Sports achievers rewarded
by Lewis Dyson
Sheppey had several winners at an awards evening honouring the
best sporting talent in Swale borough.
There was an Olympic theme with gold, silver and bronze medals
handed out to the athletes and volunteers on a podium at Wyvern
Hall, Sittingbourne, on Saturday.
Paralympic bronze medallist Ross Wilson, 17, of Minster, was
crowned Junior Disability Sports Performer of the Year for his
table tennis heroics at this year’s Games.
Tim Bell and Stan Hampshire were jointly given the Senior
Volunteer of the Year title for their work with the Isle of Sheppey
Sailing Club’s Even Keel disability sailing project.
Gold in the Senior Sports Team category went to the
Sheerness-based St George’s Bowls Club’s ladies triples team, who
won outdoor county and national championships this year.
Former Halfway Houses Primary schoolboy Steve Brown, who
captained the Great Britain wheelchair rugby team at the
Paralympics, won gold in the Senior Disability category.
Presentations were also made to residents of Swale who took part
in the torch relay and Olympic and Paralympic gamesmakers. A
demonstration was given by Sittingbourne & Faversham Taekwondo
Club and hip-hop and street dance group Shake That Dance School put
on a display.
Andrew Blandford, of Galway Road, Sheerness, was a volunteer at
this year’s Games and also works for Swale council’s IT
department.
He gave a talk about his role as a torch bearer.
The evening was rounded off by a raffle that raised £279 for the
Swale Youth Development Fund.
Marge Millar, chairman of Active Swale, said: “It appeared
everyone had an excellent evening. We had a really vibrant
programme. It was nice that we were able to give recognition to our
local torchbearers and gamesmakers, and seeing all the local
winners was especially pleasing for myself as a long-term resident
of Swale.”
The ceremony was sponsored by Swale CVS, Kent Sport Leisure and
Olympic Service, Kent County Playing Fields Association and Swale
council’s sports development unit.
Among those handing out honours were Linda Ludgrove, who
competed in swimming in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, and Mayor of
Swale Cllr Pat Sandle.
12/12/12
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