Bede’s sporty students are real prize guys
STUDENTS who have attracted the admiration of their teachers and peers for their sporting prowess have been recognised at an annual awards dinner.
This year marked the inaugural presentation of the Sports Personality of the Year at Bede Academy in Blyth, when students themselves had the chance to vote for their favourite from a shortlist of six.
The winner was Luc Parsons, with runners-up Cory Hart and Abigail Herron.
They joined a parade of other awardees across the sports offered at the Academy, including athletics, tennis, basketball, cricket, rounders, netball, hockey, football and rugby.
The most prestigious accolade of the night – the Stannard Award named after Blyth’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross – went to Matthew Jefferson.
Principal Gwyneth Evans said: “Matthew has been a real asset to the PE department over the last five years.
“He is a pleasant and unassuming young man who has really immersed himself in the sporting life of the academy both as a performer and a helper.
“His character and attitude set him apart and he always responds positively to any challenges he faces.
“He is an excellent role model for other students and a great ambassador of the academy.”
The students were treated to a dinner and were inspired by a world champion guest speaker Nicola Minichiello, who in 2009 became the first female bobsleigh driver to win gold in a World Championships.
She also competed in three Winter Olympics.
With her husband Toni she also coached Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill during her early years in athletics and began her career as an athlete.
However, despite going on to represent her school, the county and eventually Great Britain, Minichiello admits she was never the most talented.
She said: “At school, I wanted to be good at something.
“I was desperate to show I could do it and make people proud of me.
“When I first competed for the school I finished last but I had achieved my goal.
“Sport taught me if you keep working you can achieve things. The only time you fail is when you stop trying.
“The invitation to join the British bobsleigh team came out of the blue. It was six weeks before the Winter Olympics.
“I had half a day to make the craziest decision of my life and to go half way across the world for a sport I had never heard of with people I had never met - but it just seemed like the next thing to do.”
Director of sport at Bede Simon McAree said the sports dinner reflected another action-packed year, highlights of which included the year nine girls’ hockey team winning the county league title and the year nine boys winning both fixtures on a tour to Holland.
Year Six Sportsman of the Year was Mason Taylor and Sportswoman of the Year Katie Fell.
Footballers of the Year were Olivia Stewart and Jack Barker.
Athletics awards were handed out to Ethan Irving, Stewart Besford, Alexis Waite, Ellie Morris, Adam Swalwell and Taylor Glover.
Basketballer of the Year went to Thomas Snaith and Tennis Players of the Year were named as Oliver Lorraine and Rachel Bate.
Bede’s Cricketer of the Year was Greg Thompson and Rounders Players of the Year were Elisha Pittam, Phoebe Harrison, Annie Raine and Abby Cooke.
Chosen as Netball Players of the Year were Evie Charlton, Kelly Derbyshire, Eva Wellington, Katelyn Wilshire, Grace Brown, Holly Robinson, Olivia Barker, Kiera Raine, Olivia Edwards, Ellie Burt and Chloe Todd.
Named as Hockey Players of the Year were Luke Parker, Jasmine Moody, Bridget Wood, Jayci Barclay, Emily Foster, Ellie O’Brien, Emily Rose, Jessica Bate, Hollie Hart, Lauren Gannie, Brooke McGowan and Kennedie Elliott.
Rugby Players of the Year were Felix Halsius, Grace Hammond, Mason Saunderson, Samuel Bussey, Finlay Scott, Alex Robinson, Coby Allen, Ben Anderson, Andrew Thornton, Tyler Frost, Liam Hayes, and Luke Short.