Winchester District SPAA Sports Awards - Winners
The Winchester District Sport and Physical Activity Alliance (SPAA) held the fourth annual sports awards at Winchester Guildhall on Thursday 1st December.
The 17 different award categories aim to recognise publicly the commitment and excellence of coaches, volunteers, and sports men and women across the Winchester District and celebrate their successes over the past year.
The awards were hosted by television sport presenter, producer and director Andy Steggall, along with the Deputy Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Frank Pearson. Guest speakers included local sporting talents Hugo Tibbitts who currently plays ice hockey for Great Britain and World Champion sailor Annabel Vose, who both receive specialist funding from the Hampshire Talented Athlete Scheme. Other speakers included GB marathon runner Louise Damen with presentations and interviews from Dynamo National School of Gymnastics and Guy Butters Winchester City FC manager.
This year the awards included a Mayors Reception for local Health Walk Volunteer Leaders and Winchester’s 2012 Clubs. The evening saw over 350 people in attendance at the junior awards, Mayors reception and senior awards ceremonies with a talented pool of Olympic hopefuls and a host of exceptional volunteers, coaches and sports personalities attending the evening. Judging and deciding winners was always a difficult matter, however, once announced winners were delighted with the final results and all those involved walked away feeling full of admiration and personal success.
Cllr Patricia Stallard, portfolio holder for Culture, Heritage and Sport at Winchester City Council, said: "It was a joyous and uplifting occasion which I was delighted to be part of. The evening is a magnificent way for us to showcase all that is great in terms of sport across the Winchester District. The young speakers we had this year were inspirational and their stories will leave some positive messages with our other youngsters present and the coaches and volunteers who selflessly give up so much of their time. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved in staging the event.” Stuart Barlow, Chair of the Winchester District SPAA, added: "Each year we see the Sports Awards grow and this year was no different, where for the first time we were able to split the evening into three different ceremonies. Nominations continue to increase each year which makes picking a winner a tough job but as the night showed the achievements of all of our nominees are something special and they are all worthy of praise! The awards conclude another incredible year for the SPAA partners who have been working extremely hard to deliver important initiatives and will continue to drive sporting opportunities when the greatest show on earth arrives on our doorstep next year. Well done to all involved"
Individual awards were sponsored by local partners and organisations who have helped to financially support the event and ensure a that a first class evening could be delivered. Nominations for the Sport Hampshire & IOW county awards are now open whereby all Winchester winners will be put forward to hopefully receive even more awards!
This year's winners were:
Junior Sportsman – Locryn Geake – Various Sponsored by the University of Winchester
Junior Sportswoman – Tressa Armitage – Table Tennis Sponsored by Sparsholt College
Junior Disability Sportsperson – James Clowes – Boccia
Junior Male Volunteer – Dan Wiltshire – Basketball
Junior Female Volunteer – Jade Traynor – Netball
Junior School Team of the Year – Peter Symonds 1stXI Men’s Hockey Sponsored By 4SportsUK
Junior Team – St Cross Symondians U13 Cricket Team
Senior Sportsman – Neil Locock - Tennis
Senior Sportswoman – Louise Damen – Athletics Sponsored by Evolution Health & Fitness, Perins
Senior Disability Sportsperson – Jenny Greasley - Various
Senior Male Volunteer – Marc Lyne – Athletics
Senior Female Volunteer – Caroline Allen-Rogers – Netball Sponsored by Fieldfare Leader
Official – Deborah Beard - Basketball
Coach of the Year – Richard Atkinson – Squash Sponsored by DC Leisure
Senior Team – University of Winchester Men’s Football 1st XI - Football
Club of the Year – Whiteley Wanderers FC – Football Sponsored by Sport Hampshire & IOW
Service to Sport – Michael Bryant – Table Tennis Sponsored by Winchester City Council
For further information about the event, how you could sponsor an award or nominate someone for next years celebrations please contact Chris Peach, Sports Development Officer on 01962 848532 or email cpeach@winchester.gov.uk
Extra notes:
• Sport Hampshire & IOW HTAS Scheme information can be found at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/shiow/talentedathletes.htm . The scheme provides support services to help Hampshire’s most talented athletes reach world class podiums. Support is based on performance levels and can include monetary grants of up to £500 and free access to participating leisure centres.
• Sport Hampshire & IOW County Awards nominations have opened and more information, including nomination packs can be found at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/shiow/sports-awards.htm .