Sport England’s Backing the Best initiative will help our national teams become more representative, according to the organisation’s director of sport. Backing the Best is a bursary scheme that will support the next generation of sporting talent across more than 30 sports, helping cover expensive costs like travel, accommodation, nutrition and medical bills.The programme is backed by £5.5 million of new National Lottery funding which aims to level the playing field in top-level sport. The awards are worth up to £5,000 per year. Jessica Hunter, a 100m hurdler with a personal best less than one second behind Jessica Ennis-Hill, is among the first batch of around 60 recipients that will benefit from a Backing the Best bursary.The 19-year-old has previously been unable to afford physiotherapy and specialist coaching and has even been forced to miss out on competitions due to a shortage of funds.It does make you feel annoyed because it makes you feel like youre not getting what you deserve, Hunter told Tuesdays Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ.If you have that support and the financial stability behind you then it definitely has an impact. Jessica Hunter is within a second of Jess Ennis-Hills hurdles personal best Sport England director of sport, Phil Smith, said: Backing the Best has been designed to give a helping hand to those who need it - so that ability and attitude are the only criteria for success, and not money.Ultimately, we want our national teams to be truly representative of our country, rather than just those that can afford to reach the top.We are incredibly proud of our first group of athletes; they are an inspiring group of young people that deserve to be recognised for their talent and dedication.The four-year Backing the Best scheme was launched after a study, carried out by Leeds Beckett University, showed the rising cost of becoming a sports star has led to some of Englands best up-and-coming talent dropping out. Chief executive Tim Lawler with SportsAid patron HRH The Duchess of Cambridge Charity SportsAid - who have supported emerging British athletes for the last 40 years - are helping deliver the Backing the Best scheme.Tim Lawler, chief executive of SportsAid, said: Backing the Best is exciting. Its a new initiative never seen before in the environment of talent in sport, being targeted at those young sports people facing the toughest financial challenges.Without support through Backing the Best, there is a chance some talented young athletes will be lost to their sport; with Backing the Best, they have a chance to reach their full potential. Also See: SportsWomen Latest Show News Latest News SportsWomen Video Custom Edmonton Oilers Jerseys . Howard had 17 points and a career-high-tying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21 points and the Rockets cruised to a 96-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. Ryan Smyth Jersey . - Roger Federer squandered a big lead and lost to No. http://www.hockeyoilersshop.com/boyd-gordon-jersey/ . Nick Holden scored two goals and had an assist and the Avalanche held off the Nashville Predators 5-4 Saturday night for their fourth straight victory. Jari Kurri Jersey . You can watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 3pm et/Noon pt. The Thunder reclaimed the home-court advantage LA took with a Game 1 win on Friday night with a 118-112 road win in Game 3. Jean-Francois Jacques Jersey .C. - The housecleaning continues for the B. It appears as if the Toronto Maple Leafs did not have to look too far to find Randy Carlyles new assistant coaches. Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050, Steve Simmons of Sun Media and TSNs The Reporters, said a decision on the Leafs coaching staff is expected to be made next week, with Steve Spott, Derek King and Gord Dineen – all currently employed behind the bench by the Toronto Marlies – as the leading candidates. “All of the promotions will be from within the organization,” Simmons said. “I believe two of them will come from that group of three.” Despite rumours of major changes following the Leafs late-season collapse, that were thought to be reinforced by Tim Leiwekes promise of a culture change within the organization, it seems as if the current management team of Brendan Shanahan and Dave Nonis are focused on ttweaking the teams roster as opposed to a major overhaul.dddddddddddd Thus far in the off-season, Nonis has made only depth signings, keeping his core group of players intact. According to Simmons, the Leafs are putting the focus on Carlyle to make the adjustments himself, as opposed to having the new assistants force it upon him. “I dont know how any of them will change him, he has to change himself,” Simmons said. “He has to coach this hockey team differently because what he did last year wasnt successful.” The hiring of new assistants was necessitated after the Leafs announced on May 8 that Carlyles former coaching staff, consisting of Dave Farrish, Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon would not be retained, while the head coach received a two-year extension. Simmons: Leafs assistants to come from within Wholesale MLB Orioles JerseysRed Sox Jerseys From ChinaDiscount Yankees Jerseys OnlineRays Jerseys For SaleBlue Jays Jerseys From ChinaWholesale MLB White Sox JerseysIndians Jerseys For SaleTigers Jerseys From ChinaWholesale MLB Astros JerseysCheap Baseball Angels JerseysAthletics Jerseys From ChinaMariners Jerseys For SaleCheap Baseball Rangers JerseysBraves Jerseys For SaleDiscount Marlins Jerseys OnlineDiscount Mets Jerseys OnlinePhillies Jerseys From ChinaWholesale MLB Nationals JerseysCubs Jerseys From ChinaDiscount Reds Jerseys OnlineBrewers Jerseys From ChinaWholesale MLB Pirates JerseysWholesale MLB Cardinals JerseysDiamondbacks Jerseys For SaleRockies Jerseys For SaleDiscount Dodgers Jerseys OnlineDiscount Padres Jerseys OnlineGiants Jerseys For Sale ' ' '