Applications have opened for the 2007 OCS Young Sports Person Awards, and OCS is looking for a gifted young athlete in each of nine UK regions, plus a disabled athlete, who will each receive a cheque for £2,500. There is also a Young Star award, and one overall winner receives a further grant of £10,000, with £2,500 of that going towards their club or school. The awards are open to talented athletes under the age of 18 and previous winners have come from sports as diverse as Irish camogie, clay pigeon shooting, swimming and sledge hockey.

Olympic gymnast and 2002 OCS Young Sports Person overall winner, Beth Tweddle, is keen to recommend the scheme: “The OCS awards scheme is a fantastic opportunity for people to nominate a young sports person whose hard work and achievement they think deserves recognition. A cheque for £2,500 can be the boost needed to be able to attend crucial training camps or cover the cost of travel, competition entries and accommodation. This scheme really is important, and I know from being a previous winner, it can help a lot and really provide support when it’s most needed.

” Young swimmer and 2006 regional winner for Wales, Robert Parry, has no doubt how much difference the award has made to his career: “The award from OCS made a real difference to my training, as we can afford to travel to Manchester every week to do long course training. It also means we will be able to travel to and from Manchester through the week of the British Open. Without this help I would have had to pick priority events – because my family wouldn’t have been able to afford the travel for the week on top of everything else.”

The OCS Young Sports Person Awards are this year marking a decade of supporting sport at the grass roots and backing young people determined to excel in their chosen sport. OCS Chief Executive Chris Cracknell explains: “OCS is an internationally successful British company which retains a strong family feel. The belief that we should put something back into the community lies right at the heart of the company’s values, and over ten years we have helped almost one hundred young people, many of whom have gone on to compete at the highest levels. We really want to encourage more coaches and others working with young sports people to persuade their rising stars to put in an application.”

Young squash star Victoria Bell applied three years running before making it to the regional shortlist, and she has no doubt how much difference the award has made to her career: “Winning my award has taken the strain off my family, and it means that any items I need for my squash I can buy myself. Things are going really well for me and having the money to do the tournaments I want is great.”

If you would like to be in the running for an OCS Award or know a talented young athlete who could benefit from this exciting scheme, visit the awards website and download an application form at www.ocsyoungsportsperson.co.uk. All entries must be received by June 1 2007.