Tynedale Sports Awards 2008
Olympic Medalist Matt Wells
On Monday the 8th December 2008 the 34th Annual Tynedale Sports Council Awards attracted over 300 people who came to see Olympic Bronze Medalist Matt Wells present trophies and certificates to Tynedale’s most talented sports men and women. The event was once again sponsored by Tyne Valley Insurance and held in Hexham.
Awards were presented to clubs, teams and individuals, players, coaches and young leaders in a variety of sports from athletics, cricket, football and swimming to truck racing and endurance horse riding. Award recipients were aged between 10 and 80, demonstrating the diversity of the sports participants in Tynedale and their achievements
Tynedale rugby club dominated proceedings by being named named club of the year, and the unstoppable first XV was named adult team of the year – as well as lifting the Tynedale Trophy for the being the best of the best. One of the most moving parts of the evening was the minute’s applause to honour the memory of Ali Johnson, which was enthusiastically observed.
There was double delight for 16-year-old Hannah Shotton, who not only won the young player -girl award as the best young endurance rider in the country, but was chosen as the recipient of the £500 Stan Calvert award to support her training programme. Last year’s winner, canonist Anna-Louise Glendinning wrote an account of how the award had inspired her and helped in her sport of canoeing.
Special awards were awarded to two individuals who have made an overwhelming contribution to sport in Tynedale. Tom Borthwick, Tynedale Rugby Club's inspirational coach not only headed the team’s promotion to National League Division Two, but steered Northumberland to victory over favourites Cornwall in the County Shield final at Twickenham. Tom was presented with a specially commissioned award. Finally Matt presented Pauline Higgins with a specially commissioned tribute to mark her massive contribution to rowing in Tynedale. Matt had special praise for Pauline as one of the key figures in his rise to the pinnacle of rowing.
Once the awards had all been distributed by Matt, it was time for him to become receiver, as he was presented with a specially commissioned memento of his Olympic success on behalf of the sports council.
The evening ended with a superb buffet laid on for all.
