Night for winners at sports awards
STOCKPORT’S athletes, clubs and volunteers were recognised for their hard work and dedication at the Sport Stockport Sports Awards at Houldsworth Golf Club in Reddish.
The winners of nine awards were announced by host Dominic McGuinness of TalkSport at the annual dinner.
Sports from football to swimming, hockey to softball and weight lifting to martial arts were represented and athletes, families, supporters and members of Sport Stockport, Life Leisure and Stockport council took part in a question and answer session with Great Britain and Olympic swimming coach Sean Kelly.
Lizzie Harris from Stockport Metro Swimming Club, who has won five British national titles, was named Fred Perry Sports Personality of the Year. Meanwhile, Becky Ellis, a basketball player who is on the England and Great Britain Pathway, was named Young Achiever of the Year, and rhythmic gymnast Sophie Forsyth became Disabled Athlete of the Year.
Outstanding volunteers were also showcased, with Richard Gregg, chairman of the Stockport Metro Junior League, named Volunteer of the Year.
Since the football league began in 1981, Richard has dedicated his time to organising fixtures, negotiating venue hire and organising competitions and trips abroad.
The Changing Lifestyle Recognition award was presented to Laura Howell, who took part in exercise classes to drop from 14 stone 2 after the birth of her second child to 10 stone.
Club of the Year went to Stockport Metro swimming club, which has more than 350 swimmers aged seven to 28, while the 2018 Sir Stanley Unsung Hero Award was given to football referee Rod Pimlott.
Ian Travis, who has been coaching at Stockport Basketball Club for 15 years, won Coach of the Year, while Neville Road Junior School was recognised for its high quality PE lessons and range of competitive opportunities, winning the School Commitment to PE and Sport Award.
John Hargreaves, chairman of Sport Stockport, said: “It is important that local athletes are recognised for their fantastic achievements and the annual sports dinner is an ideal event to do this. It is envisaged the event will continue to go from strength to strength, enabling us to continue to encourage both a grassroots and world class mentality to sport in Stockport.”