Two of Fermanagh's talented young sporting stars, Emma Jamison and Susannah Hughes-Jordan received a special boost when they each received a Greg Turley Bursary Award to support them in the development in their field of expertise. The financial awards and certificates were formally handed over by representatives from the awards committee at Fermanagh House in Enniskillen.
For a number of years, the two talented young people have been busy practising and participating both locally and further a field.
Sixteen-year-old Emma, a student at the Erne School, has for the past number of years been heavily involved in Special Olympics representing her school at area level, her county at Ulster level and has now been selected to represent Ireland in China at the 2007 Special Olympics World Games.
Emma started her campaign with Special Olympics in Enniskillen in June 2004 where she competed in the 100m walk and standing long jump. Two gold medals here led to selection for the Ulster finals in May 2005 and the All-Ireland Games in June 2006. Emma's performances here helped secure her selection to China.
In preparation for the World Games, Emma trains three times a week in Enniskillen and once a month in Dublin where she meets up with the rest of her team-mates.
''We are delighted to present Emma with the Greg Turley Bursary Award. Emma's commitment, dedication and enthusiasm have paid dividends. Emma's learning disability and visible impairment has not stood in her way and she has worked tremendously hard to achieve so much. We hope the award will help cover some of Emma's training costs in preparing for the games and cover some expenses in Beijing in October,'' outlined Sean Carlin, a member of the awards panel.
Thirteen-year-old Susannah Hughes-Jordan is one of the youngest recipients of a Greg Turley Bursary Award. Susannah has risen to a very high standard in tennis, having won seven titles in the last year, including competitions in Belfast and Portadown, as well as representing Enniskillen Lawn Tennis Club in the 'A' section of the Western League and was on the team that secured the 'A' title for the first time.
Susannah recently achieved the accolade of being the number one lady in Fermanagh and Tyrone by winning the Western ladies single league! Susannah is ranked number 2 in Ulster at U-14 and has participated in national ranking match-plays in Dublin and Galway in the last six months finishing with an All-Ireland ranking of number 8.
The Greg Turley Bursary Award will assist Susannah by contributing to her training and travel costs in the coming year.
"Susannah is one of the best young players in Ireland and has both great ability and great potential. We are so pleased to be in a position to support Susannah as she pursues her sporting ambitions,'' explained Iain Kennedy, a member of the awards panel.
The latest awards were announced by the Greg Turley Awards Scheme panel, which includes Kathleen Richey, Sean Carlin, Denzil McDaniel, Iain Kennedy and Lorna Turley. To date, the panel has awarded 16 awards to young people throughout Fermanagh.
Lauri McCusker, Director of The Fermanagh Trust, which administers the Bursary Award Scheme, outlined the panel's delight at the news: "Emma and Susannah are extremely talented and committed to their chosen fields of athletics and tennis. It is great news. We have been able to support them with an award towards their costs in participating at this high standard. We all wish them every success in achieving their ambitions."
The Greg Turley Award Scheme has provided bursaries to young people in a wide range of fields, including Irish Dancing, sailing, music and soccer including ladies soccer.
The panel are looking forward to assisting talented young people to develop their skills and interests in the fields of music and drama, sport, and community service in the coming months and years.
With this in mind, the panel are inviting any young people between the ages of 11 and 18, who are interested in hearing more about the Greg Turley Bursary Award Scheme or any parent, teacher or youth worker to contact Lauri McCusker, The Fermanagh Trust, Fermanagh House, Broadmeadow Place Enniskillen, tel. 028 66 320210 or by e-mail at: info@fermanaghtrust.org
