Former rugby star Ben Powlay receives Pathway to Performance grant in Ultimate Frisbee pursuit
Published Wed 18 Oct 2023
UK born talented rugby player turned Ultimate Frisbee competitor Ben Powlay has joined other elite sport representatives this year in being rewarded $1000 as a Pathway to Performance grant winner.
The Adelaide University Sports and Fitness Board have been inundated with applications of a very high quality and recommendations have been based on individual sporting results and level of sport representation with over $24,000 awarded to student athletes so far this year.
The Pathway to Performance grants are for AUSF club members with:
- Direct financial Support for international & national level athletes
- Support for high-performance focused capital purchases or coaching
- Elite athlete support for specific costs, e.g. gym membership, performance support services
Ben is currently studying a PHD in Mining Geomechanics at the University of Adelaide (UoA) and last week he was in the Philippines representing Australia at the Asia Oceanic Championships where they finished second overall out of 18 countries.
Ben started playing Ultimate Frisbee 15 years ago when he was at high school in the UK and got into it through one of his teachers at the time. Ben said at the time he was playing rugby in winter so it was a good sport to play over summer to keep the fitness up.
Ben said he really enjoyed the opportunities to travel that came with playing Ultimate Frisbee as well as the great friendships he had made along the way.
Last year Ben played a significant role in helping the UoA in retaining their title for third consecutive year in a row as SA Challenge Ultimate Frisbee Champions.
Ben said he was extremely grateful to be a recipient of the Pathway to Performance grant particularly as the sport was self-funded and the funds would help with overseas and interstate travel for competition.
Grants are offered in a three-tier system, which best represents the athlete’s study/sport commitments.
