13 February 2002 Lincoln welcomes biggest sports scholar intake

Lincoln University has accepted its biggest intake of first-year sports scholars since it introduced the pioneering programme in 1999.

Fifty-six scholars covering five sports – cricket, hockey, netball, rugby and table tennis – have arrived on the campus this week to join 79 others already progressing through their degrees from previous intakes.

"It's our biggest intake since we started the programme and our widest geographic spread," says Sports Scholarship Programme Manager Geoff Ormandy.

"This year's intake of 56 is 14 up on last year. Twenty are from the North Island and 35 from the South Island with home districts ranging from Kaikohe to Invercargill. We also have one from South Africa.

"The gender breakdown is 29 women and 27 men and the women scholars include netballer Joanna McCaw, sister of rising All Black star Richard McCaw who is already studying at Lincoln University on an Excellence Scholarship.

"For the first time this year we have extended the programme to cover a limited number of postgraduate places – five – so that top scholars from earlier intakes who have now reached the point of being invited to do honours level study can retain their places as Sports Scholars."

Since 1999 Lincoln University's Sports Scholarship Programme has brought top sports performers to Canterbury to combine academic study with the extension and development of their athletic and sporting prowess.

The scholarships are open to school-leavers who have demonstrated high levels of both academic and sporting achievement. All five groups of scholars and the scholarship programme in general is well supported by the respective Canterbury sporting organisations – Canterbury Cricket Association, Canterbury Hockey Association, Canterbury Netball, Canterbury Rugby Union and Table Tennis Canterbury.

Under the scheme Lincoln University provides a personal training programme, academic mentoring, and arranges special lectures in areas such as sports psychology, nutrition and training. The code partners also contribute in these areas and provide team training, transport, equipment and personal mentoring for sports skill development.

"While at Lincoln the scholars are available to play in club teams throughout Canterbury, so the programme acts as a good injection of sports talent for the province," says Mr Ormandy.

"Academic success is an essential part of the programme and the scholars must pass their university papers in order to retain their scholarships. Last year the scholars achieved a 93 percent pass rate in their subjects – higher than the average undergraduate pass rate.

"Not everyone can succeed in sport alone, and even when successful an athlete's competitive years must eventually come to an end. 'Life after sport' needs to be planned for and a university degree provides a valuable basis for that forward career planning. That's a central part of the rationale behind the Sports Scholarship Programme."

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.