2008 Cornwall Sports Awards

Well-deserved celebrations and tributes were paid to Cornwall’s sports volunteers at the 2008 Cornwall Sports Awards on Friday November 7 at Tregenna Castle.

Organised by the Cornwall Sports Partnership, the event was set up three years ago to thank those who dedicate their time and efforts to supporting our strong sports community.

13 awards were presented, in four separate categories, including: Coaching (sponsored by Truro College); Club (sponsored by Tony Pryce Sports); Officiating (sponsored by Miller Countrywide); and Volunteering (sponsored by Cornwall Centre for Volunteers). Presented with awards by representatives of the sponsors, the winners are as follows:

COACHING
Presented by Emma Adams of Truro College:
Male Coach of the Year – John Rhodes, Launceston Swimming Club
Female Coach of the Year – Eve Methven, Bude Junior Squash Club
Young Performers Coach of the Year – Kevin Cooke, Samurai Karate Club
Young Coach of the Year U25 – Tom Lyle, Launceston Badminton & Cricket Clubs

CLUB
Presented by Nick Perry of Tony Pryce Sports:
Adult Club of the Year – St Agnes Football Club
Junior Club of the Year – Truro Fencing Club
Club of the Year 2008 (chosen by text vote, in collaboration with Devon & Cornwall Media Group Newspapers) – St Agnes Football Club

OFFICIATING
Presented by Bruce Taylor of Miller Countrywide:
Official of the Year – Anita Gittons, Perranporth & St Agnes Football Clubs
Young Official of the Year – Paul Wilson, Callington School

VOLUNTEERING
Presented by Andy Brelsford of Cornwall Centre for Volunteers:
Lifetime Services to Sport – Milly Edwards, Roseland Gig Rowing Club
Community Volunteer of the Year – Lin Taylor, St Agnes Football Club
Community Volunteer of the Year U25 – Andrea Semmonds, Brannel Netball Club
Young Leader of the Year – Jordan White, Bude School

Special guests who spoke at the ceremony included Olympic Gold medal rower Ed Coode MBE, Olympic runner Jemma Simpson and Paralympic Bronze medal swimmer Matthew Whorwood.

Ed Coode MBE said: “It’s an absolute honour to be at this event and to celebrate the successes of sports clubs, coaches and volunteers throughout the county”.

In a special award presentation, Jemma Simpson presented Tony Lett of Cornwall Athletics Club with an England Athletics’ Gold Award, which he recently won at a national level for his services to coaching. And, the Cornish swimmers who attended the 2008 Beijing Olympics were presented with special awards by the Cornwall Amateur Swimming Association.

Cornwall Sports Awards organiser, Natasha Howard of the Cornwall Sports Partnership, says: “It’s wonderful to be able to formally thank all the people behind sport whose volunteering efforts so often go unrecognised. As we all know, without their help, sport in Cornwall would not be as strong as it is and may not even be possible.”