Birkmyre and Swindells among District winners (From Ledbury Reporter)

Birkmyre and Swindells among District winners

11:30am Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Sport

OUTSTANDING achievement and commitment over the past 12 months was recognised at Malvern College .

The Malvern Hills District Sports Awards evening was attended by more than 150 people.

Twelve accolades were presented, including a special recognition award in memory of Malvern Town Wanderers volunteer Samantha Crumplin, who died of cancer in March.

Senior male sports personality of the year was 72-yearold Malvern Joggers runner Barry Swindells, who won the veterans’ 70 800 metres and 1,500m at the British Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships last year.

The senior female sports personality was cyclist Janet Birkmyre, who was crowned world masters track champion for the fifth time. She also scooped the European and national titles for the third time. The runners-up for the respective accolades were Greg Fitzpatrick from Malvern Cycle Sport and Joggers’ Emma Gooderham.

Malvern Hills District Council organised the event which was compered by BBC Hereford and Worcester’s Dave Bradley.

There was entertainment as well as inspirational key note speeches from Richard Brown, of the Joanna Brown Trust, and England canoeist Callie-Ann Halliday.

Richard Brown said: “It’s great to see so much talent within the Malvern Hills district and it makes the trust so proud to see how much progress our talented athletes have made over the 12 months. “Callie-Ann is a fine example of this and for her to now be a key note speaker at the awards speaks volumes.”

The unsung hero award went to Upton-upon-Severn Rugby Club’s Ray Gidley, who has committed his life to local sport.

Gidley was a driving force in the club’s establishment in 1981 and then future development, despite battling a brain tumour that struck in April 2011.

He hosted a festival of rugby at the club this year.

The runner-up was Welland Juniors Football Club’s Liam Pickering.

OTHER AWARDS Junior male sports personality of the year: Joshua Brooks (Malvern Cycle Sport); runner-up: Kieran Young (Sean Eireann McMahon Academy of Irish Dance).

Junior female sports personality of the year: Lucy Walton (The Worcestershire Golf Club); runners-up: Anna Young (Manor Park Squash Club), Callie-Ann Halliday (Worcester Canoe Club). Coach of the year: Jodie Williams (Welland Juniors Football Club); runner-up: Mark Saysell (The Chase School).

Young volunteer of the year: Sophie Witherford (Dyson Perrins Academy); runner-up: Pippa Bond (Tenbury High).

Junior team of the year: Chase under 18s tennis team; runner-up: Malvern Rugby Club under 15s. Club of the year: Malvern Joggers; runner-up: Leigh and Bransford Badgers Football Club. Volunteer of the year: Danny Wren (Newtown Sports Junior Football Club); runner-up: Jack French (Sport Inspired Programme). Be Active Award: Jane Garner (Whiteacres Medical Centre); runner-up: Malvern Joggers J’nrs.