A YOUNG weightlifting champion from Bangor is among the athletes to have received this year's Sports Scholarships from the City's University.

Reigning Welsh Senior Weightlifting champion, Catrin Jones, is one of 11 elite sports people to receive this year's prize.

"Bangor University have supported me for a number of years," she said.

"I first received a local bursary before receiving the Sports Scholarship as a University student. The sports facilities at Bangor are top class and have helped me develop my training massively.

"The staff at Canolfan Brailsford and at the School of Psychology have been very supportive and I’m looking forward to working with Sport Science students in areas such as psychology."

Every year, Bangor University supports students with sporting ability by offering a number of Sports Scholarships for students studying for a degree in any subject area.

They are aimed at helping talented and high performance students to combine their academic study and sporting performance to assist them in achieving their full potential.

Richard Bennett, director of commercial services at Bangor University, said: “We are very pleased to support a number of highly talented athletes here.

"We keep investing in up-to-date equipment to attract top athletes to the university. They will also benefit from the expertise of staff at the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences.

"Since the University developed a partnership with Rygbi Gogledd Cymru (RGC) 4 years ago, talented rugby players identified by the club have been able to progress into higher education whilst being able to continue to play rugby at high level and remain in north Wales, thanks to the Sports Scholarships.”

A total of11 students received scholarships worth a combined £30,000 for a wide range of sports. The students to benefit from this year’s Sports Scholarships are:

Rakia Alouane, 24, from Northern Ireland - Taekwondo

Michael Farmer, 19, from Caerphilly - Weightlifting

Catrin Jones, 19, from Bangor - Weightlifting

Molly Nixon, 18, Southport - Sailing

Octavia Owen, 19, from the Wirral - Sailing

Sam Rogers, 18, from Wrexham - Rugby

Abi Senior, 18, from Malvern, Worcestershire - Triathlon

Molly Shuttleworth, 19, from Birmingham - Rugby

Joe Steward, 22, from Middleton, Manchester - Cross Country

Flo Tilley, 21, from Nottingham - Climbing

Huw Williams, 18, from Llanfyllin - Squash

The scholarship programme is part of a wider commitment to raise the profile and reputation of the University through sport.