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Sports awards belong to young people
Young people stole the show at the 2008
Wigan Borough Sports Awards, held at the JJB Stadium on Friday night
(January 22nd).
A young trampolinist from Leigh was recognised for his dedication when
he was named Sports Achiever of the Year. Daniel Greaves, aged 15,
trains 30 hours per week with the City of Liverpool Trampoline Club,
making a 40 mile round trip six days a week just to get there!
Daniel’s talent and commitment has resulted in a host of impressive
achievements. He is the British Schools U15 Champion and Junior British
Team Champion, he came 22nd in the World Age Championships in Quebec, he
was part of the Gold Medal Great Britain Youth International Team, he
was selected for the British Gymnastics Target 2012 World Class
Development Squad and he was invited to a World Training Camp in
October.
Daniel, who began trampolining five years ago, is also dedicated to his
academic work and is currently completing a BTEC First Certificate in
Sport Course in his own time. He was delighted to receive the award and
is determined to continue working hard in the hope of winning a place in
the 2012 Great Britain Olympic squad.
Daniel said: “I would like to thank my mum and dad for all their
support. I really love to compete and show people what I can do and I
really believe that if I keep working hard I can be there in 2012.
Tonight is really the icing on the cake; I’m absolutely delighted to win
this award.”
Overall, young people won three of the five individual awards handed out
at the event.
Daniel Dawoud, 15, from Hindley, was named Disabled Sports Achiever of
the Year. Daniel is a passionate young man who lives and breathes sport.
Through Daniel’s persistence, Hindley High School and Oakfield School
formed a cricket team called the Hindley 6-ers. Daniel captained the
winning team, taking them from Old Trafford to Lords where the team came
third.
Daniel has also been selected to play for England for the second year
running. Daniel’s dream is to be a coach and is currently undertaking
his Junior Sports Leaders Award and has already taken P.E lessons for
primary school children. He has also become the Assistant Coach for the
year 7 football team.
Daniel said: “I won this award two years ago, so it’s fantastic to win
again. I’m very, very proud. I love volunteering and I think joining a
mainstream school has given me more opportunities than ever. I obviously
love taking part in sport but I get just as much enjoyment out of
coaching younger children – it’s great to see the looks on their faces
when they are taking part in sport.
“I’d like to thank my family, everyone at school and the Sports
Development Unit for all of their support.”
Martin Buckley, 18, from Leigh, added to the growing list of personal
accolades he has won for his work with Westleigh Basketball Club by
winning the Volunteer in Sport of the Year Award. Martin is currently
basketball’s ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ in the UK and he was also
awarded a Township Young Volunteer Award in 2007.
Martin, from Westleigh Basketball Club, is an inspiration to other young
volunteers and players. Over the past year he has given up 15 hours per
week to basketball. Martin has completed his Level 2 Coaching Award and
has delivered sessions to primary schools, at community days, coached
the Girls Youth Games Team, the Under 16s boys teams and Under 15s mixed
team.
Martin said: “I’m really shocked to win. I’ve picked up a lot of
accolades lately, but it’s extra special to win this one. I try and
strike a good balance between playing and coaching. It’s worth putting
the hours in because I get a lot out of it – especially when we are
winning!
“I’d like to thank all of the team at Westleigh, especially Sharon
Seaton, and I’m really looking forward to another successful year.”
The night got even better for Westleigh Basketball Club when it was
named Club of the Year, an award it also picked up at the 2007 Wigan
Borough Sports Awards.
The club is renowned for its support of young volunteers. In 2007, 14
young players gained their level one basketball coaching qualification,
four gained their level two qualification, and four gained their level
two table officiating awards.
Elsewhere, the ‘Wilf Brogan’ Unsung Hero in Sport Award went to Jo
Riches from Tyldesley for her work with Tyldesley Rugby Union Club,
while Lee Glynn from Winstanley Warriors Junior Football Club was named
Coach of the Year, having guided five of his young players to contracts
with Premiership teams.
The annual sports awards are organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust to recognise the hard work and dedication put in by competitors,
coaches and sports clubs from all over the Wigan Borough during the past
year.
A staggering 114 nominations were received for the six awards up for
grabs at the event,
which adopted a Chinese theme in honour of the Beijing Olympics later
this year.
Twelve time Paralympic medallist Marc Woods was special guest speaker at
the awards. As a consequence of having cancer as a teenager, Marc had
his leg amputated. He went on to compete in European, World and
Paralympic Championship in the pool winning his twelve Paralympic medals
from five Games, four of which were gold. Marc gave an inspired speech
about his own triumph over adversity before presenting Wigan and Leigh’s
own sporting heroes with their awards.
He said: “It is an honour to be here tonight with so many great
achievers. I am especially pleased that the volunteers and coaches are
getting the recognition they deserve; without them, there would never be
a chance for all of the young participants in the room to shine.
“There’s every chance some of the people her will be competing in London
four years from now. The only advice I would give is to remain
determined and train hard, but remember to always maintain a sense of
humour and keep a smile on your face.”
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Executive Director Martin Eden said:
“The evening was a triumph for everyone connected with sport in the
Wigan Borough. The stories we have heard tonight have been truly
inspirational. Every single nominee has played their part in ensuring
that our area is one of the most thriving and exciting sporting hot
spots in the country.
“Tonight was about us and the community as a whole paying tribute to all
our sporting heroes; whether they are coaches, volunteers or
competitors. I would like to thank the Sport Development Unit for
putting on a fantastic event and all of our sponsors for their
invaluable support.”
The Wigan Borough Sports Awards is sponsored by JJB Sports. The awards’
other sponsors are Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club, Wigan
Athletic Football Club, Wigan Borough Sports Council, Ferryman Blue
Graphic Design, WISH FM, ADM and Wigan Disability Sports Forum.
The 2007 Wigan Borough Sports Awards winners were:
Sports Achiever of the Year (sponsored by Wigan Sports Development)
Winner - Daniel Greaves aged 15 from Leigh
Runner up - Michael Grundy – Wigan and Leigh Wrestling Club
Finalist - Mattie McKiernan – Leigh Cricket Club
Disabled Sports Achiever (sponsored by Wigan Disability Sports Forum)
Winner - Daniel Dawoud aged 15 from Hindley
Runner Up - Dean Cartwright - Wigan Athletic Ability Counts Club
Finalist - Anthony Burgoyne - Multi Sports Club/Allstar Athletics Club
Volunteer in Sport of the Year (sponsored by Ferryman Blue Graphic
Design)
Winner - Martin Buckley aged 18 from Leigh
Runner Up - Sharon Seaton - Westleigh Basketball Club
Finalist - Jo Cleworth - Westleigh Ladies Netball Club
Club of the Year (sponsored by Wigan Borough Sports Council)
Winner - Westleigh Basketball Club
Runner Up - Highfield Grange Football Club
Finalist - Tyldesley Rugby Union Football Club
Coach of the Year (sponsored by Wigan Athletic Football Club)
Winner - Lee Glynn from Winstanley
Runner Up - Peter Daulby - Wigan Seagulls Sports Acrobatics Club
Finalist - Cathy Green - Haigh Hall Ladies
The ‘Wilf Brogan’ Unsung Hero in Sport Award (sponsored by WISH FM)
Winner - Jo Riches from Tyldesley
Runner Up - Mike Hack - Astley and Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Club
Finalist - Margaret Byrne - Golborne Parkside Amateur Rugby League
Football Club
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