News article
Awards for sporting heroes
12:31, 08 Feb 2010Nottinghamshire County Council hosted this year’s Nottinghamshire Sports Review of the Year on Friday 5 February at the East Midlands Conference Centre, University of Nottingham.
About 450 guests celebrated the achievements of athletes, coaches and officials in Nottinghamshire sport in what has been another remarkable year for the county.
BBC East Midlands Today presenter Colin Hazelden hosted the evening, alongside colleague Natalie Jackson. Guests included Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club's Mick Newell and Chris Read and players from the Nottingham Panthers and Nottingham Rugby, along with some of Nottinghamshire's Olympians and Paralympians, including gold medallist Rebecca Adlington. Councillor Kay Cutts, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, presented the Outstanding Achievement Awards.
'The stars of the future'
Councillor John Cottee, Cabinet Member for Culture and Community, said: "These awards highlight our elite sports performers, the stars of the future and our reputation as 'the sporting county’. But they also acknowledge the countless individuals - coaches, administrators and other people behind the scenes - who put so much hard work into supporting sport across the county and without whom we couldn't achieve the successes we do. Sport offers so much to so many people and I am delighted that the Sports Review of the Year celebrates all of this.
"Our new Shining Stars and Rising Stars grant schemes, launched last week, will help our top athletes to Olympic success and produce the next generation of stars."
Award winners
The winners are as follows:
East Midlands Airport Nottinghamshire Youth Games Fair Play Award
Rushcliffe
Junior Team of the Year
Nottingham Rowing Club U14 Boys Team (Rushcliffe) - rowing
In a whole season without losing a quad, this side won gold in the J14 coxed quad sculls and the single scull plus a silver in the double sculls at the National Rowing Championships. They also won golds at the National Schools Regatta, the Junior Inter-regional and the National Junior Sculling Head.
Runners-up were Lowes Wong Junior School kwik cricket team and Notts School of Gymnastics under-14 team.
Junior Volunteer of the Year
Bonnie Tinsley (Newark & Sherwood) - athletics
Bonnie holds Newark’s Volunteering in Sport and Physical Activity gold award and has completed her V50 award through V-Involved. She volunteers at Newark Athletics Club, Newark MEND programme and Magnus School Boccia Club for more than six hours a week and has supported major events such as the Newark Race for Life and the European Canoe Slalom Championships.
Runners-up were Alice Pearson and Matthew Baines.
Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Richard Sargent (Newark & Sherwood) - wheelchair basketball
Regularly playing in the Great Britain under-23 side this year, Richard won a silver medal at the European Cup and has played in successful winning tests against Australia and the Netherlands. Domestically, he is also captain of the Jaguars junior side that finished in the top three of the National League.
Runners-up were Matthew Baines and Andrew Zawadski.
Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Anuj Dal (Broxtowe) - cricket
In October, Anuj travelled with the England under-16 indoor cricket team to the World Cup in Australia. Only 13 years old, he was the top batsman. He is the captain of Nottinghamshire’s under-14 side and trains with the schools first team at under-18 level. In July, he took five wickets for 19 in the County Cup.
Runners-up were Oliver Holland and Ruby Straw.
Club of the Year
Beeston Hockey Club (Broxtowe) - hockey
Beeston’s junior club has expanded this year to 490 players. There are several links to school and other clubs to create enhanced player pathways. The club provides support and training for coaches and volunteers as well as leadership schemes for young people. This year the club has hosted national hockey festivals and full internationals.
Runners-up were West Bridgford Monarchs Hockey Club, Special Olympics Nottinghamshire and West Bridgford Tennis Club.
Community Coach of the Year
Gary Lambert (Newark & Sherwood) - cricket
Working with 70 juniors at his local club, Gary coaches both winter and summer sessions and has set up an academy offering specialised coaching to more talented members. He also coaches the Nottinghamshire Ladies cricket team and has been invited to travel to South Africa this year with the England Ladies under-17 team.
Runners-up were Stuart Bell and Karen Cresswell.
