TALENTED young sports men and women have been recognised at an awards night to celebrate sporting success.
More than 200 athletes, representing 17 sporting teams at Haughton Academy, Darlington, part of the Education Village Academy Trust, were in the running to win recognition at the school’s annual sports awards celebration.
Students were presented with certificates and trophies for both effort and achievement by special guest speaker and double Paralympic judo medallist Ian Rose.
Former World Champion Ian, who represented Team GB at five Paralympic games and took part in the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics, urged pupils to see what they could achieve by just having a go.
“I contracted eye cancer as a baby, losing my left eye and most of the sight in my right eye,” said Ian. “At school I was bullied for my disability and my self-esteem was very low.
“My dad, a professional wrestler, tried to get me interested in sport, to help boost my confidence, but I just thought that I couldn’t do anything. He asked me how did I know you couldn’t do something if I didn’t give it a go?”
Enrolling in a local judo club, Ian made friends, the bullying stopped and his new found-confidence gave him the will to push himself and excel in his sport.
“I achieved everything just by trying something new, by listening to people, picking myself up and dusting myself down when things went wrong,” Ian said. “So listen, train, be resilient, have a go and just see what you can achieve.”
Alongside individual awards for attitude and most improved, trophies were presented for sports leadership, academic achievement in GCSE PE and for the overall team of the year which was awarded to the boys Year 8 Volleyball squad.
Summing up the evening, culture for learning lead and PE teacher Liam Taylor said: “It has been an incredible night seeing all of our young sports men and women honoured for their achievements.
“Our PE department works very hard to help them achieve but it’s nothing without our students. All we ask is that they give us 100 per cent and that is what each and everyone one of them has done.”
Year 7 female athlete of the year Loulou Beattie, 12, of Darlington, added: “It has been really good to be recognised for all the hard work we put in to our sports.”
Year 7 winners:
Team Player of the Year – Shaneece Mclean / Harrison Scott
Good Sporting Attitude – Loulou Beattie / Sami Ali
Effort in PE Lessons – Charleigh Reed / Robbie Dybell
Achievement in PE Lessons – Chloe Goodwin/ Tilly Snowball /Jay Lindsley
Football Player of the Year – Ebony Greenhalgh / Callum Hutchison
Football Most Improved player – Dylan Bensley
Athlete of the Year – Loulou Beattie / Robbie Dybell
Cross Country Runner of the Year – Eleanor Kay / Callum Hutchison
Swimmer of the Year – Charleigh Reed / Jay Lindsley
Most Improved Swimmer – Tia Hinds / Ryan Hodgson
Swimming: Most Effort – Emily Bell / Kennedy Frisk /
Dancer of the Year – Zara Lowe
Most Improved Dancer – Carys Davies
Dodgeballer of the Year – Carys Davies
Rugby Player of the Year – Jessica Dunlop / Samuel Craig
Year 8 winners:
Team Player of the Year – Amie Atkinson / Jack Middleton
Good Sporting Attitude – Katie Kaewbuakan / William Watt
Effort in PE Lessons – Stephanie Smith / Ryan Taylor
Achievement in PE Lessons – Jorja Stewart / Joel Sykes
Football Player of the Year – Ruby Yousef / Kenseal Toft
Football’s Most Improved Player –Andrew Morton
Athlete of the Year – Mia Weatherill / Nathan Dybell
Swimmer of the Year – Jorja Stewart / William Watt
Most Improved Swimmer – Benjamin Rodker
Swimming Most Effort – Kane Lyonette
Badminton Player of the Year – Louisa Beal
Most Improved Badminton Player – Fern Crang
Cross country runner of the year – Jessica Townsend / William Watt
Most improved attitude to learning – Mia Ellerby
Year 9 winners:
Team Player of the Year – Millie Garnett / Charlie Walker
Good Sporting Attitude – Ellie Davison / James Morton
Effort in PE Lesson – Sophie Davison / Jack Jenkinson
Cross Country Runner of the Year – Grace Mansfield
Football Player of the Year – Charlie Walker
Football’s Most Improved – Adam Todd
Athlete of the Year – Megan Allen / Charlie Walker
Most Improved Athlete – Fahey Underwood/ Stuart Harnott
Swimmer of the Year – Hannah Taylor
Most Improved Swimmer – Amelia Calvert
Swimming: Most Effort – Abigail Jones
Badminton Player of the Year – Hannah Stanley/ Josh Campbell
Badminton Most Improved – Amber Crossley / Jack Jenkinson
Academic Achievement – Megan Allen / Jack Jenkinson
Academic Effort – Sarah Rainsford / Ben Harle
Most Improved Attitude to Learning – Jack Walker
Young Sports Leader – Sophie Hunter/ James Morton
Year 10 winners:
Team Player – Yasmine Baines/ Taylor Hutchinson
Good Sporting Attitude – Mazie Blythe / Taylor Hutchinson
Effort in PE Lessons – Rosie Sandwick / Nathan Lomas
Most Improved Attitude to Learning – Ellie Armstrong / Jamie Wells
Young Sports Leader- Arizona Rutter
Footballer of the Year – Arizona Rutter / Kieran Briddon
Most improved Football – Josh Brown
Academic Effort – Breyanna Webster, Jayden Wilton
Netballer of the Year- Alana Milne
Most improved Netballer- Jessica Mansfield
Badminton Player of the Year – Jasmine Banner
Most Improved Badminton Player – Annalise Page
Dodgeballer of the Year – Laureen Niquet
Trampoliner of the Year – Rosie Sandick
Cross country Runner of the Year – Rosie Sandick
Athlete of the Year – Megan Twist
Year 11 winners:
Team Player of the Year – Chloe Hutchinson
Good Sporting Attitude – Bethany Higgins
Effort in PE Lessons – Millie Toulson
Academic Achievement – Chloe Hutchinson
Academic Effort – Tia Hans
Most Improved Attitude to Learning – Maisy Sunter
Young Sports Leader- Tia Hans
Footballer of the Year – Lottie Hall
Cross Country Runner of the Year – Natalie Burnside
Most Improved Netballer – Emily Shipton
Team of the Year
Team of the Year – Year 8 Volleyball