The founders of a girls’ football team, a school rowing crew and an U12 hockey team of national champions are among those to be honoured at the Active Wandsworth Awards next week.
The annual event, first held in 1996, celebrates the talent, dedication and commitment of the borough’s sporting stars.
Some of the awards given out at the Wandsworth Civic Suite on February 11 will include Schools Sports Team of the Year, Community Sports Team of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to Sport, and Young Volunteer of the Year.
“These awards are about recognising local people who have made a special contribution to this important part of community life here in Wandsworth,” said Jonathan Cook, Wandsworth Council’s sport and leisure spokesman.
“Sports bring people together, keep us healthy and teach our young people valuable lessons about discipline, team work and rising to a challenge.”
Up for schools sports team of the year are Penwortham Primary School football team who had sporting success in both regional competitions and borough tournaments.
Following in their wake is Putney High School rowing team who are also nominated in the same category thanks to their regional and national successes, as is Ernest Bevin’s medal-winning judo programme.
Nominees in the community sports team of the year category are Balham Blazers’ U17 team who scored a treble-winning season, Herne Hills Harriers distance team who took the lead in the national cross country relays, and 2015 national champions Spencer Hockey Club girls U12 team.
The outstanding contribution to sport gong will reward those who have dedicated themselves to sport for at least five years.
The nominees are Dave Crilly who has developed a football programme at the Training Resource Centre, Jane Walters who has helped Westside Football Club to grow and volunteers at London County Saturday Youth League, and Herne Hill Harriers coach James McDonald.
Recognised for their work in the young volunteer of the year award are Jake Seymour for his role in the London Youth Games and at Graveney School, Rebecca Sarah Beanland who volunteers at Knights Community Gym.
A nomination nod also went to Mahnoor Rauf and Madeline Ford who have both spent time developing a girls’ football programme at the Training Resource Centre.
Paul McCue, managing director of Enable Leisure and Culture, the council’s sports services provider, said: “This is a great way to credit talented local sports people for their efforts.”
The prize giving event will be hosted by Sky Sports News presenter David Garrido.
Picture courtesy of Enable Leisure and Culture, with thanks
