ANNOUCEMENT

We’re excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Sky Sport Emerging Talent Scholarship Grants! These grants provide vital support to New Zealand’s up-and-coming Para athletes, helping them take the next step in their sporting journeys. Each recipient will recieve $2,500 to assist with specialised equipment, coaching, and development opportunities tailored to their individual needs.

Congratulations to this years’ outstanding recipients:

  • Andrew Fairweather (Waikato – 10m Target Air Rifle)
  • Max Wymer (Auckland – Boccia)
  • Finn Tregurtha-Nairn (South Canterbury – Athletics)
  • Maia Read (Taranaki – Badminton)
  • Amy Ellis (Taranaki – Athletics – Sprinting)

The Sky Sport Emerging Talent Scholarship continues to invest in the future of Para sport in Aotearoa – empowering young athletes aged 14-21 with physical or visual impairments to unlock their potential and chase their dreams of competing at the highest level.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH RECIPIENT AND THEIR GOALS

Andrew Fairweather is 17 years old and has made remarkable progress in a short time since beginning competitive shooting in March 2025. Despire being new to the sport, Andrew has already produced impressice results across multiple events, consistently placing among some of New Zealand’s most experienced Para Shooters – many of whom have competed at the Paralympic level. His standout performances include strong finishes at the PASC DSA Champs, PASC Mt Eden Champs, BISC Cup, and the PASC Mid-Winter Champs, where he achieved qualification scores of up to 614.7 and finals scores over 244.

With the support of the grant, Andrew plans to take his training to the next level by increading his coaching sessions and competing internationally at a World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) Grand Prix, with the goal of qualifying for the World Championships. The grant will also enable him to purchase a customised shooting jacket that meets WSPS standards – a vital step in preparing for elite competition.

Max Wymer is 21 years old and has shown outstanding dedication and perserverance in his Boccia journey, steadily climbing the national ranks over the past few years. Competing in the BC3 classification, Max has earned a string of pedium finishes – including a bronze medal at the 2023 Auckland Regionals, silver at the 2024 South Island Regionals, silver in the Doubles at the 2024 New Zealand Nationals, and most recently silver at the 2025 North Island Regionals.

Next month, Max will represent New Zealand at the Boccia World Challenger in Canberra, Australia – an incredible milestone in his sporting career. The grant will provide crucial financial support towards the cost of competing internationally. With the support, Max can focus on performing at his best on the international stage and continuing to grow as one of New Zealand’s leading emerging Boccia athletes.

Finn Tregurtha-Nairn is 15 years old and has had a standout first year in senior athletics, competing at the South Island Secondary Schools, NZ Secondary Schools, and NZ National Championships. After winning all his unior events – the 100m, 200m, 400m, and long jump – Finn went on to break multiple national T38 records, including the under 17,18,19, and 20 records for both the 400m and 800m.

Finn has been part of the Halberg Games since he was 9-years-old, an experience that helped spark his love for athletics and grow his confidence as an athlete.

The grant will support Finn’s goal of competing at the Australian National Athletics Championships, helping cover travel and competition costs. With limited funding and ongoing participation in local and national meets, this grant will make a huge difference in helping Finn take the next step in his sporting journey.

Maia Reed is 17 years old and discovered her passion for badminton after attending the 2023 Halberg Games, where she was encouraged by the Taranki coach to give the sport a go. Her talent quickly shone through – after a year in the development team, Maia earned selection for the able-bodied U19 Taranaki Representitive Team, competing at regional events in Palmerston North.Alongside this, she has begun training in Para badminton, committing to multiple sessions each week in preperation for her first international competitions later this year.

The grant will help Maia represent New Zealand at the Para Oceania Championships and Para Australian International Open. The funding will ease the financial strain of travel, accomodation, and equipment costs, allowing Maia to focus fully on her training and performance as she takes an exciting step onto the inetrnational stage.

Amy Ellis is 18 years old and has quickly established herself as one of New Zealand’s most promising young Para sprinters since beginning athletics in 2024. Training 4-5 times a week, Amy has already achieved remarkable success – representing New Zealabd at the Australian Championships and winning the Para Women’s 100m, 200m, and 400m at the 2025 New Zealand Nationals. Over the 2024-2025 season, she broke multiple national records, now holding NZ T13 age-group and open records across the 100m, 200m, 400m, and long jump events.

The grant will help Amy continue her sprinting development over the next year by supporting coaching, travel, and recovery costs. It will also help fund new sprint spikes, strength, and conditioning training, and physiotherapy support – all vital in her pursuit of improving her times and representing New Zealand on the international stage.

A massive thank you to Sky Sport NZ for their continued support of young Kiwis in sport and recreation. Through their generosity, these emerging athletes now have the resources, coaching, and opportunities to reach their full potential – strengthening New Zealand’s presence on the global Para sport stage. Together, let’s keep supporting and celebrating the next generation of talent who represent the bright future of Para Sport in Aotearoa.