The Otago Community Trust (OCT) has supported a diverse array of initiatives with $149,280 in grants for its March 2024 funding round, including $1,500 for the Aspiring Athletes Club.

Aspiring Athletes Club chairperson Kirsten Wyatt said the club was thrilled to be a recipient.

“Our plan is to purchase a Freelap Electronic Timing System which is designed to aid the training of our senior squad,” she said. 

The timing system works via a chip secured to the athlete’s belt, with sensor cones tracking their times as they run. 

“The obvious bonus of this system is that it frees up our coaches to be able to critique the athletes as they run rather than being tied up with the traditional use of a stopwatch,” Kirsten said.

The club has had great success this past season, culminating with athletes winning a brace of medals at the national athletics finals last month. Club member Phoebe Laker (15) successfully defended her sprint title and set a new personal best time to win the New Zealand women’s U16 400m at the finals.

Read more: Sprint star nails national title again

The club’s vision is to inspire the community to become active and achieve in athletics. It offers training for athletes from six years old (the basics in running, jumping and throwing), high school students wanting to take their skills to a new level, right through to those looking to be active in recreational events or striving for excellence and awards.

It is run by the community for the community and relies on a team of volunteers at all levels.

Other Otago Community Trust grants this round went to the Cromwell Menz Shed Charitable Trust ($120,000),Tahuna Normal Intermediate School ($16,280), Dunedin iD Fashion Inc Soc ($7,000), Karitane Bowling Club Inc ($3,000), and Alexandra Up-Cycles Charitable Trust ($1,500).

Otago Community Trust is a community-owned charitable trust that provides grants to assist community projects that make a significant and positive contribution to Otago communities. 

Over the last 35 years, the trust has given back approximately $212M to Otago communities. 

PHOTO: Supplied