Sporting Talent – Elmbridge Sports Awards 2019
Local Sporting Talent Gets Accolade At Elmbridge Sports Awards
The Elmbridge Sports Awards ceremony was held at ACS Cobham International School last Friday to celebrate the achievements, dedication, talent and hard work of some of our local athletes, coaches and volunteers. They had been nominated by the community for their commitment to make Elmbridge a more active and successful sporting borough.
The event was hosted by Elmbridge Sports Council and sponsored by David J Archer Group of Companies, Sandown Sports, Sandown Park Racecourses, Specsavers and Places Leisure.
Guest speakers were Matt Tarrant and Liam Duhig.
Matt Tarrant is a double World Rowing Champion who was named as one of two reserves for the openweight men’s squad at the Rio Olympic Games. In 2017, Matt won 2 gold and a silver medals in the World Cup series of regattas in the men’s four, before going on to win a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships.
Liam Duhig is a member of Hollywater Judo Club in Hersham. In May 2018, Liam competed at the Scottish Special Needs Judo Championships and won gold. He has since gone on to win gold in other pan disability competitions. This year, Liam represented Great Britain in the Special Olympics Summer Games, where he achieved a bronze medal in judo.
The winners of this year’s Sports Awards are:
- Junior Sports Personality: Kayden George-Collis – Walton and Hersham Football Club
- Youth Sports Personality: Jack Gemmell – Walton Athletic Club
- Senior Sports Personality: Susie McLoughlin – Walton Athletic Club
- Active Schools Innovation: Joint winners – Thames Ditton & St Marys
- Volunteer of the year: John Watkins – Maori Oxshott Cricket Club
- Coach of the year: James Starr – Oxshott Village Sports Club (now running Surrey Tennis in The Park)
- Inclusive Sports Personality: Joint winners – Joseph Clifton & Natalie Baker – Abel Karate
- Sports club of the year: East Molesey Cricket Club
- Active Community project: Brooklands Parkrun
- Outstanding Service to sport: Mark Blythe – Walton Xcel Walking Football
Councillor Barry Cheyne, Chairman of the Elmbridge Sports Council, said: “The Elmbridge Sports Awards are great opportunities to showcase and recognise all the fantastic achievements of not only people who participate in sport, but equally of those many volunteers who make it happen. Congratulations to all the winners, your contribution to local sport is invaluable”.
Councillor Janet Turner, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Cultural Services, said, “Congratulations to all the wonderful sportsmen and women who have won an award. Without them, sport would not be the same in Elmbridge and it is uplifting to see their talent, determination and skill rewarded. They all are an inspiration to us all and for future generations.”
Elmbridge Sports Awards Event
The Elmbridge Sports Awards took place on Friday 13th December 2019.
The venue was ACS Cobham International School, Portsmouth Road, Hersham, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1BL