Ready, Steady, Win has been providing bursaries for young aspiring sports stars in Herefordshire for the past 24 years. These have helped young people to progress in a wide range of sports from fencing to rowing, sailing to badminton. Applications are now invited for the last time, because the organisation is closing at the end of the year.

Chairman, Martin Hudson, told the Gazette: “Ready, Steady, Win has survived all this time because of the past generosity of local companies and other contributors to the bursary funds and also due to the efforts of dedicated volunteers in managing the scheme.

“Unfortunately the funds will be exhausted after this current round and the volunteers are too busy elsewhere to start again.”

The Ready, Steady, Win concept was introduced to Herefordshire by a Ross-on-Wye businessman called Jim Hughes, who brought the idea back from Australia.

He convinced his local Rotary club, various organisations and local businesses to donate start-up funds and the rest, as they say, is history.

Several hundred Herefordshire youngsters have benefitted thanks to his initiative. Two Ross-on-Wye youngsters were among the ten local young sports stars to receive funds from Ready, Steady, Win in July this year.

Martin added:?“We’re very proud of what Ready, Steady, Win has achieved and we really hope that people will use this last chance to secure a bursary.

“Applicants must have reached county level in their chosen sport to be considered and need to complete and submit the enquiry form at Contact Us via the website: www.readysteadywin.org.uk to receive the application form. The deadline for applications is Friday, November 18th and the provisional date for presentations is Monday, December 5th.