Sports People of the Year

Our coaches and gymnasts were recognised for their outstanding contribution to Gymnastics, picking up some very impressive awards in 2011.

 

The clubs head coach, Deb Hows, was awarded ‘High Performance Coach of the Year 2011’, for the second year running. Whilst Junior British Champion, Laura Halford (15), picked up ‘Junior Sports person of the Year’, for her exceptional achievements. 

Athletes, sports clubs, volunteers and coaches across Wiltshire and Swindon were recognised at the Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards on September 22, and the sport of rhythmic gymnastics came out on top on the night with another Rhythmic Gymnast, Bath’s Frankie Fox being awarded Senior Sports Person of the Year.

The 2011 Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards was jointly hosted by Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Health Improvement Partnership, NHS Wiltshire, Wiltshire and Swindon Activity and Sports Partnership, Swindon Borough Council and Liquid Media Group. 

The prestigious event, hosted by former England rugby captain Phil de Glanville, saw performances from rhythmic gymnast Francesca Fox and Judo Champion and last year’s Young Sports Personality of the Year Jemima Duxberry, before the winners were announced.

Held at the City Hall in Salisbury, the event was also attended by 2004 Paralympics gold medallist in the 800 metres Danny Crates who presented the awards and said,  “Being an athlete takes so much commitment and hard work but you also need a strong network of coaches and clubs to help you reach your goals. This evening was a great way to recognise the hard work of so many people involved in sport in Wiltshire.”

Deb said of the achievements, “Of course I’m delighted and surprised to have won, especially as I won last year as well, I never imagined it could happen two years running.

However I’m even more pleased for Laura who fully deserves her award, for the hard and work and dedication she brings to the sport of Rhythmic Gymnastics. 

The icing on the cake is for the sport though, with me winning coach of the year, Laura Young Sports Person and Frankie winning the senior award, rhythmic gymnastics picked up three of the top awards on the night, so that’s the real winner.

By winning awards like this it helps raise the profile of the rhythmic discipline and in Swindon and Wiltshire the sport is now at an all time high, with more and more people beginning to realise what a beautiful and exciting sport it is. 

I’m very proud to be part of a club like Esprit, which has a great coaching team and really does help young people achieve their full potential. None more so than Laura, who is an exceptional athlete and wonderful roll model for aspiring young gymnasts”.