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Sporting pupils rewarded at Derbyshire School Sports Awards

3 October 2008

More than 200 guests, including teachers, pupils and their families, gathered for the event at The Pavilion, Rolls-Royce Sport and Leisure, Derby, which is organised by the Derbyshire Schools’ Sports Association (DSSA).

Special Awards were given to mark individual and team sporting achievements, as well as the contribution made by student and adult volunteers.

A number of young promising stars also received John Bainbridge Award Grants of £50 each.

Team of the Year was the Derbyshire U17 Girls County Hockey Team, which has won the Midlands U17 Championships and the National U17 Championships.

A special Team Recognition award was also given to the Kielder Challenge Team, from Saint John Houghton Catholic School in Ilkeston.

A team of eight disabled and non-disabled students competed in local and countywide heats, and was selected to compete in the national final after achieving one of the top six scores in the country. After two days of problem solving activities the team finished fifth, and also received the Team Unity award.

The individual performance awards were presented by Derbyshire Olympian Donna Kellogg.

The Sportsperson of the Year was Jack Andrew from Chapel-en-le-Frith High School, for his achievements in athletics.

This includes a first place in the England Athletics Championships U17 Indoor Heptathlon, and a bronze at the UK School Games in the 4x400 relay. He is also the Midland Schools Octathlon Champion, and is ranked seventh in the UK for U20 mens decathlon.

Highly commended in this category was Sam Mak from Highfields School in Matlock, and Madeleine Thompson from Lady Manners School in Bakewell.

Sam won four Gold Medals at the 2008 National Wushu Championships, and retained his undisputed All Round UK Junior National Crown which he has held since 2002. Wheelchair basketball player Madeleine is ranked in the top 10 in Great Britain for U19s/U22s, and was chosen for the GB team to play in the European Championships.

The award for Student Volunteer of the Year went to Sammi Moujahid, who was rewarded for his work as a sports leader at Lees Brook Community Sports College.

His many voluntary roles have included coaching the lower school basketball team, and helping at Primary School Sports festivals in a range of sports. He was also a Young Ambassador for Derby City during 2007/2008, and was selected as one of four Young Ambassadors from across England to visit Maine, USA, to look at the structure of PE, sport and volunteering.

Highly Commended in the Student Volunteer of the Year category was Lindsey Pearson from Highfields School in Matlock, Fran Perry from Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth, Oliver Hooper from Hasland Hall Community School in Chesterfield, and Lucy Roberts from Tupton Hall School in Chesterfield.

Four adult volunteers were also recognised for their contribution to school sport. These were Harry Butler, a volunteer at Anthony Gell School, Geoff Fortnam, Llinos Julian from Tupton Hall School and Dawn Moore from Deincourt Community School in North Wingfield.

The evening also saw John Bainbridge Award Grants of £50 each presented to some of the county’s most promising young sports stars.

They were:

Emily Allsopp (Swimming) – Buxton Community School, Buxton

Frances Anderson (Swimming) – Lady Manners School, Bakewell

Matthew Bower (Ju-Jitsu) – Hasland Hall Community School, Chesterfield

Russell Clark (Squash) – Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School, Dronfield

Anthony Colder (Gymnastics) – Brackensdale Junior School, Derby

Lucy Davidson (Table Tennis) – Netherthorpe School, Staveley

Ashley Davies (Squash) – Brookfield Community School, Chesterfield

Jack Lawley (Wrestling) – Anthony Gell School, Wirksworth

John Lomas (Mountain Biking) - Buxton Community School, Buxton

Madeleine Thompson (Wheelchair Basketball) - Lady Manners School, Bakewell

The grants are awarded annually in memory of John Bainbridge, who died of a heart attack in 2004 aged 51, and were presented by his widow, Sheila Bainbridge. John was head of sport and recreation at Wilsthorpe Community School in Long Eaton and played a leading role in setting up the Derbyshire School Sports Awards (DSSA).

The awards evening celebrated school sport in Derbyshire, and all those nominated were put forward by their schools. All of those invited to attend received a certificate, with category winners receiving awards.

Chair of DSSA Dawn Moore said: “It is important to recognise and celebrate the achievements of young sports performers and volunteers in school sport and this evening is a great way to congratulate and reward their hard work and dedication.”

The awards evening was opened with a dance performance by pupils from Derby’s Pear Tree Junior School, and the event was compered by Chris Cohen from the DSSA. Guests were also treated to a Wushu demonstration by Sam Mak.

Pictured above is Mae Wilson, Alison Milyard, Kirsty MaCleod and Tamara Healey from the Derbyshire U17 Girls County Hockey Team.