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29th January 2019 By stephenclough

Winners announced at Active Durham Sport and Physical Activity Awards

The talent and commitment of individuals and organisations who champion sport and physical activity have been recognised at a County Durham awards ceremony.

The annual Active Durham Sport and Physical Activity Awards honoured individuals, coaches, volunteers, clubs and schools whose exceptional work helps people of all ages and abilities to access sport and physical activity.

The awards ceremony, held on Friday 25 January at the Gala Theatre in Durham City, saw the winners of 13 categories in four local area events come together to be recognised and to celebrate their outstanding achievements.

The awards are organised by the Active Durham partnership, with overall winner awards presented in the 13 categories.

Former Olympic gymnast, Kristian Thomas, attended the event as guest speaker, presenting winners with their awards and giving an inspirational speech to over 300 guests.

Kristian said: “I’m delighted to be attending the County Durham Sport and Physical Activity Awards. Sport has given me incredible opportunities and I firmly believe sport and physical activity should be accessed and enjoyed by everyone. It’s great to see County Durham celebrating the many positives it brings to everyday life.”

Independent Chair of the Active Durham partnership, Annie Dolphin OBE said:
“We received 229 nominations for the local awards, all of a very high standard and including some really inspirational people, so our judges have had some very difficult decisions to make picking both the local winners and then deciding which of those were most deserving of the county awards. We’re delighted that County Durham has so many people who are so dedicated and passionate about sports and fitness. Our 13 winners really reflect the great range of initiatives on offer to help people of all ages and abilities to enjoy physical activities.”

The winners:

Contribution to Physical Activity
Sue Bainbridge

Sue has volunteered at Middleton in Teesdale Community Gym for the past seven years and has supported hundreds of people to be active. She undertook her own training to become a walk and cycle leader and a qualified Zumba and Block Fit teacher. She delivers weekly classes in Middleton in Teesdale Social Club, volunteers in the gym, delivers to the WI group, Butterwick Hospice, Community Hospital in Sedgefield and leads regular walk and cycle rides. She goes above and beyond, and is a true role model.

Sport & Physical Activity Achievement of the Year
India Oates

India Oates suffers from Cerebral Palsy and has an Athletic Classification of T35. She is currently ranked 2nd in the UK for 100m and 1st in the UK for 200m in the T35 category. She was taken to Switzerland by British Athletics to be classified internationally and ran at the Notwill Grand Prix where she competed against Internationals and came 2nd in both the 100m and the 200m. She represented England at the CPISRA World Games in Sant Cugat, Spain. She ran in the T35 100 and 200m races and won a Gold medal in both events.

Coach of the Year
Paul Boyle

Paul is the head coach of Derwent Valley Trail Runners. His sessions are regularly attended by over 60 children each week aged between 4 and 16. The club runs throughout the year and Paul is there every week encouraging the children to improve. Many have gone on to represent the club in the North Eastern XC Championships. The children come back every week because they know they are going to be challenged, work hard, sweat but above all, enjoy themselves.

Young Coach of the Year
Simone Abley

Simone’s passion for taekwondo has spurred her on to open her own club, Salamander Taekwondo Middlestone Moor. Along with running her own club Simone coaches at a number of after school clubs that provide children with their first taste of taekwondo. Simone’s new club aims to bring taekwondo to all, in a fun and safe environment. She coaches people new to the sport, as well as athletes that go on to compete on the National and International stage representing Great Britain.

Primary School Contribution to Sport & Physical Activity
Peases West Primary School

A small school in a small Lower Dales Cluster, Peases West are big into Sport & Physical Activity. They promote and encourage active learning through the Active 30 scheme, through their Forest School outdoor learning opportunities, active Maths, and active planned playtimes. The Year 5/6 ‘Sports Crew’ completed the Playmakers award which enabled them to lead a host of high quality activities including the ‘Greatest Showman’ themed Sports Day and Butterwick Hospice’s ‘Reindeer Run’.

Secondary School Contribution to Sport & Physical Activity
The Academy at Shotton Hall

Shotton Hall achieved their best GCSE PE results for some time. They focus on encouraging ALL students to participate for fun and enjoyment with activities including dodgeball and cheerleading, as well as traditional sports. The Saturday club offers students from Shotton Hall and other Secondary and Primary schools in the area, the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities free of charge. This has had a positive effect on students from a low-income background.

Sports Club of the Year
Laszlo’s Fencing Club

Laszlo’s fencing club is an inclusive environment that caters for everyone from international level to complete beginners. They run junior, senior and wheelchair sessions and support all members to achieve at the highest level. More than 25 volunteers from the club helped with the junior and cadet Commonwealth Championships, a major week-long event in July, featuring fencers from all over the world. Without these volunteers, North East Fencing would have struggled to host the event.

Junior Sports Club of the Year
Consett Steelers Junior Netball Club

This has proved to be another highly successful year for Cinders, reflected in a record entry of 12 teams within the local junior netball league. Results were incredible with victories at Minis and U12 levels followed with runner – up positions in other age groups. Club attendance has increased with 90+ regularly attending training sessions. A record number of 17 players (U11+) were nominated at Satellite and County level with 13 players successfully offered places for the forthcoming year, an amazing achievement.

Volunteer of the Year
Kath Scales

Kath spends hours filling in grant application forms, liaising with the national Riding for the Disabled Association, visiting church groups and other organisations as a speaker to raise awareness and funds. Every week dozens of disabled children and adults enjoy riding and carriage driving, using horses and specialist equipment which have been provided by the RDA group. None of which would be possible without the dedication and hard work of Kath.

