A record 32 students from Cockermouth have received sports training grants from the Derek Thompson Trust Fund this year.

Established in 1981 in honour of a local school sports teacher, the fund has dispensed over £27,000 to support young sports enthusiasts to date.

Past beneficiaries include English cricket captain Ben Stokes and top swimmers Luke and Sam Greenbank.

Secretary Jack Abernethy said: "It's been going for so long. This year in particular we had a record number of people applying - and gave out £2,025.

"It's great to be able to support so many kids continuing with their sporting interests."

The grants were presented at Cockermouth School by Ben King , chairman of Cockermouth Round Table, which has supported the fund over the years by making extra cash donations to top up the fund.

He also presented one of last year's recipients with the Derek Thompson Merit Cup.

The fund trustees chose to give it to Max Henderson from Wigton.

15-year-old Max, a student at Cockermouth School and member of Cockermouth Swimming Club, is the Cumbria County champion in multiple swimming events. 

He also swims in Open Water events and in 2023 he came second in the “Escape from Alcatraz swim in San Francisco.

The following students were also presented with grants:

  • Aleck Armstong (Mountain Biking and Basketball)
  • Myrtle Ashworth (Orienteering and Hockey)
  • Lily Marie Bailey (Swimming)
  • Reuben Bone (Hockey)
  • Alexa Campbell (Hockey)
  • Robson Campbell (Football, Rugby Union & League)
  • Lorton Curnow (Athletics, Rugby % Football)
  • Zac Curnow (Football, Rugby Union & League)
  • Emily David (Rugby Union, Netball & Swimming)
  • Taylor Dawson (Hockey)
  • Matthew Downie (Running, Cross Country & Football)
  • Thomas Downie (Athletics, Football, Rugby & Cross Country)
  • Harry Dyson (Swimming)
  • Oliver Dyson (Swimming)
  • Freddie Fee (Rugby League & Union)
  • Evan Graves (Cricket)
  • Zach Graves (Cricket)
  • Harriet Griffiths (Karate)
  • Dan Heppell (Orienteering)
  • Toby Heppell (Orienteering)
  • Samantha Hewitt (Karate)
  • Rachel Lewis (Swimming)
  • Daisy Rennie (Orienteering)
  • Zoe Sanderson (Swimming)
  • Matthew Smith-Johnson (Cycling)
  •  Sophie Smith-Johnson (Cycling)
  • Rory Wilkinson (Badminton)
  • Ed Williams (Rugby League & Union and  Cricket)
  • Daisy Woodcock (Athletics)
  • George Woodcock ( Football)
  • Evie Youngman (Fell Running, Cross Country & Hockey)