Winners Achievements:
Junior Sports Team of the Year
Oxford School of Gymnastics Acrobatic Trio
(Amber Ballantyne Styles / Joanne White / Abigail Collins)
The Girls are currently best in their age group in Great Britain. They have been working as a trio for just one year. In 2007, became British Champions and just two weeks ago won Silver Medal at the European Championships in Holland.
Sports Team of the Year
Oxford Cricket Club Mens 1st Team
2007 Home Counties Premier Cricket League Champions, losing only 1 match all season. They were also awarded the Fair Play Trophy, receiving the most recommendations from all the Captains in the League. The captain Jason Harrison also won the Umpires Award as Best Captain in the League.
Coach of the Year
Nick Malden (Rover Oxford Hockey Club)
Nick is a level 3 Hockey Coach. He mentors coaches from other Oxfordshire Clubs and has coached players who have gone on to achieve International Success. Nick has not only made a huge contribution to Youth and Senior Club Hockey but also to the County and Regional games. He gives up over 5 hours each week to coach, all unpaid.
Club of the Year
Rover Oxford Hockey Club
The Club was only established in 1999, since then the club has grown to incorporate 6 Men’s teams, 3 women’s teams, 4 friendly summer league teams and over 180 Juniors. They have a host of coaches and were the 6th Hockey Club in the Country to achieve ClubMark. A number of their teams won leagues in 2007, resulting in a number of promotions!
They run a Rover Oxford Hockey Festival each year attracting 56 teams from across Great Britain (900 people!).
Junior Unsung Hero, Sponsored by RM.
Lauren Addison (Netball)
Lauren who just turned 18 this year is already a level 1 Netball Coach, an Umpire and a mentor to other coaches. She volunteers for 4 hours a week, and has been for 3 years. In 2007 she was promoted to lead coach and team manager for the Juniors at Trinity Netball Club, and was awarded Young Volunteer of the Year at the England Netball Goalden Globe Awards.
Unsung Hero
Alan Vincent (Athletics)
A man who has taken on many tasks and projects for athletics in Oxfordshire and the South Of England. Alan volunteers 5 – 15 hours of his time each week, and has done for the last 30 years, He has introduced a new structure in the Oxfordshire Athletics Association, lead young leaders courses and is a Level 5 (the highest you can achieve) official, officiating at County, Regional, National and International meetings. His love of and passion for Athletics means he is implementing change to make it easier for people to access and progress through the sport.
Junior Sportsperson of the Year, sponsored by SOLL Leisure
Katherine O’Connor (Golf)
Katherine has gone from ‘Club’ level golfer to ‘County’ and now ‘International’ level in just 3 years. In 2007 she became:
Oxfordshire Girls Champion for 3rd successive year, Oxfordshire Ladies Champion, Welsh Girls Stroke Play Champion, South East Schools Champion and reached the UK final of the Faldo Series just to name a few titles.
Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Daniel Steward (Power-lifting)
Daniel has shown great willpower to succeed in his chosen sport, attacking new physical challenges with grit and determination. He has been accepted into the GB Paralympics Squad, and in his first outing for GB claimed Silver Medal, just missing out on Gold, having set a European Record in the Qualifying rounds. He hopes to build on his success in Beijing, having already represented GB at the Athens Paralympics.
Extreme Sportsperson of the Year
Ben Ayre (Mountain Boarding)
Ben is just 14 years old, and he embodies the true spirit of Extreme Sports. Mountain Boarding is more than just a hobby. In 2007, Ben competed in the ATBA National Series against Mountain Boarders from across the UK, who have been riding much longer than him, he achieved a well-deserved 5th Place.
Sportsman of the Year, sponsored by Technogym
Bradley Smith (MotoGP)
At 16 years old Bradley is competing in a Man’s world. In 2007 he became the youngest British Rider to finish on a grand prix podium in the 58 year history at the World Championships. Bradley was named best ‘rookie’ rider last year and has a very good chance of a top 8 finish this year.
Sportswoman of the Year
Nichola Simpson (Archery)
She started the 2007 season ranked as Number 1 Ladies compound archer in the UK. She also set new national and master records this year. Won the British Target Championships and set a European Record, qualifying for next years European and Mediterranean Championships. She competed for GB at the World Cup in 2007.
