Celebrating success – city sports awards 2014

The 2014 City Sports & Physical Activity Awards ceremony took place last night (22/10) at the Royal Pavilion where this year’s winners were announced.

The awards are organised by Brighton & Hove City Councils’ Sports Development Team to celebrate local people making a difference to sport and active pursuits in the city. The nominees included sports coaches, teachers and volunteers delivering a wide range of sporting activities across the city.

The winners were invited to the historic Royal Pavilion on Wednesday 22 October to hear the full results. Each winner’s story was captured in a short pre-recorded film showing the reasons they beat the rest to top place. The mini-films were screened in the Music Room and can be seen online at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sportsawards

Cllr Geoffrey Bowden, Chair of the Economic Development and Culture Committee, said: “The annual City Sports and Physical Activity Awards showcase inspirational stories of success and dedication across Brighton & Hove. The awards give a fascinating insight into the valuable contribution by exceptional people working in our city, often in a voluntary role, to provide a wide range of sport and activities. The winners and the runners up are to be congratulated and praised for all they have achieved.”

Mytime Active Participation Award Sound Tennis Sussex

Sport/PE Teacher of the Year Stephen Feeney

‘Freedom Leisure’ Sports School of the Year Goldstone Primary School

Volunteer of the Year Reg Hook

‘SeeThat’ Team of the Year Sussex Girls U12s Tennis Team

Coach/Instructor of the Year Jon Bigg

TAKEPART Club of the Year Brighton City Table Tennis Club

Young Sports Personality of the Year Joel Thompson

Sport & Physical Activity Champion of the Year Ben Sherratt

Players from Sound Tennis Sussex, a tennis group for people with visual impairment or sight loss, received the first award of the evening. Christine Laurence, co-founder of the group, said: “The game we play is adapted from tennis and allows players to hear where the ball is moving. There’s really not much sport available for people with sight loss and our group has been very popular. People are so enthusiastic about taking part. It’s not just a game, people are fitter and more sociable by meeting to play tennis together. This award is recognition of what we’ve achieved. It’s fantastic for us and we’re very proud.” 

To see full details of winners and highly commended runners up, please visit: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/citysportsawards

Freedom Leisure (www.freedom-leisure.co.uk), mytimeactive (www.mytimeactive.co.uk), SeeThat Media (www.seethat.co.uk) and Brighton & Hove Independent (www.brightonandhoveindependent.co.uk) are sponsors of the 2014 Sports Awards