The first official training sessions for the selected 2023 NIAS Golf and Triathlon Program athletes will take place this weekend, with the talented sportspeople coming together for the first time after being announced last month.

Talented golfers, coaches and sporting volunteers will descend on Tamworth Golf Club Pro from across the Northern Inland region on Saturday and Sunday morning, for a weekend of training and coaching sessions led by Coach Darren Burger.

Triathlon athletes will converge for their first training session on Saturday at 10am at the Tamworth Sports Complex Criterium Track, then from 12noon to 1pm Scully Park pool. Triathlon sessions will be led by coaches Nicky Western and Sheena Carter.

This weekend training sessions will continue for Hockey and Basketball, with the 2022/23 Basketball squad training in Armidale on Saturday at The Den, from 10am – 2pm. On Sunday, the NIAS Hockey team will continue training from 9am at the Tamworth Hockey Complex.

The Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) is a community-based organisation dedicated to identifying regional talent and preparing talented sportspeople within the region develop their potential, on and off the field as well as exposing them to the commitment and expectations required at the next level in the sport’s pathway.

NIAS CEO, Shona Eichorn, said NIAS is committed to helping local athletes overcome major regional disadvantages.

“Living in regional and rural areas, our athletes are faced with barriers such as the tyranny of distance, lack of access to regular quality coaching, inadequate regular high-quality competition and limited exposure to state sporting bodies. Through NIAS, we provide the support, opportunities, pathways and access for athletes to overcome these disadvantages, thrive and transition to higher levels of competition and performance”.

“Our athletes have access to development programs, coach support services, industry awards and sporting initiatives that help develop the individual potential of identified talented sportspeople.”

The opportunities NIAS provides are facilitated thanks to the support of our valued sponsors, such as Major Sponsor – NSW Office of Sport, Major Partner – Tamworth Regional Council and Program Partners – Golf NSW and Jack Newton Junior Golf (JNJG) which have been longstanding supporters of NIAS Golf.