15 October 2012
Wigan capped off a wonderful summer of sport by celebrating the borough’s own sporting achievements at special ceremony at the DW Stadium on Friday night.
Coaches, teams, volunteers and sports clubs gathered for the glitzy annual awards ceremony that shines a sporting spotlight on unsung heroes and stars of the future.
Coach Roy Wood from Aspull Wrestling Club was one of the major winners during the evening after he was awarded Coach of the Year in recognition of his tireless work promoting and volunteering in the sport as well as training two overseas competitors at this year’s Olympics.
Aspull Wrestling Club, founded by Roy, was also named Club of the Year in recognition of Roy’s 50 years in the sport, producing national and international champions and working at grass roots level with schools.
Home grown star of the 800m and European Indoor and Outdoor Champion, Jenny Meadows, was the guest speaker on the evening and presented the awards.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s Sports Development Unit, who organise the event, received 64 nominations this year for the nine categories.
Andy Wiggans, Chair of WLCT’s board of Trustees, said: “Wigan Council has invested millions in top quality sports facilities in recent years. In order to get the most out of them we also need the commitment and dedication of sports coaches and many other volunteers whose achievements have been proudly celebrated at this year’s Sports Awards. This work is ably supported by our own Sports Development Unit who work so hard to promote involvement at all levels in sport throughout the borough. My thanks and congratulations go to everyone who has been nominated and to all those who work so hard throughout the year to support their particular club.”
To mark this year’s fantastic Olympic and Paralymic Games, winners and runners-up collected their Gold, Silver and Bronze medals on top of the podium.
Wigan’s Cabinet member for Leisure, Cllr Chris Ready, said: “We have been treated to an exceptional summer of sport which has captured the imagination of the nation.
“But just as important as these high profile events are the activities at grass roots that happen every Saturday and Sunday morning up and down the borough whether it's football, rugby, cricket or wrestling and many other sports.
“Without the commitment of the committed volunteers who, week-in week-out, put the nets up, collect the subs and place a damp sponge on bruised knees we would not have achieved anywhere near the success we have.”
Other winners on the night included Leigh St Mary’s Under 16 and Under 18’s Girls Water Polo Team who were awarded Team of the Year. Sean Clare, from Leigh Harriers Athletics Club, was named Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year.
Whilst Sports Achiever of the Year was Grace Morley for her magnificent season with Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club and Leigh St Mary’s High School Water Polo Team.
The 12th Annual Wigan Borough Sports Awards
Team of the Year This award goes to a community, club or school based team that has made a significant improvement in their performance in the last 12 months.
Finalist – Wigan Seahawks Men’s National Volleyball League Squad. The Team won the National Volleyball League losing only three games this season
Runner Up – Wigan St Patrick’s Amateur Rugby League Football Club Under 16’s Team. Winners of the National Cup, 17 out of the 22 players have achieved scholarships with Super League Clubs.
Winner – Leigh St Mary’s Under 16 and Under 18’s Girls Water Polo Team. This year, both the under 16 and under 18 teams won the English Schools Swimming Association Water Polo Championships. This is a national competition and an amazing achievement considering the school doesn’t have their own pool unlike the public school, the teams competed against and beat.
Coach of the Year - This award goes to a community, club or school based coach who has made a significant impact or contribution to the development of performers in their sport or borough.
Finalist – Simon Edwards – Wigan Seahawks Volleyball Club. Simon is a Level 2 qualified Volleyball Coach who coaches twice per week at both junior and National League level. Simon turned a newly formed volleyball team into league champions in the space of one season
Runner Up – Angela Walker – Lowton St Luke’s Badminton Club. Angela is a Level 2 qualified coach who has mentored two new coaches to becoming qualified and seen the club grow to over 15 junior members and over 25 adult members
Winner – Roy Wood – Aspull Wrestling Club. Roy’s knowledge dates back 50 years and it is hard to find a Wrestling coach in the UK with more experience. This yearRoy has been coaching wrestler Maria Dunn fromGuam in the run up and at the Olympic Games. He has also mentored 12 members to become Level 2 Coaches, spends 25 hours each week coaching voluntarily and was an Olympic torchbearer.
Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year - The award is given to a disabled sports performer who has made a significant improvement in their development as a sports player/athlete.
Finalist – Amy Molyneux – Wigan Swimming Club. Amy has been training at Wigan Swimming Club for several years and has progressed to also train with the Wigan Scheme of Excellence resulting in an improved swimming technique. Amy won gold at the Regional Championships in the 100m Breaststroke and Silver in the 100m Freestyle. She then qualified for the National finals and won Gold in the 50m Breaststroke and 50m Freestyle and Silver in the 100m Freestyle.
Runner Up – Stefan Barnes – Hope School. Stefan competed for his school , representingWigan in Goalball at the Greater Manchester Summer School Games and with his team won bronze. He was also the top goal scorer at the competition. Within this competition, Stefan acted a Team Captain and was a great leader, he encouraged and inspired his team mates.
Winner – Sean Clare – Leigh Harriers Athletics Club. Sean broke the British Discus record on four separate occasions, was the first dwarf athlete to throw over 30m and won two gold medals at the England Senior Championships. Sean smashed the qualifying for the Paralympics, only to be left out of selections.
Sports Achiever of the Year - The sports achiever award goes to a sports performer who has made a significant improvement in their development as a sports player/athlete.
Finalist - Oliver Avis - England Youth Fly Fishing Team/Astley and Tyldesley Junior Football Club. Oliver is self taught in the art of fly fishing and today he is involved in both international and World Championship Fly Fishing forEngland.
Runner Up – James Smith – Aspull Wrestling Club. Over the last 12 months, James has competed in domestic, National and European Freestyle Wrestling Competitions winning four gold medals and two silver medals.
Winner – Grace Morley – Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club and Leigh St Mary’s High School Water Polo Team. Grace competes at an international level in Swimming and Water Polo . She is on the England Talent Squad and played for GB U17’s Team at the European Junior Water Polo Championships. In Swimming, she swam for GB in the FISEC Games in Malta winning three gold medals and two silver medals and helped GB win gold overall
The Martin Lynn Special Contribution to School Sport - This award was created to reward a teacher, assistant, parent or pupil that has made a significant contribution to school sport by going beyond the call of duty.
Recipients:
West Award – Lawrence Hoy from Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School. Lawrence has been a teacher at Sacred Heart for 41 years. Over the years, Lawrence has been involved in organising numerous school sport leagues. He is also heavily involved in the running of the junior section at Wigan Cricket Club and the Open Age Football Teams for Ince Central Football Club.
East Award – John Griffin – St Edmund Arrowsmith High School. ( Award collected by Jim Keating) John is very active within the PE Department and has helped produce many Super League standard players. He is involved in Schools Rugby League as Treasurer and Secretary and has organised a Super League style play off system for schools who are unsuccessful in the North West Competition.
Volunteer of the Year Award - The Volunteer of the Year award is given to a person who has volunteered their time and made a significant impact or contribution to the development of performers, club, community or school sport.
Finalists – John Shaw – New Spring Lions AmateurRugby League Football Club. John is the Club Development Officer for News Springs Lions ARLFC, on the committee for Aspull RUFC, supportd theRugby league Service Area and local Housing office. He is also on the Wigan Borough Sports Council Exec Committee. John has recently secured funding for a new gym at the rugby clubs and a kit for the Service Area and Shevington Sharks. Now he is retired, John spends hours everyday helping the rugby clubs and local housing office.
Finalist - Sandra Green – British Cycling Breeze Project. Sandra is a British Cycling Breeze Champion, Cycling Instructor and Breeze Regional Co-ordinator with a role to encourage and assist women to get back into cycling. Since 2011, Sandra has organised over 80 rides in her spare time as well as helping new Breeze Champions set up their own rides through mentoring and advice. She has helped over 300 women to get back into cycling since last September
Runner-Up – Steve Martlew –Wigan Cricket Club and Whelley Alexandra Junior Football Club. Steve is the Junior Cricket Manager at Wigan Cricket Club and Secretary and Coach at Whelley Alexandra Junior Football Club. Steve has raised nearly £6,000 for Wigan Cricket Club and dedicates four evenings per week as well as weekend matches. Steve and a fellow volunteer, Alan Blazy’s set up Whelly Alexandra JFC from scratch and have taken the club through CharterMark.
