Three prominent Geelong sporting organisations have linked together to help provide financial backing and other key benefits to young local sports stars aspiring to succeed on the international stage.
Geelong Football Club’s Past Players’ Association (GFCPPA) and Briseis Club have embraced the Barwon Sports Academy’s (BSA) long-term goal of giving vital practical assistance to a wide cross section of rising Geelong sports achievers.
Representatives from the three groups got together during the half-time break of the recent Geelong vs Adelaide clash at GMHBA Stadium where GFCPPA president Ray Card presented the academy’s chief executive Cameron Loftus with a $4400 sponsorship grant on behalf of the Briseis Club.
Card and ex-Cats players Neville Bruns, Mark Yeates, Marty Christensen, Wayne Hovey, Greg Wells, Les Borrack and David Bolton are all members of the Briseis Club, founded in 1995 as a financial backer to the Geelong Racing Club, in addition to supporting regional charities.
The club repositioned itself at the commencement of 2023 and this year is the major sponsor of the academy’s Champions and Mentors’ Program, and the inaugural Alumni plan.
In accepting the sponsorship certificate before a large audience of former Geelong footballers, wide-eyed young athletes and Briseis Club members, Mr Loftus said the BSA was thrilled with Briseis Club’s ongoing generosity and pointed to the selection of regional sprint star Mia Gross in the Australian team at the Paris Olympic Games as an example of the academy’s groundwork.
“The academy is now looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic where we are hopeful of Geelong representation across many sports,” he said.
Mr Card explained that the GFCPPA was delighted to be involved with Briseis’ sponsorship and was exploring ways of becoming more supportive of the academy’s network which embraces more than 30 sports.
Briseis Club president John Craven said the club would retain its heavy involvement with Geelong Racing Club and was looking forward to its prime event – The Briseis Gold Cup on Friday September 13.
“We are very committed to both the Barwon Sports Academy and the racing club,” he said.
