Power of Sport in the Black Country recognised at regional awards

Five finalists from the Black Country have the chance to claim a prestigious award this month, after being selected to represent their region at the West Midlands Community Sports Awards.

The list includes Sally-Ann Chambers, a longstanding netball coach from Tipton; Benjamin Whittaker, an aspiring boxer from Darlaston; and Akil Maylor, who set up a community yoga project Wolverhampton. Mums on the Run, an informal running group for like-minded women in Stourbridge, and Run for Joel, a fundraising run in memory of Joel Richards who tragically lost his life in the Tunisian terrorist attack in 2015, are also in with a chance of winning.

All five have already been named as winners in the local Active Black Country Sports Awards in recognition of their sporting talent, or their commitment to help others through the power of sport. They will now go up against other finalists from the West Midlands region after being named on the shortlist for the event at Villa Park on 30 November, hosted by Nick Owen and Mary Rhodes from BBC Midlands.

Simon Hall from Active Black Country said: "The West Midlands Community Sports Awards are designed to recognise the power of sport in the local community and we are delighted that these finalists have been selected to represent the Black Country.

"It is a remarkable achievement to have been named on the regional shortlist and they can all be extremely proud of their achievements.”

The West Midlands Community Sports Awards is run by six County Sports Partnerships across the region; Black Country BeActive Partnership; Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Sport; Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin; Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent; Sport Birmingham; and Sports Partnership Herefordshire & Worcestershire.

The awards recognise sports clubs, projects and individuals that have made a difference in their local community across six different categories; Community Club Award, Community Project Award, Community Coach of the Year, Aspiring Talent Award, Power of Sport Award and the BBC Midlands Sport Unsung Hero Award.

One individual or team will also be inducted into the BBC Midlands Sporting Hall of Fame, joining previous winners including Sir Stanley Matthews, Dennis Amiss, Gordon Banks, Dave Moorcroft and Richie Woodall.