The 2013 Award Winners Announced

Last night, the 15 winners of the 2013 Black Country Sport & Physical Activity Awards were announced at a glittering ceremony at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley.

The event sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton was attended by over 200 people from across the Black Country.

Sportsperson of the Year (sponsored by University of Wolverhampton)

Jodie Stimpson
 
Triathlon.  Over the past 12 months, Jodie has competed in many triathlon events, most recently finishing 1st in Dusseldorf, Kitzbuhuel and the Virgin Active London Triathlon.  She finished the World Championship Series in Overall 2nd place.  An amazing achievement.

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year

Jordanne Whiley

Wheelchair Tennis.  Jordanne is currently the French Open Doubles Champion, Wimbledon Doubles Finalist and has won 14 ITF titles in both singles and doubles in the last 12 months.

Young Sportsperson of the Year

De-reece Williams

Kickboxing and freestyle Martial Arts.  De-reece is the current world kickboxing champion for his age group and he is the British kickboxing champion in 3 categories.  He also won a silver medal at the Irish International Open Championships.  This year De-reece was one of 4 young people selected and awarded sponsorship by W.A.K.O GB due to his outstanding performance, hard work and dedication.  De-reece has to travel 70 miles to training 3-4 times per week, he is committed, enthusiastic and now has the knowledge and willpower to do well and knows what is needed to succeed.

Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year

Jacob Robinson

Jacob currently plays for the GB Under 23 squad in wheelchair basketball.  He is part of the Youth Sport Trust STARS programme and has been opening guest speaker at the Black Country School Games and Black Country Young Ambassador Conference.  He helped his team win silver at the Sainsbury’s School Games, his team are national league champions and gained national league promotion.  He also helped his team to silver at the National Junior Championships.

Sportivate Project of the Year

Gartmore Riding School

Gartmore introduced horse riding to participants that wouldn’t have normally had the opportunity to take part.  34 14-18 years olds took part, with all 34 being retained.  This project has not only offered riding lessons but also an accredited award to the participants, encouraging sustainability.  The project run by Gartmore Riding School is split into 2 parts, riding and tutoring which helps participants understand about the horse as well as riding it. 

Business Contribution to Sport

Wood & Loines Ltd

Wood & Loines is a small family business with close links to the community. They have supported Halesowen Athletic & Cycling Club Road Racing Team with financial help every season since 2008.  This has had a great impact on the club which has enabled their junior and under 23 riders to be provided with race kit.  This has resulted in increased numbers and increased success. A number of riders have since progressed and joined elite teams.  The 15 members of staff at Wood & Loines are also encouraged to keep fit, and their chairman is an active cyclist.

Community Club of the Year (sponsored by Wolves Community Trust)

Kewford Eagles FC

This year Kewford Eagles have completed the physical build of their new football project which enables them to provide outstanding facilities for the local community.  In summer 2013 the club held a massive 5-a-side tournament for the local community which included 260 teams, 604 matches and over 6000 people attending.  The clubs disability section now has over 50 players and a successful adult disability football team.  The club is always seeking new volunteers, and is passionate about supporting their development into new roles.

Unsung Hero

Chris Moore
 
Cricket.  Chris is CEO, project manager, scorer and groundsman at Streetly Cricket Club.  He took over as chairman when the club was virtually on its knees.  No committee, relegations and the inability to field 2 sides.  He refinanced, restructured and revamped the club house, bar, pricing structure and transformed it into a profitable business.  He has attracted new players, overseen the new youth section and improved infrastructure.  Streetly Cricket Club has since achieved Clubmark accreditation and Chris himself has recently been awarded the ECB ‘Behind the Scenes’ award for Staffordshire cricket.  The club now comfortably fields 3 league sides every week as well as having an impressive youth and development system.

Volunteer of the Year

James Hill

James was elected onto Birmingham FA Youth Council in September 2012, and has since volunteered over 150 hours at Dudley College sports activity camps, as well as volunteering at local primary and secondary schools in Dudley.  James has been an inspiration to students at Dudley College by acting as a mature and confident role model for them.  James mentors younger coaches and shares his invaluable experiences with them.

Community Coach of the Year

Liam Jones

Liam has volunteered as assistant goalkeeping coach for England Colleges Ladies under 19’s, he is assistant coach for Brierley Hill and Dudley district Under 12’s and Under 16’s football clubs.  He also volunteers as coach for Summerhill secondary school Under 7’s football team.  Liam has built relationships with local primary schools and delivers free sessions to the young children.  He is an inspirational coach who is now mentoring students at Dudley College and supporting them with their coaching practice.
 

Sport Maker of the Year

Alexander Giles

Alex has completed over 200 hours of Sport Maker activity, this has included the World Skills event at the NECC and an inclusive sports event at Dudley College.  He was instrumental in introducing inclusive Boccia sessions at the college and it has now been adopted as a regular sport.  Alex’s attitude and commitment has left a lasting legacy at the college by educating his peers and staff to lead wholly inclusive sports sessions.

Community Sport Project of the Year

One Albion Disability & Sporting Club Albion

Over the last 12 months this project has worked with 160 participants in special schools and special education needs units of mainstream schools with an introduction to football.  Delivered by the Albion Foundation, the project has seen 14 participants progress to competitive teams of sporting club Albion.  One Albion hosted the national down syndrome festival with 16 teams from all over the country with West Bromwich Albion having a team for the first time.  The project also delivered a disability awareness road show to 12 schools and 2446 participants.

Community Physical Activity Project of the Year

Walsall parkrun

The parkrun has grown steadily and sustainably with limited marketing and in August 2013 recorded its largest attendance of 198.  Over 200 different people have volunteered to support the weekly 5km run over the last 12 months.  The parkrun has seen regular participants with some inspiring stories of weight loss, health benefits and new friendships.  Walsall parkrun has a community ethos and is open to everyone including babies in buggies, over 70’s and people running with dogs.  The parkrun is well supported by local running clubs, and has seen over 1483 different people taking part.

Newcomer of the Year (supported by BBC WM)

Glyn Marston

It has been a busy year for Glyn.  Last September he achieved his UK Dodgeball Association Level 2 coaching qualification and in Oct affiliated Walsall Warriors Dodgeball Club with UKDBA.  The following month he delivered the first ever dodgeball coaching session at CHART Centre in Willenhall as Walsall Warriors were officially launched.  Earlier this year he delivered satellite sessions as part of the Black Country health Sport Hub pilot and increased his club membership sufficiently to be able to join the Midlands Dodgeball League.  In May Walsall Warriors finished 3rd in the Minotaurs Dodgeball tournament, their first ever tournament, and Glyn was subsequently awarded the UKDBA Club Member of the Year award for 2013.  What a busy 1st year in dodgeball for Glyn. 

Elvis Gordon Chair’s Recognition Award

Omar Chaudhrey

Administering and supporting the playing of cricket was this evening’s winner of the Chair’s Award. His infectious enthusiasm, boundless energy and passion for cricket has ensured that Sandwell Cricket League has been such a success and that the approach that has been adopted has been key in shaping Staffordshire County Cricket Board’s strategy and how they meet the needs of a broader cricket audience, with a more informal and needs lead offer.