The Western Region Academy of Sport will be hosting a weightlifting competition in conjunction with Weightlifting NSW this weekend in Bathurst. The event will be held in the gym at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst on Saturday 29 August from 11am-3 pm.

Athletes from across the state will compete in the CSU Club’s inaugural weightlifting event. Three CSU students will be representing Bathurst in their first weightlifting competition after being discovered through a Talent Identification process. This process identifies athletes with a physique that is well suited to weightlifting; those with high explosive power such as sprinters, short limbs and a high level of flexibility, to begin sport specific training and fast track in the sport.

Weightlifting Head Coach Dr Eric Drinkwater said, “I am excited about the competition and confident that the Bathurst athletes will achieve great results following hard training sessions leading up to the event.” He also encourages anyone who is interested to come along and watch, with the competition kicking off at 11 am.

The Cooke Hockey Complex will host 48 talented Hockey players, on Wednesday the 26 August. The athletes will trial for the 2009/10 WRAS Hockey Squad. The trials will begin at 4.30pm, with the girls taking the field first, followed by the male athletes who will conclude at 9pm.

The athletes will travel from all across the region, representing towns including, Bathurst, Cowra, Lithgow, Orange, Wallarawang, Mudgee, Parkes and Dubbo.

NSW Institute of Sport’s, emerging talent coach, Judy Lang will attend the trials as the selector. Lithgow’s Wayne Gaynor will continue as Head Coach of the squad.

Athletes selected in the WRAS Squad will commence their scholarship with the Academy in November.

For more information, please call the Academy on 6338 4821.

Some of the best athletes from throughout the western region will converge into Blayney to trial for the 2009/10 WRAS Netball squad. Over fifty two athletes and coaches will attend the trial on Sunday 16 August at the Centrepoint Sport and Leisure Facility in Blayney.

The day will begin with trials for the 15 Years Squad during the morning and conclude with the WRAS Netball Squad trials. The training will involve individual and sport specific skills and will incorporate games during the on court sessions.

The selected 15 Years team will travel to Homebush on 3 & 4 October to take part in a tournament to compete against athletes from across the state.

Athletes selected in the WRAS Squad will commence their scholarship with the Academy in November.

WRAS Executive Officer said, “The trials will provide young athletes with the opportunity to work with experienced coaching staff and show their sporting talent in order to be selected in either the 15 years team or WRAS squad.”

The Western Region Academy of Sport is seeking applicants for squad coaching and management positions for 2010 sport programs. There are positions available for assistant coaches, satellite coaches, apprentice coaches and managers. Applicants can nominate to work with the WRAS basketball, hockey, lawn bowls, netball or triathlon squads.

Squad staff are expected to attend all sessions throughout the course of the program. Coaching applicants are required to have at least beginner coaching principles qualifications, and all squad staff must be enthusiastic, committed, flexible and have a positive outlook. A flyer with further information is available from the WRAS website downloads section along with the draft programs for the five sports (http://wras.org.au/downloads/).

WRAS Executive Officer said ‘being a member of WRAS squad staff is a great opportunity to coach some of the best sportspeople from the western region and NSW. Many past and present WRAS coaches have gone on to work with NSW, Australian and Institutes of Sport teams and athletes following their involvement with the Academy’.

To be considered for a position, applicants need to send a written expression of interest to the Academy via email fjames@csu.edu.au stating their name, position interested in and contact details by 6 September 2009. For more information, please contact the Academy on 6338 4821.

The Western Region Academy of Sport is currently calling for applications from talented junior sportspeople for the 2010 Lone Star squad. The Lone Star program is a fantastic opportunity the Academy provides for athletes participating in any sport recognised by NSW Sport and Recreation.

Lone Star scholarships are for athletes who are achieving at least at a NSW representative level and who aspire to reach the highest possible level in their given sport.

Recent WRAS lone star athletes include golfer Kate Thomas (now on scholarship at the University of North Carolina in the USA), star hockey player Jade Warrender who is currently in Boston competing in the Junior World Championships as a member of the Australian team, amateur golfer Ben Webb and cross-country athlete Emma Statham.

To be eligible to apply for a scholarship, athletes should be aged between 14-18 years of age (at 1 Jan 2010), be living or gaining an education in the western region of NSW, be competing in a sport recognised by the NSW Sport and Recreation and be committed to self improvement. The selection process involves an initial application (now available on the WRAS website) followed by an interview, if required.

Following selection a program is formulated for each athlete on an individual basis. Services the Academy can offer include physical testing and monitoring, sports science support, media skills training, time management, personal development, speed and agility training, coaching, access to NSW Institute of Sport facilities and personnel and possible funding assistance following athlete’s first year in program. Additionally every athlete will have their Functional Movement Screening completed, receive their own Strength and Conditioning program and regular consultations with the WRAS Strength and Conditioning Interns.

The 2010 squad will be coordinated by CSU Human Movement Studies student Anna Coughlan who is eager to build on the program and help each athlete achieve their potential by providing the combination of services that best suits the individual, whilst still creating a team environment for the squad.

Academy Executive Officer, Nancy Haslop said “The Lone Star program is shaping an extremely valuable and rewarding program for talented athletes in the western region. Many of the excellent services available to lone star athletes are due to our relationship with the School of Human Movement Studies at CSU and their excellent staff and facilities. The personalised approach to development that we offer these athletes will ensure they are given the best opportunity to achieve their individual potential and be a part of the WRAS team.”

For more information on the 2010 Lone Star program call the Academy on 6338 4821 or visit www.wras.org.au. Application forms are available on the web site in the ‘downloads’ tab and applications close Monday 24 August.

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Triathlon NSW and the Western Region Academy of Sport are proud to announce that John Hickey, highly experienced and well respected NSW coach, will be head coach at the 2009 Triathlon Rookie Camp. The three day camp will be held from Friday 10 July to Sunday 12 July at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst.

John comes with a wealth of experience being Triathlon NSW’s Assistant Coach, Northern Inland Academy of Sport’s (NIAS) Head Coach and has become very well known for his coaching success throughout NSW.

WRAS’ executive officer, Nancy Haslop said, “It is a great opportunity for Western Region athletes and coaches to train alongside John. His immense experience will allow the triathletes to gain vital skills and training techniques over the three days.”

For more information on the Triathlon Rookie Camp or WRAS program please contact the Academy office as soon as possible on 6338 4821.

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