British Equestrian Federation Press Release
British
Equestrian Federation, NAC, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, CV8 2RH
For immediate release
APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR TALENTED ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP
SCHEME (TASS)
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)
is a Government funded multi-million pound scheme that is in its fifth year of
operation for Equestrian Sport in England. The overall aim of TASS is to assist
Great Britain’s most talented young athletes, who wish to optimise the
effectiveness of their sport and their academic programmes.
TASS provides an opportunity for equestrian
athletes to take advantage of support that will propel them towards success on
the world stage, whilst ensuring that they can fulfil their academic potential
alongside their sporting ambitions. This
system is driven through partnerships working between Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs), Further Education Colleges (FECs), National Governing
Bodies of Sport (NGB’s), in this case the British Equestrian Federation, and
other sports organisations.
The opportunities that the TASS scheme
offers Equestrian sport could be significant in encouraging talented young
equestrian athletes to continue their education by providing training funds and
support, fitness and lifestyle support and forms an important stepping stone
between the SportsAid Scheme and the World Class Development Programme. The
support that TASS offers provides not only financial assistant, but also the
confidence and status of being formally recognized by their NGB and UK Sport as
a talented individual with a bright future in the sport.
TASS is open to equestrian athletes in the
three Olympic equestrian disciplines, Para-Equestrian Dressage, and two
non-Olympic equestrian disciplines, Driving and Vaulting. Due to a re-allocation of funding there will be a restriction on TASS
places made available for equestrian athletes in 2008/09.
The following criteria will be used to identify
equestrian athletes selected to the TASS programme:
¨
Aged between 15 (16 by 1st
June 2009) – 25 years (up to 35 years for Para-Equestrian Dressage riders)
¨
Recognised from
performance profile to be a potential future international winner.
¨
Commitment to an agreed
annual training programme.
¨
Commitment to an agreed
annual competition programme (where applicable).
¨
Meet minimum academic
entry requirements, specified by the University/College.
¨
Reside at an English
address or be studying at an English Educational Institute.
¨
Achieve qualification
standard set by the British Equestrian Federation in consultation with the
governing body for each discipline.
¨
The final selection to
TASS will be at the discretion of the British Equestrian Federation.
There is one type of TASS award and
successful candidates aged between 15-25 years (35 years for Para-Equestrian
Dressage) will be receive funding to the sum of £3,500.
The closing date for applications is 8th
August 2008, application forms, eligibility criteria and FAQ’s can be
downloaded from the BEF website (www.bef.co.uk).
For
more information please contact: Sarah Armstrong,
World Class Project Manager. Tel: 07881 950543.
Email: sarah.armstrong@bef.co.uk