Applications Open for the 2023 Lloyd Cowan Bursary

Applications are now open for the third consecutive year of the Lloyd Cowan Bursary.

The Bursary was established in memory of Lloyd Cowan MBE, an international athlete turned renowned coach. It offers grants of up to £500 to dedicated coaches and committed, unfunded athletes aged 16 to 23. The goal is to remove some of the financial barriers that prevent them from accessing opportunities in athletics.

Last year, 83% of coaches who applied received awards. Among them was Lorraine Mulvaney from Cardiff AC, who used hers to purchase equipment to support her squad. Meanwhile, Aberdeen AC’s Phil Owens used his bursary to assist with travel and accommodation costs to help guide leading para-athlete Joanna Robertson to achieve her goals. Joanna successfully attained her IPC license and rose up the rankings.

In 2022, a total of 98 athletes received grants. Many achieved success over the year, ranging from county and regional to international level, highlighting the significant impact of the Lloyd Cowan Bursary. Recipients included Welsh para-athlete Tomi Roberts-Jones, who clinched gold in the T38 100m at the Commonwealth Youth Games; Noah Hanson, the English Schools Champion and Commonwealth Youth Games 110m hurdles silver medallist; Charley O’Neill, a national age group pole vault champion, and Seamus Derbyshire who won silver in the 400m hurdles at the UK Athletics Championships.

The application window closes at 12:00 on November 17. The selection process will take place two weeks later when the Bursary Committee meets to consider every submission. Decisions will be confirmed by the middle of December.

For more details about the Lloyd Cowan Bursary and the application process, please visit www.lloydcowanbursary.org.uk/home/

To donate go to www.justgiving.com/lloydcowanbursary

The Lloyd Cowan Bursary was set up in memory of Lloyd Cowan MBE, who believed that no one with sporting potential should be held back by lack of financial support and opportunities. Applicants must be qualified licensed UKA coaches or unfunded UKA licensed athletes.

Lloyd Cowan was an international athlete before transitioning to become one of the UK’s most successful coaches. He guided numerous leading British sprinters, including World, Olympic, and Commonwealth 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu and European 110m hurdles champion Andy Turner. Tragically, Lloyd, aged 58, died in January 2021 from complications after contracting COVID-19.