2017 Active York Sports Awards: Meet the finalists

The stars and unsung heroes of the city’s sporting scene will be celebrated at the fourth annual Active York Sports Awards at the University of York on Thursday, March 30.

The awards are organised by Active York, the city’s sport and active leisure partnership which is working to encourage people to be more active more often, and backed by The Press.

The judging panel have drawn up shortlists from a host of nominations and today we run the rule over the finalists.

Young Sportsman of the Year

Alex Botterill (City of York Athletic Club)

The 17-year-old achieved a unique feat in ending 2016 as Yorkshire Youths 800 metre champion, North Yorkshire Schools Intermediate 400m champion, English Schools Intermediate 800m champion, Great Britain Home International Schools 800m champion, North of England Youths 800m champion, England Youths 800m champion and UK Schools Games 800m champion.

Charlie Thornton (Fulford Golf Club)

Charlie, now 18, won the 2016 England Golf Boys Order of Merit. He reached the last eight of the British Boys Championships at Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland, finished eighth in the Carris Trophy, the England Boys Championship (Under-18s), was seventh in the Irish Boys Championship, 11th in the McEvoy Trophy and 12th in the Fairhaven Trophy. Also represented Yorkshire Boys and Mens teams, and won Portuguese Intercollegiate Open by seven shots.

Luke Brownlee (City of York Hockey Club)

Following England Hockey’s Futures Cup, 17-year-old goalkeeper Luke was selected to join the England Under-16 training group and represented England U16s at the European Four Nations Tournament, starring in a shoot-out win against the Netherlands. Well established as City of York’s first-team goalkeeper, Luke has now been selected to train with the England U18s following selection at this year’s Futures Cup.

Young Sportswoman of the Year

Lucy Hadaway (City of York Athletic Club)

The 16-year-old won the English Schools long jump title with a personal best jump of 6.01m, before going on to represent England at the SIAB Home International competition and winning gold with a 6m jump. Earning a call-up for the North East at the School Games in Loughborough, she scooped a bronze medal. She defended her long jump title at the Yorkshire Championships, setting a new record of 5.89m, beating the previous record that had stood since 1977.

Tia Molesbury (York Kenshinkan Karate Club)

The 15-year-old started 2016 by representing England at the JKA European Championships in Serbia, finishing in the final eight. She won gold in the individual kata at the JKA England National Championships, while also taking bronze in team kata and silver for kumite. The head of JKA England awarded her the overall Best Female Junior trophy. She struck gold again at Open Karate Championships for fighting after defeating five experienced opponents.

Lucy Edmonds (York City Rowing Club)

The 17-year-old sculler represented her club at the highest domestic level in 2016 and also gained international honours with Great Britain. During the GB trials process for 2016, Lucy’s consistency earned her entry to the final trials and she was selected for the Coupe De La Jeunesse competition in Poland. Rowing in the quadruple scull, the women’s team lead boat, Lucy won a silver medal, helping GB win the women’s team event and the overall event.

Student Sportsperson of the Year

Rebecca Searby (Wentworth Netball Club/Goals Allowed Netball)

Rebecca is co-captain of Wentworth College netball team as well as an integral member of the Goals Allowed netball team. Playing for unbeaten Goals Allowed in the Powerplay league, Rebecca is the leading goalscorer with 103.

Mathew Tomlin (University of York Softball)

Mathew was selected for the GB Men’s Fastpitch Team at the European Championships in Italy last year and also won a silver medal with GB at the Softball World Cup in Florida. While studying at the University of York, he has set up a softball club which has provided opportunities in a new sport to more than 50 students.

Shelby Stephenson (University of York Underwater Hockey)

Shelby is captain of the University of York underwater hockey team, earning her recognition as a University of York sports scholar and Santander sports scholar. She has led the team to its highest-ever ranking at the student national championships, while also winning gold at a tournament in Oxford. Shelby is a GB international squad member.

Coach of the Year

Ian Thomson (University of York Women’s Rugby Union)

Ian has been coaching the University of York women’s rugby union team for the last two years and has been hailed for a contribution that has “had a huge impact on our club and has enabled us to grow and develop massively”. He now oversees a second team, with both sides reaching the quarter-finals of their cup competitions.

Scott Nicholls (Acomb Cricket Club)

Scott has coached junior teams at Acomb Cricket Club for the past five years and his crop of under-9s players achieved the remarkable feat of going through the season unbeaten. As junior co-ordinator, he is undertakes a range of duties behind the scenes to support the club’s young players.

Junior Roberti (York City Futsal Club)

Junior led York City Futsal Club to the National Futsal League Division Two title for the second consecutive year. In addition to the side’s on-field success, Junior has continued to develop the club as a whole, coaching futsal to more than 100 children a week from the age of eight to 16.

Volunteer of the Year

Barry Cornforth (Joseph Rowntree School disability sports)

Barry works tirelessly to support students with autism, seeking funding, tuition and space to promote disability sports and inclusion for all students. He has dedicated hours of his own time running sessions and supporting students in boccia, panathlon, table cricket, disability cycling, disability tennis and table tennis.

St Wilfrid’s netball mums (St Wilfrid’s Primary School netball)

A group of dedicated mums have been running the St Wilfrid’s Primary School netball team for the last two years, helping youngsters get more active and developing enthusiasm for netball. Now most of the school’s Year 5 and 6 children are playing the sport.

