathew Madsen
Sport: Weightlifting

Mathew is the youngest ever lifter to represent New Zealand in a senior international event. In May he won the Oceania/Arafura junior competition (Darwin, Australia) and placed second in the senior competition. He also competed at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Prune, India, where he broke 5 New Zealand records and added 7kg to his previous total in the 56kg class on his way to a credible 4th placing. Mathew’s long term goal is to represent New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.


Clayton Mbofana
Sport: Athletics

Clayton was unbeaten in every 100m and 200m race competed in over the 2008/09 season but unfortunately his season was interrupted with a hamstring injury. At the Arafura Games (Darwin, Australia) Clayton set a new 100m record and a PB of 10.67 sec in his heat. He also set a new PB in the 200m (21.70 sec), this time is the fastest 200m run by a M19 runner in New Zealand this year. Clayton’s goal is to break the current 15 year old New Zealand 100m record of 10.11 and to qualify and make the finals of the 100m and 200m at the 2012 London Olympic Games.


Katherine O’Neill
Sport: Mountain Biking

In 2008 Katherine finished 3rd at the 2008 Xterra World Championships. She is currently the New Zealand U/23 cross country mountain bike champion and New Zealand Short track mountain bike champion (Pro Elite). Katherine will be competing at the world championships (Canberra, Australia) in August. Katherine aims to represent New Zealand at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Her ultimate goal is to be the Mountain Bike and Xterra World Champion.


Chevannah Paalvast
Sport: Basketball

Chevannah has recently received a scholarship from the Monmouth University (USA) to play First Division College Basketball. In 2009 she was selected to play in the New Zealand U/21 Emerging Tall Fern Team to play in the FIBA Oceania Tournament in Saipan (Northern Marina Islands). Chevannah’s ultimate goal is to play for the Tall Ferns at the 2012 London Olympic Games.


Phillip Ryan
Sport: Swimming

Phillip is the current New Zealand Open Water 10k and 5k champion and earlier this year competed in the Australia and New Zealand World Championships qualifying swim, finishing 6th in the 10km, 6 seconds outside of the recommended time for the selection to the worlds. Phillip’s goal is to represent New Zealand at the 2012 London Olympic Games.


Gillian Wills
Sport: Softball

At 14 years of age, Gillian has represented Auckland in every age group, and earned several accolades along the way. This has included top catcher award at the New Zealand Secondary Schools tournament earlier this year. Gillian’s greatest sporting achievement to date is her selection in the Junior White Sox Training Squad. Gillian’s long term goal is play for the U/19 New Zealand team at the 2011 World Series Championships in South Africa.