THREE students in Weymouth have received a cash boost to help support their sporting careers.

Sporting students at Wey Valley have received Sports Scholarship Grants from the academy to help their progress in basketball, taekwondo and motocross.

The students will receive £200 each to go towards their sporting progress.

Phil Thomas, prin-cipal of Wey Valley School said: “Max Gilmartin, Kate Norman and Charlotte Hall are dedicated sportsmen and women who have represented their respective clubs at local, regional and national levels.

“They all aspire to go further in their chosen field and the school is pleased to support them, not least because of the inspiration they provide to their fellow students at Wey Valley.”

Max Gilmartin, aged 16, plays national league basketball for South West England team at home and in Europe. He has applied for post-16 courses at specialist basketball colleges in Southampton and Bristol.

He said: “I hope this will lead me on to a career in sports teaching and coaching.

“The school has been exceptional in finding time for my extra basketball training as well as my strength and conditioning training. I will always be grateful for their support.”

A taekwondo student since she was just eight, Kate Norman, now aged 12, trains three times a week with her Grand Master, Rob McDonald, has recently gained her black belt and hopes to teach younger members of her club.

She said: “This year, I competed in the UK Chungdokwan National Championships where I came fourth, and in September I travelled to Dublin to compete in the All Ireland International Taekwondo Championships where I won a Bronze medal.”

Charlotte Hall, aged 13, has been competing in motocross since 2012. She said: “I started on a KTM 65 and in my first season I finished 6th overall in my class and also won Girl Rider Of The Year.

“I have competed for my club in the MCF Grand Slam final twice and also the Girls’ Nationals twice, coming 10th overall this year. Next season I will be moving up to another class and my aim is to finish in the top six in my club and hopefully get into the top five at the girls’ nationals.”