Richard Smith (Run York, Sweat Equity)

Richard has been hailed as an “amazing” volunteer. Over the last three years, he has brought together Run York, Sweat Equity and City of York Athletic Club in a unique partnership enabling runners of all abilities to have a structured and supportive environment in which to develop.

Active Primary School

Westfield Primary School

The school has launched HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) and continues to promote healthy active lifestyles. The School Council have maintained the Fresh Fruit Friday initiative and after school activities have progressed to include family zumba classes. As well as championing girls’ health and fitness, the school has arranged private swimming lessons for children in Year 3 and Year 4.

Ralph Butterfield Primary School

Ralph Butterfield has been lauded as pro-active in introducing sport and physical fitness to all 323 pupils, regardless of ability. Each class from Reception to Year 6 has two PE lessons a week and there are many extra curricular sport clubs.

Acomb Primary School

Sport and activity have made a big impact on the school environment through the involvement of pupils, teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers. More and more pupils are said to be loving sport and gaining so much from it. Setting up a sports council has increased student awareness and participation, and the number of school team sports available has been increased.

Youth Group Provider

York RUFC Youth Section

The Youth Section, based at Shipton Road, has over 360 registered players, with a team at every age group from five to 18 years old. The youth section also reaches out to schools in the area and regularly hosts school tournaments where youngsters are introduced to the game.

Acomb Cricket Club Junior Foxes

The Junior Foxes provides cricket coaching for more than 100 children ranging from five to 16 years. Last season Acomb fielded three teams at under-9 level, two at under-11, two at under-13 and two at under-15, as well as a girl’s team.

Door 84 Youth Space

Door 84 is a unique youth club and a registered charity, offering children and young people aged eight to 25 a welcoming and stimulating environment for personal and social development. They provide a wide range of engaging and developmental activities to suit all tastes, interests and abilities. They have 780 registered young people, and provide three open access youth sessions per week, a 16-plus group, a boy’s group and a girl’s group, with around 90 attendees per week.

Team/Club of the Year

York RUFC Colts

York Colts put together an extremely successful run in 2016, finishing unbeaten in winning the Yorkshire Division One League before being crowned North of England Champions, beating Wharfedale 17-10 in the final. That earned them a place on the National stage, where they beat Olney from the Midlands 21-5 in the semi-finals. In the final, they had the National title snatched from their grasp in the final 90 seconds by Worthing.

City of York Hockey Club Under-10s girls

The Under-10s had an outstanding season, entering three teams in the Yorkshire Youth Hockey League. The A team dominated both the Yorkshire Youth Hockey League and the In-2-Hockey Cup, playing 23 games, winning 22 and drawing the other. They scored more than 50 goals and conceded only two.The newly-formed C team gained promotion into division five in their first round of games, while the B team gained promotion to the top division.

York Cricket Club Under-13s

The Under-13s celebrated unprecedented success in 2016, winning a quadruple of district trophies – the A Team League, the District Championship, the Plate Shield (after their only defeat locally in the cup) and finally the Six-A-Side. Their local success was eclipsed in the County and then the National ECB Knockout. They beat Barnsley to be crowned Yorkshire County champions and went on to win the North of England title before bowing out in the semi-finals of the National competition.

Active In York

Walk With York Walking Football

Walking football sessions have been held in York for the last 18 months and the three sessions a week are attended by around 50 people, both men and women. The health benefits are immense, but players also appreciate the social aspect of the sessions.

York Tandem Club

The club was launched in April 201 5 to enable local people with a disability to enjoy riding a bike. A team of volunteer front riders give their time to help disabled members enjoy routes around the city and beyond. By the end of 2016, the club had organised and delivered 25 rides, supporting 15 people with a disability.

All Star Football Academy

The Academy delivers football coaching to children from three years of age, helping youngsters to improve speed, co-ordination and fitness, learn about team work, and understand discipline. One parent said the Academy has “won the hearts of the children and the gratitude from parents for the inspiration and motivation they deliver”.

Outstanding Contribution

Spen Allison (rugby league)

Spen has been actively involved in amateur rugby league for more than 60 years. His playing days started at school in the 1950s and he has nurtured countless local players over the years in his various roles. He is the current president of BARLA, the amateur game’s governing body, and is a hugely respected figure in the game.

Pete Glanville (football)

Pete has been goalkeeper coach for the University of York Association Football Club for more than 25 years. Having a wealth of experience in football at a high level, including with York City’s youth team, he has demonstrated immense commitment and dedication to the university club and its players.

Nick Fitton (hockey)

Nick has been coaching in the City of York Hockey Club Junior Section for 16 years and in recent times there has been a dramatic increase in numbers, with more than 100 under-10s training on Friday evenings. In addition, Nick leads Senior Section ladies’ club training every Tuesday throughout the hockey season. He also regularly takes sessions in primary schools.

Awards will also be presented for Active Secondary School, Disabled Sportsperson of the Year, Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year and Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year.

The shortlisted nominees in each category are invited to attend the Active York Sports Awards ceremony at the University of York’s Roger Kirk Centre on Thursday, March 30.

Further information about the awards is available by visiting the website www.activeyork.co.uk

The awards night is open to all and tickets can now be booked by emailing info@thirstcommunications.co.uk or by phoning 07774 408346.