Athletes awarded Jaycee Trust Travelling Fellowship Scheme grants

Published on 09 December 2024

Four outstanding athletes from Palmerston North have been awarded $5,000 each from the Jaycee Trust Travelling Fellowship Scheme to support their journeys in representing New Zealand on the world stage.

These grants will help cover travel costs for their sporting events and competitions overseas.

Councillor Lorna Johnson, Chair of the selection panel, congratulates each of the 2024 recipients.

“These athletes are amazing ambassadors for our city and for New Zealand. Their dedication and passion inspire us all. We’re proud to support them in reaching their goals and representing us on the global stage.”

Meet the 2024 recipients:

• Joseph Fitzpatrick-Bryant: A grant will assist Joseph in traveling to Italy for the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games, where he will represent New Zealand in alpine skiing.
• Kate Blincoe: Kate’s trip to Deqing, China, to compete with the Senior Women’s Canoe Polo Team at the Canoe Polo World Championships was partially funded by this grant. Her team recently brought home the gold, marking a historic achievement for New Zealand.
• Kayla Carne: Another shining star in the canoe polo scene, Kayla headed to Deqing, China, with the U21 Women’s Canoe Polo Team to compete on the international stage.
• Zahara Slatter: Zahara is off to Texas, USA, to represent New Zealand in the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, an international competitive gymnastics event. With her incredible talent, Zahara is often compared to the legendary Simone Biles - a true testament to her potential.

Councillor Johnson adds, “We look forward to seeing what they accomplish and are excited to see how their journeys inspire the next generation of athletes in Palmerston North."

Applications for the next round of funding will open in 2025.