Winners announced at the 2009 Active Sussexs Awards!

1 superstitious, auspicious date

550 guests

48 finalists

15 amazing winners!

It’s an auspicious date for sport in Sussex. For once Friday 13th brought lots of luck for the 15 deserving winners of the Active Sussexs Awards 2009!

Held in the Oxford Suite at the Hilton Brighton Metropole from 7:00pm, the evening was hosted by Derek Redmond, one of GB’s greatest 400m runners ever. Our World Gold Medalist Master of Ceremonies was probably one of the most unlucky yet determined athletes ever, when famously during the Barcelona Olympics his hamstring snapped during the semi finals. Derek, who was a medal favorite, struggled to his feet and hobbled the remaining 250 meters with his father in a scene that has become one of the most enduring in modern Olympic history.

All of the Active Sussexs Award finalists have shown huge passion and commitment to their game making their hard work and talent count for more than just luck! To help the finalists on their way to the winning crown, the sell-out awards had lucky mascots from around the county - Gully from Brighton & Hove Albion; Sid the Shark from Sussex County Cricket Club; Howie the Hornet from Horsham FC to name a few. The fabulous LEGAT cheerleading and dance troupe entertained guests at their four course gala dinner with complimentary wine from Barefoot, part of the Gallo vineyards.

The Sussex County Sports Partnership, who organise the awards, received a record breaking number of nominations this year with the standard being extremely high.

Sadie Mason, Director of the Sussex County Sports Partnership said: “We continue to see the positive advancement of sport and active recreation in the county producing excellent achievement and results. This is reflected in tonight’s commendable winners and the clubs receiving the quality standard, Clubmark. The Sussex County Sports Partnership is proud to bring the Active Sussexs Awards to the county and we look forward to developing the evening with greater passion and celebration in the run up to London 2012. I’d like to wish all the winners a huge well done and congratulations! Keep up the fantastic work you do for the county!”

Lucky for some….! The 2009 Active Sussexs Awards Winners are:
Blue Reach Response Innovation in Sport (Education)

Winner: Worthing College Sports Academy - for their focus and commitment to developing opportunities with creative and innovative timetabling and institutional flexibility that has produced excellent results at regional and national championships.

Runners-up:

Active Street Games (Hastings Borough Council)
East Grinstead Sports Club

MKK Sports Active Sussex Professional of the Year

Winner: Ken Dullaway, Active Street Games Co-ordinator, Hastings - for being a motivator, mentor and coach. He makes a real difference to his community by engaging young disadvantaged people and inspiring them into sport and positive activity.

Runners-up:

Carrie Reynolds (works for Inspire Leisure in Arun)
Teresa Bennett (Filsham Valley School - Hastings)

Wave Leisure Active & Healthy Workplace Initiative

Winner: Propellernet, Hove - this company has got the work/life/activity balance just right! It encourages and supports employees to take part in physical challenges for fun and competition recruiting and creating people with a real zest for life!
Runners-up:

Nibbles of Worthing LTD
Wellbeing at Work Project (based in Brighton and Hove)
SkillsActive Coach of the Year

Winner: Julie House - Based in Goring, Worthing, Julie dedicates hours to her love of netball by coaching various clubs and sessions. She takes players to a national level. An asset to netball and the county!

Runners-up:

Jackie Wood (Based in Lewes - Disability Sport)
Lisa Harrison (Based in Crawley - Judo)
Tim Vail (Based in Sussex - Squash)

University of Brighton Young Coach of the Year

Winner: Oliver Young - Based in Sharpethorne, West Sussex for services and commitment to Judo being a popular role model he inspires and motivates to develop his sport

Runners-up:

Kim Stenning (Based in Littlehampton - Football)
Matthew Green (Based in Brighton - Cricket)

Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP Club of the Year

Winners of the public vote: Brighton and Hove Hockey Club - a Clubmark club who have excelled in competition and developing their sport in the community to produce quality provision.

Runners-up:
Brighton and Hove Gymnastics Club
Brighton Cougars Basketball Club

Sussex Life Team of the Year

Winner: Brighton and Hove Special Olympics Team - for amazing success at this year’s Brighton Special Olympics with 9 golds, 11 slivers and four bronzes. A truly brilliant achievement by the city’s Special Olympic squad.

