Athletics
Sporting stars rewarded

THE annual Stratford-on-Avon District Sports Awards, organised by Stratford-on-Avon District Council and sponsored by Everyone Active and NFU Mutual, took place at the Holiday Inn Hotel on Friday.

Nearly 300 guests celebrated the sporting achievements of clubs and individuals across the district and recognised wonderful contributions made from volunteers and parents.

The event, in its tenth year, paid tribute to the Olympic and Paralympic Games being held in London this summer with Olympians David Moorcroft OBE, Glen Smith, Adam Whitehead, Paul Brain and Paralympian Mark Butler in attendance to present awards and offer advice to young aspiring Olympians in the audience.

Special recognition was given to Phil Rothwell of Wellesbourne Cricket Club in winning the Service to Sport Award for his commitment to the club and sport over the past 40 years.

Phil was thrilled to have won the award along with a special gift donated by the Stratford Manor Hotel and praised the district council for organising the evening to recognise and promote sport within Stratford.

The Stratford Athletic Club Age-Group Leaders were recognised for their specialised work with Schools and the community bringing elements of athletics and fun activities to participants in being awarded the NFU Community Sports Award sponsored by NFU Mutual.

Once again Andrew Pozzi from Stratford Athletic Club and Bath University, who is representing Great Britain in the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul this weekend, won the Senior Sports Person of the Year Award.

He was thrilled to have won the award for the second year running and hoped his successes carried on into the Olympic trials being held in June.

Other award winners were: Junior Sports Person - Farrell Treacy, Speed Skating; Junior Team - Stratford-upon-Avon School Girls Football team; Senior team - Jump Rope UK Girls team, Studley; Alternative Sport Award - Nancy Creedy, Wakeboarding; Volunteer award - John Emberton, Half Crown Petanque Club and

Coach of the Year - Andy Hodges, Stratford Hockey Club.

Councillor Mike Brain, technical services portfolio said: “It is wonderful to see such a great depth of sporting talent within our district but also to recognise the large amount of work done by volunteers and coaches in making our sports clubs and schools so successful.

"With the Olympic Games only six months away we hope that even more people both young and old will be inspired to get involved in sport in some way.”