Two High Wycombe netball players have been awarded £1,000 sports grants from the Bucks SportsAid Foundation.

Anya Wood, 17, and Razia Quashie, 18, both received the prizes in recognition of their achievements in the sport.

The grant is aimed at helping the budding athletes pay for travel and equipment as they continue to develop their talents, and Wood says it will provide her with a valuable injection of funds.

She said: “The grant will be a big help towards accommodation and travel for the training camps which are mostly held in Loughborough, and also to buy new netballs and kit to use at home.”

Exam commitments meant Wood’s dad Richard had to collect the awards for both of the athletes at a special lunch which took place last Friday.

Beaconsfield High School student Wood has already represented England and is targeting future success at the Commonwealth Games.

She has made fast progress since first playing netball at the age of 13 and has since been fast-tracked onto the netball performance pathway.

Her fledgling career has already brought success on the international stage as she claimed gold as part of the England under-17 squad at the European Championships in March.

Quashie, who plays for the same team as Wood (Clan Netball Club), has enjoyed an equally rapid rise in the sport.

The St Michael’s Catholic School pupil represented the England under-19 team at the age of 17 and is currently training with the under-21 side.

She now hopes to be selected to take part in next year’s World Youth Netball Championships and says the grant will be a big help towards achieving this goal.

The event is supported by local Buckinghamshire based businesses and looks to contribute to the area’s sporting success.

£4,500 was raised altogether and guest of honour on the night, Amy Williams, believes the scheme has an important role to play in the development of young athletes.

“It all starts with your parents dropping you off at training, or at the airport. The biggest support you get is from family and the local community,” the 2010 Winter Olympic gold medallist said.

“That’s why we’re here today, to give support to help athletes bring home medals. To get an athlete on a team invariably comes down to support at the beginning from your parents.

“Any support that you can give to help give confidence to an athlete is paramount.”

The award ceremony also saw Gerrards Cross para-swimmer Max Tulloch, 11, receive a £1,000 grant.