Runners-up:
East Grinstead Hockey CLub and Men’s 1st XI
Glynde and Beddingham Cricket Club

Juice FM Young Team of the Year

Winner: Dorothy Stringer High School (Year 9 Girls Basketball Team) - this team progressed to become not just league champions but National School Champions. They have inspired other girls to take up the sport and coach in their spare time. Here come the (brilliant, Brighton!) girls!

Runners-up:

Chichester Priory Park Cricket Club (U13 Girls)
Dorothy Stringer High School (U14 Boys Basketball Team)

Sussex County FA Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Ian Stewart - From Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex for his amazing work with the Special Olympics Team from Hastings and Rother

Runners-up:

Celia Tambeh (Based in St Leonards - Athletics)
Patricia Taylor (Based in Hastings - Football)

Sport England Young Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Ruby Baverstock - Based in Crawley, Ruby shows a talent and commitment to Netball that is impressive and awesome. A very deserving winner.

Runners-up:

Ben Gerrey (Based in Hove - Cycling)
Hannah Cutress (Based in Poynings - Netball)

Midnight Communications Unsung Hero Award

Winner: Mike Richardson from Hove Rugby Club - he has been a tireless contributor to Rugby for over 35 years. While volunteering many hours for his club, he has also been appointed Secretary for the Sussex Society of Referees, volunteers as a senior marshal at their Twickenham and are a referee assessor for rugby. He is a rugby and community hero!

Runners-up:
Alan Perkins (Based in Crawley - Cricket)
Ian Stewart (Based in Bexhill-on-Sea - Disability Sport)

West Sussex-Ahead of the Game Disabled Sports Personality of the Year

Winner: Sascha Kindred - based in Crawly - recent achievements include 3 gold medals in the European championships. His career to date has seen him win over 350 medals, breaking many British, European and world records before receiving an OBE in 2009. This person is a real ambassador for his sport and has recently been appointed as a schools sports ambassador for the Youth Sport Trust.

Runners-up:
Liam Beresford (Based in Ringmer - Boccia)
Richard Schabel (Based in East Grinstead - Athletics)

University of Chichester Young Sports Personality of the Year

Winner: Emily Llewellyn for Equestrian - During 2009 season, she has won several national events, notably the British National University and the National Under 25 Championships despite only being 20 years old. She is a long serving member of the youth GB Team helping this team to retain the gold medal at this year’s European Championships.

Runners-up:

Alex Mills-Barton (Based in Seaford - Sailing)
Benjamin Urban (Based in Hastings - Judo)
Daina Rose (Based in Hastings - Trampolining)
Felix English (Based in Arlington - Cycling)

Freedom Leisure Sports Personality of the Year

Winner: Gemma Spofforth - Born in Shoreham - Swimming, 2009’s winner of the Sussex sport personality is an Olympian who became the first female athlete to win the world 100m Backstroke title and the first since 1958 to hold the world record. She also set a new British record in the 200m backstroke and 4 x 200m medley relay. And she is still only 22.

Runners-up:
Caroline Hoyte (Based in Hove - Athletics )
Paul William Winter (Based in Brighton - Triathlon)

The Argus Lifetime Achievement Award

WINNER: Jack Wilkinson (Based in Hove)

The Lifetime Achievement Award has been bestowed by the judges on a former South East Regional Director for Sport England; Planner for East Sussex County Council; co-founder of the Sports Development unit at the University of Brighton; and previous interim Director of Sussex County Sports Partnership.

The judges were unanimous in their decision to pay tribute to Jack. Acknowledging his commitment and enthusiasm for the Sussex sporting cause, he is seen as a consummate ambassador for sport in the community , always paying special attention to the fact, that ‘all sport is local’.

Jack has been a key driver of sports development in the region for over three decades. Described as being ‘full of passion and dedication’, he has worked tirelessly for sport in the county. This is a well-deserved accolade to the man described as the as the ‘Superman’ of Active Sussex.

Runners Up:
Ros Slaughter (Based in Chichester)
Sandra Pamplin (Based in Hastings)

To view the 2009 photos of the Active Sussexs Awards please check out:

 

www.flickr.com sussexsports’ Active Sussexs Awards 2009 photoset

Many Thanks to our 2009 Sponsors: