WAVENEY SPORTS AWARDS

Sporting
excellence rewarded

 

SPORTING excellence was recognised at a special ceremony held in the Town Hall, at Lowestoft.

For the annual Waveney Sports Awards was celebrated on Tuesday as nine trophies were handed out to honour the “abundance of sporting talent” in the area.

And there was an Olympic feel to this year’s ceremony as four of the winners set their sights on the 2008 and 2012 Games.

Achievements in the sporting arena were rewarded as the roll of honour featured winners aged 12 and upwards.

The Long Service Award - fittingly went to Jean Green, who has been coaching the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Swimming Club for over 43 years.

The top team, leading sportsmen and women, juniors, veterans and volunteers were singled out for their successes in 2006 as the tenth annual awards - sponsored by The Journal and organised by Waveney District Council – pro-duced another high calibre field of entrants.

 

Wendy Mawer, deputy leader of the council, who presented the awards with Journal editor Russell Cook, below

And marking a spectacular decade, a record number of entries were received this year – making it a very difficult task for judges Claire Gallagher and Jane Lewis from the council, John Hughes from the Lowestoft Schools Sports Partnership, Bob Harness from the voluntary sports community, John Pawsey from the Active Waveney Sports Partnership and Mark Boggis, sports editor at The Journal.

Picking out the best from numerous high quality sports stars that excel in various fields, the awards are designed to recognise and reward people involved in sport within the Waveney district.

But with the awards not only given for individual achievement and excellence, they are also presented to honour the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes – such as coaches, teachers and volunteers – without whom, none of the success would be possible.

And after much deliberation in recent weeks, the awards were presented by guest speaker and editor of The Journal, Russell Cook, and deputy leader of the council, Wendy Mawer.

Lifting the Best Junior Sportswoman title was swimming sensation Ellis Jackson. (right)

The Gisleham Middle School and St Felix School swimming club member – who gets up at 4.30am for three hours training every day– became the regional and national champion during a successful 2006.

Described by her headteacher Stewart Wrigley as an “outstanding example to other pupils,” the youngster told The Journal that her favourite event was the 400m individual medley.

And as she aims for the top, Ellis is hopeful of achieving her goal “to be selected to swim for England at the 2012 Olympics.” Equally setting his sights on the 2012 London Olympics,

Best Junior Sportsman Liam Dyer (left) has vaulted his way to the top. The Waveney Gymnastics Club member has already achieved a “great deal” in his first three years.

So much so that last year, Liam’s performances in the national finals saw him bring home a team silver and indi-vidual gold as he became national champion.

Best Sportswoman award went to Claire Cooper (right).

The Beccles Roller Skating Club member is also a member of the Federation of Incline Speed Skating and the Eastern Region Roller Skating Association.

And in the past year, Claire finished second in the British Incline Skating Championship and followed this up with a fifth place at the Open International Incline Speed Skating competition in London and eighth in Rouen, France.

Former winner of the Best Sportsman title, such were the noteworthy overseas successes in the past year of four-times National Champion in the sport of sailing that Nic Asher was again a resounding victor.

The 22-year-old and crew Elliott Willis, from Kent, became the first Britons since 1988 to win the men’s 470 World Championships.

Currently training for a crucial year ahead which will come down to an Olympic showdown in the World Championships at Portugal in July – Nic was unable to make the presentation.

But after picking up his perpetual trophy recently, his father Roger was able to collect the main award on his be-half this week.

He said: “Nic is very sorry that he can’t be here tonight, but he’s very proud to win this award for a second time.”

There was more success for the Lowestoft Ladies hockey club as they lifted the best team award.

After gaining promotion into East Division One the current Lowestoft team is the highest positioned team in their history. All made up of locals, who have progressed through the junior ranks, the team has survived and progressed to the top despite being self-funding and with no main sponsor.

And such has been their success, that six of the first team now play indoor hockey at regional and national levels. Club captain Alex Bond, said: “We’re very pleased to win this award, given the successive promotions we’ve achieved in the last two years.”

The “relentless hard work” of Jill Walker led to her winning the Most Valuable Contribution to Sport Award.

Showing a real commitment to swimming, Jill has played “an integral part in the development of Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Swimming Club.”

She said: “I’m very pleased and deeply honoured to accept the award, which reflects also the hard work, commit-ment and support of all those involved within the club. It is always a pleasure and a privilege to be involved with such enthusiastic athletes and I count myself extremely lucky to be involved with the club at such an exciting time in its development.”

Warren School pupil Kieron Jessup’s successes on the athletics track led to him bringing home two silver medals in the National Disabled Athletics Championships.

Described as a “real role model” to fellow pupils, his commitment to sport, achievements, sense of humour and genuine consideration for his friends resulted in him winning the Most Valuable Contribution to Disabled Sport Award for the second successive year.

 

The Most Valuable Contribution to School Sports went to the Waveney Gymnastics club (pictured below) who were honoured after continuing to work with primary schools in the Waveney area – with Peter Etherington praised for “continuing to inspire the staff and children.”

 

The last award of the night - the Long Service Award - fittingly went to Jean Green, (pictured at the top of the page) who has been coaching the Lowestoft and Oulton Broad Swimming Club for over 43 years.

Having served in just about every role within the club, Jean was described as a superb coach.

Although she was unable to collect the award due to illness, head coach Simon Pickering picked up the award on her behalf.

And speaking to The Journal this week, she said: “I’m very pleased to win this award again as it’s a great honour.”