27 Stirling athletes awarded national scholarship support

Twenty-seven University of Stirling athletes will be supported in 2023/24 under Scotland’s relaunched national sports scholarship programme, Winning Students 100.

Following a new injection of funding from sportscotland and the Scottish Funding Council, the programme – managed by the University of Stirling – will provide vital support to the nation’s talented student athletes in balancing high-performance training and competition with their studies.

Stirling’s athletes are among 106 from across Scotland to be awarded under the new programme, which is expected to fund 500 scholarships by 2028. It will also provide additional support via a hardship fund for eligible students.

Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling and Chair of the Winning Students 100 Advisory Board, Cathy Gallagher, said: “The importance of this dual career programme for talented student athletes, cannot be understated. The coming together of the Scottish Funding Council, sportscotland and the HE/FE sector forms a significant collaboration within which to create even more impact for the current and future cohort of students.”

Winning Students 100 was launched at the University of Stirling.

Three Stirling athletes – Lorna McClymont (golf); Ollie Carter (swimming); Sophia Green (triathlon) – who received national funding in 2022/23 through the scheme’s predecessor – will be awarded again for 2023/24.

Twenty-four more Stirling athletes will also receive funding under the new scheme. They are: Scott Meenagh (biathlon); James Craik (curling); Holly Wilkie-Milne (curling); Amy Mitchell (curling); Cameron Reid (cycling); Ross Laird (golf); Alexander Farmer (golf); Crystelle Lake (gymnastics); Bronwyn Sheilds (hockey); Josie Steele (judo); Kara Lees (lawn bowls); Isobel Mactaggart (shooting); Katie Shanahan (swimming); Holly McGill (swimming); Evan Jones (swimming); Evie Davis (swimming); Lucy Grieve (swimming); George Smith (swimming); Abby Kane (swimming); Rory Dickson (swimming); Andrew Bertoli (swimming); Michaella Glenister (swimming); Zach Speakman (swimming), and Struan Bennet (triathlon).

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “We are committed to helping young athletes achieve their goals. Being able to find the right balance between training, their studies and other commitments is critical to the wellbeing of student athletes. We're delighted that this programme will help these athletes to do that.”

Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “Having funded the Winning Students programme from the start, we’re incredibly proud it has helped so many people to be successful college or university students alongside developing a career in sport. The achievements of previous Winning Students in life and in sport speak volumes for the benefits of the programme, and I wish the new scholars every success.”

Winning Students 100 is managed by University of Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – and supported by an advisory board and management group made up of professionals from across the tertiary education and sport sectors.