The Department of Sport and Recreation’s (DSR) Smarter than Smoking (STS) Country Sport Scholarships for 2009/10 are available to athletes living in the Great Southern.

Young athletes in the country face challenges beyond the struggle to get out of bed for training early on a winter morning.

Distance from facilities, competitions and development opportunities can be a major and expensive hurdle on the path to competing at elite level.

Kojonup’s water skiing sensation, Mitchell Cavanagh, is one Great Southern sports star who last year received financial support to overcome such challenges with an STS Country Sport Scholarship.

Offered each year by DSR in partnership with Healthway, the scholarships provide opportunities for regional athletes to access training, competitions, development camps, coaches and facilities to improve their performance.

Successful applicants are also offered the opportunity to participate in the Gifted Athlete Program (GAP), a life skills education and training program developed as a joint initiative by DSR and the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS).

Applications will be assessed on a statewide basis against a series of standardised performance categories designed to provide a pathway from an STS scholarship into a regional academy, such as the South West Academy of Sport and into the elite environment at WAIS.

Athletes who live more than 500km from Perth may be eligible for additional support to offset financial demands associated with travelling long distances.

Guidelines and application forms are available from DSR Great Southern on 9892 0100, or visit www.dsr.wa.gov.au.

Applications must be lodged by Friday, June 26.