Winner – Alex Winstanley – Wigan Sports Development Volunteer Team. Alex is one of the longest serving members on Wigan Sports Development Volunteer Programme despite being only 20. Alex volunteers 15 hours per week on a number of different programmes including those that tackle anti-social behaviour and provide activities for people with a disability. Over the summer, Alex volunteered 30 hours per week for four weeks on the Multi-Sport and Disability Sport Holiday Programme. Alex has recently embarked on a two week charity trip toGhana to deliver sport and physical activity to disadvantaged communities
The Wilf Brogan Unsung Hero Award -The unsung hero award goes to a person who has made an impact over a number of years on people, their club, a school or within the community.
Finalist – Connie Mason – Leigh Ladies Bowling League. Connie founded Leigh Ladies Bowling League in 1986 and has acted as Secretary and Match Secretary for 26 years and Treasurer for five years. Connie organises all the fixtures and collates the results every week, runs pairs and singles competitions, organises a presentation night, chairs team meetings and represents the league in the wider bowling community. The league would like to acknowledge and thank Connie for her contribution to the ladies bowling community in Leigh.
Runner Up – Kevin O’Leary – Hindley Amateur Swimming Club. Kevin has worked tirelessly for the past 30 years regularly attending every club session each week on top of attending all the necessary meetings that keep a community swimming club successful and the Wigan Aquatics Development Group. Kevin was the driving force behind the club achieving and maintaining Swim 21 Accreditation. The club would like to thank Kevin for his loyalty, hard work, passion and determination that he has shown the club over the last 30 years
Winner – June Phillips – Astley and Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Club. June has been Astley and Tyldesley’s Cycle Speedway Club’s Catering Manager for 16 years. June and a small team have provided excellent catering for small crowds to 600 people at the World Cup Final. The income raised from the catering ensures the club are able to improve its facilities and support athletes. June travels the 80 mile round trip to volunteer at the club
Club of the Year -This award goes to a sports club which has made a significant impact or contribution to the development of sport in the community.
Finalist – Wigan Seahawks Volleyball Club. Described by VolleyballEngland as ‘a club to watch’, Wigan Seahawks have achieved many great things including Clubmark Accreditation, a squad winning the National Volleyball League (Men’s League Division 2). The club has an active membership of 120, nine volunteers and over the last year has become a real success story. The club has four players on the North of England Squad and two players selected for the UK School Games
Runner Up – Wigan Swimming Club. The club achieved and maintained Swim 21 Accreditation, assist in the organisation of swimming events for local schools and organised a gala for all community swimming clubs in the borough. Several of their swimmers are competing nationally and internationally winning medals in swimming and Water Polo. The club is committed to an inclusive programme and have several disabled swimmers that train with the club. One of these swimmers has just competed at National level winning gold in two events.
Winner – Aspull Wresting Club. The club has produced national and international athletes with a medal tally of 17 gold, 20 silver and 7 bronze medals. The club hosted and coached two Olympic athletes from Guam and Samoa. The club delivers sessions in local schools and has strong links with local rugby clubs providing alternative training. The club provides classes from age four upwards female only and disability sessions.
Physical Activity Achiever Award -This award is new to the Sports Awards as part of a Greater Manchester pilot. The award is to recognise a person that has taken steps to improve their health through undertaking physical activity.
Winner– Paul Carter from the Active Living Referral Scheme . Paul was referred to the Referral Scheme after two ankle fractures but he also has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Paul undertook a gym based programme and then decided to try running which he has developed a passion and enthusiasm for, gaining confidence. Paul completed the Run 4 A Life 5km in September, his first even.
Wigan Borough Healthy Stadia and Sports Club Network Award Presentation (new award)
The Wigan Borough Healthy Stadia and Sports Club Network is a three year programme which has been commissioned by NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan to support local stadia and sports clubs in becoming healthier environments for their fans, staff, visitors and the local communities they serve.
Wigan Rugby Union Football Club
Aspull Juniors Football Club
Wigan St Patrick’s Amateur Rugby League Football Club
Wigan Academy of Karate
Orrell Rugby Union Football Club
Leigh Genesis Football Club
Wigan Athletic and the DW Stadium
Wigan and Ashton Gymnastics Club
Wigan Sports Club
Orrell St. James Amateur Rugby League Football Club
New Spring Lions Amateur Rugby League Football Club
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Registered Charity Number 1105278
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