The Winners Announced at the Black Country Sport and Physical Activity Awards

Last Friday night, 7th November, the 14 winners of the Black Country Sport and Physical Activity Awards were announced at a new look awards ceremony at the Light House in Wolverhampton.

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

The event was once again hosted by BBCWM Breakfast Show presenter Pete Morgan, and we were delighted to welcome our guest speaker, Howard Webb MBE, former World Cup referee.

Five of our winners will now go onto represent the Black Country at the West Midlands Community Sports Awards on 27th November at Villa Park.  They are: Community Coach, Community Club, Community Project, Newcomer and Inspirational Sport Student.  Good luck to them all.
 
The winners were:
 
Young Sportsperson of the Year
Bobbie Butters – Powerlifting
In November 2013, Bobbie was positioned first and female best lifter at the World Championships, where she set 4 world records.  She has qualified for the England Championships, claimed Gold at the Student Championships and Silver in the British Senior Championships.  In June 2014, Bobbie won Sports Student of the Year at Dudley College.

Community Coach of the Year – sponsored by Sport Structures
Clive Allen – Basketball
Clive Allen is known as Mr Basketball in the Black Country.  He is dedicated to developing players only missing training on Christmas Day!  Clive is a Level 2 Coach alongside other teaching, mentoring and leadership qualifications.  He has developed teams at Sporting Club Albion and is a regular in Dudley Schools.

Business Contribution to Sport – sponsored by Sonex
Richardson’s Capital LLP & Hackett and James
Working with Priory Park Boxing Club, they have led fundraising events through the business community to support the club.  They have offered continuous financial support and labour to extend the boxing club facilities, which has also been supported by Sport England funding.  The club has since been able to triple its membership and raise a growing number of  championship winning boxers.

Young Volunteer of the Year
Ashley Davies
Ashley was crowned Dudley College Volunteer of the Year in 2013/14, having amassed over 660 hours of voluntary work during the academic year, in addition to a full time programme of study.  Ashley volunteers for 15 hours per week with Team Dudley FC, Team Dudley U16s and in local primary and secondary schools.  He mentors first year students and is seen as an inspiration to others within the college and local community.

Newcomer of the Year – supported by BBCWM
Shaun Stretton
After having broken his ankle 9 years ago, Shaun had been confined to a wheelchair.  Over the past 12 months Shaun has worked with staff at Portway Lifestyles Centre where he has regained his independence by learning to walk again.  Since doing so he has taken part in football and cricket and created videos of his inspirational journey

Satellite Club of the Year
Air Dynamix Trampolining Club
The club established a satellite club at Ellowes Hall in Dudley and has seen over 72 young people engaged in satellite club activities. The coaches have been instrumental in enabling the club to run, engaging with students to market and promote the sessions and supporting participants in their progress, creating fun, enjoyable sessions.

Sportivate Project of the Year
Excel Scuba Diving & Wolverhampton Police
A unique project run by Excel Diving and Wolverhampton Police, it is aimed at young people aged 14 to 24 years.  The course has led the young people to reach a worldwide recognised qualification and skills that will last tem a lifetime.  13 participants were engaged with the programme with 10 being retained, with 6 of the young people still actively involved with scuba-diving.

Community Club of the Year – sponsored by Decathlon
Sandwell Steelers American Football Club
During the past 12 months, the club has developed to increase the number of sessions delivered, range of sessions available and number of club members.  In 12 months club membership has doubled.  They have secured Small Grant funding from Sport England, and were successful in their senior men’s team being accepted into the National League.  They have developed links with schools and the local community to develop the sport in Sandwell.

Community Project of the Year
One Albion
The project has engaged 767 disabled participants in the past academic year, with 153 participants increasing their participation levels to over 150 minutes per week.  The project has built links with schools, colleges and local organisations and support groups.  Over 60 sessions take place each week offering a range of multisport activities.

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Jordanne Whiley – Wheelchair Tennis
Former Earls High School student, Jordanne Whiley became Australian Open Champion, French Open Champion, Wimbledon Champion and US Open Champion in 2014 – winning the Women’s Wheelchair Tennis Doubles Grand Slam for the first time.

Unsung Hero – sponsored by Wolves Community Trust
Jonathan Roe – Cricket
Jonathan has voluntarily supported 6 clubs through Clubmark accreditation over the past 12 months alone.  He puts in over 30 hours voluntary hours per week, never seeking the limelight, just passionately going about his business.  Jonathan has been a coach, scorer and team manager enabling more talented players from Dudley to progress and represent Worcestershire.

Sportsperson of the Year – sponsored by University of Wolverhampton
Kristian Thomas – Gymnastics
Kristian won team Gold and 2 individual silver medals at Glasgow 2014.  At the European Championships he also won team Silver and individual Bronze.  At the English Championships he won 2 individual Gold’s and was Bar Champion at the British Masters.

Inspirational Sport Student of the Year – supported by Association of Colleges West Midlands
Keyron Facey Price
Within Sandwell College Keyron is the standout volunteer.  He is an ambassador and mentor to others and has taken a key role with Team 19 initiatives and just play sessions aimed at increasing female participation.  He is actively involved with the FA, the Birmingham Futsal Arena and various football clubs.  He is a willing and natural leader who has visibly grown in confidence, and always goes above and beyond what is required of him.

Chair’s Recognition Award
Blind Dave Heeley
Dave continues to demonstrate his ability to show that in the face of adversity, people can take on sport and physical activity challenges and also raise considerable amounts of funding for local and national charities.  Of his win, Dave said "you caught me out a treat”.

-ENDS-

The Black Country BeActive Partnership is one of 49 County Sports Partnerships (CSPs) in England working to provide opportunities for people to participate in sport and physical activity across the Black Country.   The team and its partners aim to work together for all in the Black Country through PE, Sport and Physical Activity to inspire a generation to be active.

For more details on the work of the Black Country BeActive Partnership please contact Simon Hall, Partnership Director on 01384 471136.

Black Country Consortium Ltd (BCC Ltd) is a diverse, economic development, intelligence and strategic team working with partners from public and private sectors to steer and support the delivery of the Black Country Strategy on Growth and Competitiveness.  BCC provides strategic support, advice and on occasion leadership across the interconnected key areas for growth within the Black Country.

For media enquiries regarding this announcement please contact Joanne Taylor on 01384 471139.