SPORTING Oldbury sisters Josie and Iris Oliarnyk and hockey goalkeeper William Hall, from Rowley Regis, have been given an extra spurt in their race to the top.

They are among the first to receive £500 support grants from Sandwell Council’s gifted and talented fund this year as three of the brightest young sporting stars in the borough.

Sisters Josie and Iris, both members of the Halesowen Athletic and Cycling Club, are blazing a trail as they hope to go all the way to full international athletics honours.

Josie, aged 15, is currently ranked number one in the UK for the 100 metres sprint, as well as third over 200 metres and fifth at the long jump.

Fourteen-year-old Iris is targeting the heptathlon, having already gained more points in an under 15 level competition than Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Both girls have just competed in the English schools athletics finals recently, resulting in Josie getting her first call up to represent England at the SIAB (Schools International Athletics Board) games, against Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

At 16, William is already a first team regular with West Bromwich hockey club, represents the county and has now been selected for invitational development and assessment training with England Hockey.

Councillor Richard Marshall, cabinet member for leisure services said: “Making it to the very top is not easy and everyone who benefits from a gifted & talented grant is making a huge commitment – and in many cases this applies to their families who support them too.

“They set such a fantastic example that Sandwell Council wants to show that we are backing them too.

“As the new chairman of the gifted and talented grants panel I understand the importance of these awards.

“Where we can give a helping hand to families faced with the extra expense of supporting their child to become an elite sportsperson, Sandwell Council will do that.

“The gifted and talented programme is about levelling the playing field for the best of Sandwell.”

Sandwell Council’s gifted and talented grant programme has £25,000 to hand out to Sandwell residents who are achieving at an elite level or are on course to in any sport recognised by UK Sport.

Young athletes living in Sandwell can apply for grants online at www.sandwell.gov.uk/giftedandtalented