Olympic Cyclist Named Derbyshire Sportsperson Of The Year
16 November 2012
Vice-Chancellor Professor John Coyne with Annie Last
It is fantastic to see that Derbyshire has such a wealth of talented sports performers, great clubs and dedicated coaches and volunteers, who are all committed to improving sport in Derbyshire, and it is great to be able to recognise the dedication these people show and the contribution that they make.
”Cllr Carol Hart, Chair of Derbyshire Sport.
Sally Gunnell with University Deputy Chief Executive, Hari Punchihewa
Derbyshire cycling star Annie Last was crowned University of Derby Sportsperson of the Year at the Derbyshire Sports Awards on November 15.
The evening saw trophies awarded in 11 categories, as the county's best and brightest sporting stars, coaches and volunteers gathered with other invited guests to celebrate another year of sporting success in Derbyshire and recognise the efforts of those involved in sport at grassroots level.
Annie made her Olympic debut at the 2012 London Olympic Games - becoming the first British woman to compete in the mountain bike event since the 2000 Games in Sydney.
22-year-old Annie finished in eighth place at the Games after two years of non-stop competiting around the world . A few weeks before the Olympics she gained her first podium place at an Elite World Cup race in Val d'Isere, where she took third place.
Annie, from Great Longstone, was announced as the winner of the University of Derby Sportsperson of the Year title during a ceremony at The Roundhouse which was attended by 270 people.
She was presented with a trophy by Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor of the University, which is the title sponsor of the event.
Guest of honour was Sally Gunnell OBE, who won gold in the 400m hurdles at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992. Joining her were some of Derbyshire's Olympic and Paralympic athletes - swimmer Ross Davenport, gymnast Jennifer Pinches, wheelchair basketball player Maddie Thompson, sitting volleyball player Andrea Green, powerlifter Anthony Peddle and wheelchair fencer Simon Wilson, who all competed at London 2012.
Olympian Ross Davenport, who announced his retirement from swimming last week, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his sporting successes. During his career he competed at the Olympic Games in 2004, 2008 and 2012, and won four Commonwealth Games medals.
The event also paid tribute to Derbyshire County Cricket Club and its historic achievement of winning the LV Division 2 title and gaining promotion to the top flight of English cricket.
A number of Derbyshire's sporting figures were recognised at the event.
Wheelchair basketball player Jon Hall, from Clowne, was named the University of Derby Disabled Sportsperson of the Year.
Jon was a member of the GB men's team which finished in fourth place at the 2012 Paralympic Games, and also won gold at the European Championships and silver at the Paralympic World Cup.
14-year-old tennis player Jay Clarke, from Pear Tree, was the winner in the International Golf Development Junior Sportsman of the Year category.
Jay is the No.1 ranked U14 boy in Europe, and has represented Great Britain numerous times this year. He helped to secure the Winter Cup team title for GB in Turkey, coming through both the qualifying and main draw event without the loss of a match, and helped GB secure 11th place at the Worlds event. He also sealed back to back victories in grade 1 events in Rome and Bucharest earlier this year and won the U14 AEGON Junior National Doubles title.
Meanwhile Derventio eXcel swimming star Molly Renshaw was named the Derby City Council Junior Sportswoman of the Year for the second year running.
16-year-old Molly won a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke at the European Junior Championships, breaking the British age group record. She also won a gold medal at the Senior Nationals in the 200m breaststroke, and a silver at the British Championships in the same event.
Other awards presented on the night included the Derby Telegraph Service to Sport Award, which was presented to John Thompson from Wirksworth, by Peter Green, Sports Editor of the Derby Telegraph.
John has been centrally involved in the development of Wirksworth Cricket Club, its merger with Middleton Cricket Club, and the wider sporting world in Wirksworth for many years, playing key roles in many developments which have led to more opportunities for local people to play sport locally.
The winner of the Origination Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year was Maddie Thompson, from Hope, who was part of the GB women's wheelchair basketball team which finished in seventh place at the 2012 Paralympic Games and in fourth place at the Paralympic World Cup.
Meanwhile the Cooper Parry Club of the Year title was won by Draycott and Long Eaton Table Tennis Club - the second time in three years that the club has won the award.
The Derby College Coach of the Year title was jointly awarded to James Maudsley, Head Coach of the Derby Trailblazers senior Division 1 men's basketball team, and Paul Standring from Sandiacre Town Cricket Club.
There were also joint winners of the Derbyshire County Council Young Sports Leader/Young Coach of the Year award, which was presented to Beth Grainger, a gymnastics coach and athletics official from Kirk Hallam; and Luke Sheldon, who runs a football team at Eckington School and devised the 'Breaking Down Barriers' programme to raise awareness about disability sport.
Two awards were also presented to Derbyshire businesses and organisations who are involved in sport and physical activity.
The Matrix Sport Sponsorship Award was presented to Flint Bishop in recognition of its support for Derbyshire charity Sporting Futures. The Derby-based law firm has provided financial and in-kind support to the work of Sporting Futures, including its Derby 10k race.
Meanwhile the Active Derbyshire Active Workplace Award was presented to Derbyshire Dales District Council in recognition of the range of activities available to staff, which includes a Workplace Walking for Health group, a table tennis club, weekly Back to Netball, yoga and football sessions, a running club and a cricket team, as well as discounted gym memberships.
A full list of winners is below. Further details can be seen at www.derbyshiresport.co.uk/sports_awards
The awards are organised by Derbyshire Sport, a county sports partnership which provides the strategic lead for sport in Derbyshire.
Cllr Carol Hart, Chair of Derbyshire Sport, said: "It is fantastic to see that Derbyshire has such a wealth of talented sports performers, great clubs and dedicated coaches and volunteers, who are all committed to improving sport in Derbyshire, and it is great to be able to recognise the dedication these people show and the contribution that they make.
"My congratulations go to each of the winners and I wish them many more years of sporting success.
"It was wonderful to see so many people join us at The Roundhouse to celebrate all that is great about sport in Derbyshire."
The University of Derby was the title sponsor of the event, and other sponsors include the Derby Telegraph, Derby City Council, Origination, Derbyshire County Council, Cooper Parry, International Golf Development, Derby College, Active Derbyshire and Matrix.
In addition to being a category sponsor, Matrix also sponsored the drinks reception at the event.
The winners of the 2012 Derbyshire Sports Awards are:
- University of Derby Sportsperson of the Year
Annie Last (Derbyshire Dales - Cross Country Mountain Biking) - University of Derby Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Jon Hall (Bolsover - Wheelchair Basketball) - International Golf Development Junior Sportsman of the Year
Jay Clarke (Derby - Tennis) - Derby City Council Junior Sportswoman of the Year
Molly Renshaw (Amber Valley - Swimming) - Origination Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Maddie Thompson (High Peak - Wheelchair Basketball) - Cooper Parry Club of the Year
Draycott and Long Eaton Table Tennis Club (Erewash - Table Tennis) - Derby College Coach of the Year
James Maudsley (South Derbyshire - Basketball) and
Paul Standring - (Erewash - Cricket) - Derbyshire County Council Young Sports Leader/Young Coach of the Year
Beth Grainger - (Erewash - Various Sports) and
Luke Sheldon - (Chesterfield/NE Derbyshire - Football) - Derby Telegraph Service to Sport Award
John Thompson - (Derbyshire Dales - Cricket) - Matrix Sport Sponsorship Award
Flint Bishop - supporting Sporting Futures - Active Derbyshire Active Workplace Award
Derbyshire Dales District Council - Lifetime Achievement Award
Ross Davenport (Amber Valley - Swimming)