Volunteer of the Year
Les Chambers (Mansfield) - athletics
Les spent almost every weekend between April and September officiating at fixtures. Officiating at all levels, he also mentors newly qualified officials while working with his NGB to put on further officials' training courses. As a coach, Les runs both junior and circuit training sessions. He also sits on the club management committee.
Runners-up were Cathy Rooney and Carol Halpin.
Roll of Honour
Sue Chillingworth (Ashfield) - athletics
Sue is a Level 3 sprints coach and has coached athletes at Sutton Harriers at all levels for over 25 years. She is also a Grade 5 national official. She is an active club committee member and manages the Midlands track and field team where she is also the club secretary.
John Hill (Newark & Sherwood) - football
Involved with Balderton Old Boys for 40 years, John became secretary of the under-11 team in 1978 and took on the men's team in 1980. He is there every week two hours before the game to prepare the pitch and organise kit, and manages all the players. At 72, he has even been known to put on a kit when the team is short.
David Pettifor (Gedling) - horseball
Since 1991, David has developed the British horseball team to compete internationally. Working alongside the British Equestrian Federation, he has developed a coaching awards and assessment structure. He is the Clubmark representative for the British Horseball Association and has set up initiatives for volunteering, welfare and equity for equestrian sport.
Allen Urch (Ashfield) - swimming
Allen has been with Sutton Swimming Club for the past 42 years, initially as a poolside helper then moving to the committee, then club captain and head coach. He sits on regional committees and is now the ASA President. He continues to teach beginners and gala swimmers alike and officiates in many events.
Team of the Year
GB Slalom Women's K1 team (Rushcliffe) - kayaking
The team, consisting of Lizzie Neave, Louise Donington and Laura Blakeman, which trains at the National Water Sports Centre, won gold at the World Championships and European Championships in their first season competing together. This is Great Britain’s first ever gold medal at the World Championship team event.
Runners-up were Tim Baille & Etienne Stott, GB White Water Rafting Team, Birchall brothers.
Performance Coach of the Year
Glenn Smith (Mansfield) - swimming
Working with Paralympic swimmers Sam Hynd and Charlotte Henshaw, Glenn coached both to gold at the European Championships and Paralympic World Cup. He is a regular member of the Team GB disability coaching staff and has coached 13 Nova swimmers to the national age and youth championships.
Runners-up were Steve Millett and Ian Kime.
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Sam Hynd (Ashfield) - swimming
It was another amazing year for Paralympic champion Sam as he took gold at the Paralympic World Cup in May and three golds and a silver at the European Championships in October. These followed a new British and European record in the 200m IM at the British Championships in March.
Runners-up were James Oldham and Charlotte Henshaw.
Sportsperson of the Year
Carl Froch (Gedling) - boxing
Carl is the current WBC super middleweight champion after defeating Jean Pascal in December 2008. In July, he agreed to take part in the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament. He has successfully defended his title twice, against Americans Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell. His record stands at 26-0.
Runners-up were Rebecca Adlington, Phil Beniston and Jenny Gunn.
Outstanding Achievement Award
Jenny Gunn (Rushcliffe) - cricket
All-rounder Jenny played a valuable part in England victories that saw the team win the ICC World Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 in 2009. They retained the Ashes and defeated Australia 4-0 in the NatWest One-day Series. Jenny’s latest challenge is the England tour of India which began last month.
Stuart Broad (Rushcliffe) - cricket
England’s leading wicket-taker in the Ashes series and Man of the Match in the gripping final test at the Oval, Stuart claimed figures of five for 37 in the Australian first innings, including four for eight in 21 balls. He was also awarded the Man of the Series accolade for his one-day performances in May against the West Indies.
Graeme Swann (Rushcliffe) - cricket
The Nottinghamshire bowler claimed his fourth five-wicket haul in 2009 to become the first English spinner to pass 50 wickets in a calendar year, finishing third in the International Cricket Council's bowling rankings. Graeme’s telling contributions with both bat and ball contributed strongly to England’s winning Ashes series.
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