Young Volunteer of the Year
Kayla Nichol

Kayla is a fantastic role model for every gymnast who walks through the door, she’s always one of the first to meet the new starters – showing them where to put their things and taking them under her wing throughout the warm up. She’s first in to every session to help set up and usually one of the last to leave after helping to put everything away.

Sports Performance of the Year
Duncan Rowlands

Duncan is a fencer and a member of the GB team that took the bronze medal at the World Team Championship. In 2018 he won gold in the 50-59 category at the British Veterans National Championship, Ranked No. 1 in GB, Captained the GB team to 7th place at the European Team Championship, Silver medallist at the French Veteran (40+) Team National Championships and was selected to represent England at the Veteran Commonwealth Championships in both the individual and team events.

Young Sports Performance of the Year
Ellen Stephenson

Ellen is a member of the Newcastle Swim Team, North East Disability Swim Club and Down Syndrome Swimming GB and is a very talented and driven young woman. She is an S14 classification swimmer and also completes in para-swimming events, as well as national and international Down syndrome swimming competitions. In October of last year Ellen gained her first GB Cap at the Downs Syndrome Swimming Association European Championships gaining 7 golds and 1 silver.

Contribution to Sport
John Ashworth

John Ashworth arrived in Barnard Castle 42 years ago, the first part of his long playing career was primarily as an elegant upper order batsman and latterly, making a considerable mark as a wicketkeeper. Hundreds and hundreds of cricketers from age 5 to 18 have had the benefit of his advice and wisdom. Last year John introduced girl’s cricket with a successful Satellite project, with County Durham Sport, Durham Cricket Board & Teesdale School, along with ALLSTARS for the youngsters at Barnard Castle Cricket Club.

Filed Under: Uncategorised

13th December 2018 By stephenclough

Active Durham Sport and Physical Activity Awards 2017/2018 – Winners annouced

Sports clubs, schools, athletes, coaches and volunteers have been congratulated for their outstanding achievements at awards ceremonies across the county. Earlier this year, groups and individuals were asked to make nominations for the Active Durham Sport and Physical Activity Awards. The 13 categories received 227 nominations in total, with the winners then decided by a judging panel consisting of representatives from local organisations. Winners were presented with their awards by former Olympian and Commonwealth Gold medallist swimmer Chris Cook.

Independent Chair of the Active Durham partnership, Annie Dolphin OBE, was delighted by the number and standard of nominations received “These events have provided an opportunity to recognise some amazing people, and organisations, for their contributions to health and wellbeing, as well as the personal achievements of some extremely talented individuals and without the commitment and dedication of so many people, sporting and physical activity opportunities across our county would be far fewer.”

Feedback from the nominees has been extremely positive. “It was a splendid evening and hugely uplifting to see so many people, especially the younger ones, rewarded for the wonderful efforts they put in on behalf of their friends and communities, a testament to what sport and physical activity can do.”

Winners from each area will now be invited to the County Awards evening which will be held at The Gala Theatre on Friday 25 January 2019.

The full list of winners are:

Contribution to Physical Activity:

East and South East – Run East Durham

Durham Central – Audrey Christie

South and West Durham – Sue Bainbridge

North Durham – Consett Hiking Group

 

Sport and Physical Activity Achievement of the Year:

East and South East – Marc Reed

Durham Central – Helen Oxley

South and West Durham – India Oates

North Durham – Milly Howey

 

Coach of the Year:

East and South East – Adam Gittens

Durham Central – Shaun Ward

South and West Durham – Ben Kelly

North Durham – Paul Boyle

 

Young Coach of the Year:

East and South East – Simone Abley

South and West Durham – Claudia Barkes

 

Primary School Contribution to Sport & Physical Activity:

East and South East – Byerley Park Primary School

Durham Central – Bullion Lane Primary School

South and West Durham – Peases West Primary School

North Durham – Collierley Primary School

 

Secondary School Contribution to Sport & Physical Activity:

East and South East – The Academy at Shotton Hall

Durham Central – Durham Trinity School and Sports College

 

Volunteer of the Year:

East and South East – Stephen Gibson & Philip Roberts

Durham Central – Richard Hall

South and West Durham – Kath Scales

North Durham – David Bryan

 

Young Volunteer of the Year:

East and South East – Kayla Nichol

Durham Central – Nicholas Cooper

South and West Durham – Rebecca Horner

North Durham – Victoria Simmons

 

Sports Club of the Year:

East and South East – Run Peterlee

Durham Central – Lazlos Fencing Club

South and West Durham – Brandon Boxing Club

North Durham – Stanley Storm Netball Club

 

Junior Sports Club of the Year:

East and South East – Seaham Park CC

Durham Central – Durham United Youth FC

South and West Durham – Deerness Valley FC

North Durham – Consett Steelers Netball Club Juniors

 

Sports Performance of the Year:

Durham Central – Duncan Rowlands

South and West Durham – John Clifford

North Durham – Jamie Bates

 

Young Sports Performance of the Year:

East and South East – Josh Charlton

Durham Central – Ellen Stephenson

South and West Durham – Rachel Bennett

North Durham – Holly Robinson

 

Contribution to Sport:

East and South East – Norman Grimmer

Durham Central – Gary Brown

South and West Durham – John Ashworth

North Durham – Selwyn Heslop

 

Pictures:

East and South East Winners:

 

Durham Central Winners:

 

South and South West Winners:

 

North Durham Winners:

Filed Under: Home news 1

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