Published: 28/02/2009 00:00 -
Updated: 30/12/2009 02:48
Daily Web Sport
by Dave McLean
SPORTS performers young and old were among those picking up coveted awards at the tenth annual Sport Stafford Borough (SSB) awards on Friday night.
Sports awards A packed St Leonard's sports and social club saw 18-year-old 2012 Olympic cycle hope, Steven Hill collect the prestigious male Sports Performer of the Year trophy.
Meanwhile, the ladies equivalent went to Jane Christopher, now in her sixties, who has been a member of Walton Chasers Orienteering Club since the early 1980's.
During 2008, Hill, who has been a member of the British Cycling Olympic Development team for two years, achieved triple National Championship successes, taking gold in the individual sprint, the Keirin and the 1,000m time trial.
Hill, who moves to Manchester in June to become a full-time athlete, training with gold-medal winning Olympians such as Sir Chris Hoy and Jamie Staff, won silver in the team sprint and Keirin at the European Track Championships in Poland.
For Christopher, last year also proved a memorable one as she helped her club relay team to gold at the international Jan Kjellstrom competition and also took bronze in the two-day individual event. Not long after, she was crowned British champion for the second time in her career.
Not content with those successes, she went on to win her class in the National inter-club Compassport event and claimed the regional title. Such achievements earned her a ranking of 5th in Britain in the W65 class.
The sport of orienteering figured strongly on the evening, with Walton Chasers' Mark Stodgell collecting the most improved sports performer award after representing Great Britain in the mountain bike category of the sport.
A three-strong orienteering team from Oakridge Primary School in Stafford lifted the junior team performance of the year award. After less than two years competing, Sarah Bedford, Natalie Weston and Kathryn Smith won the British Schools Score Championship.
Three awards also went to the sport of cricket, with North Staffs and South Cheshire premier champions Moddershall CC winning the senior team of the year, Milford Hall's Mike Redfern (special contribution to sport), while England u15 and Moddershall CC youngster, Sam Kelsall was the under-18 sports performer prize.
Other awards went to Phil Reece (Stafford Town), coach of the year; Brian Townsend and Nigel Pepper (Brocton FC), special achievement award; Nikki Sims (boxing), Tony Bents award.
See Thursday's issue of the Staffordshire Newsletter for full report, pictures and reaction from Stafford Borough's big sporting occasion.
by Dave McLean
SPORTS performers young and old were among those picking up coveted awards at the tenth annual Sport Stafford Borough (SSB) awards on Friday night.
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Meanwhile, the ladies equivalent went to Jane Christopher, now in her sixties, who has been a member of Walton Chasers Orienteering Club since the early 1980's.
During 2008, Hill, who has been a member of the British Cycling Olympic Development team for two years, achieved triple National Championship successes, taking gold in the individual sprint, the Keirin and the 1,000m time trial.
Hill, who moves to Manchester in June to become a full-time athlete, training with gold-medal winning Olympians such as Sir Chris Hoy and Jamie Staff, won silver in the team sprint and Keirin at the European Track Championships in Poland.
For Christopher, last year also proved a memorable one as she helped her club relay team to gold at the international Jan Kjellstrom competition and also took bronze in the two-day individual event. Not long after, she was crowned British champion for the second time in her career.
Not content with those successes, she went on to win her class in the National inter-club Compassport event and claimed the regional title. Such achievements earned her a ranking of 5th in Britain in the W65 class.
The sport of orienteering figured strongly on the evening, with Walton Chasers' Mark Stodgell collecting the most improved sports performer award after representing Great Britain in the mountain bike category of the sport.
A three-strong orienteering team from Oakridge Primary School in Stafford lifted the junior team performance of the year award. After less than two years competing, Sarah Bedford, Natalie Weston and Kathryn Smith won the British Schools Score Championship.
Three awards also went to the sport of cricket, with North Staffs and South Cheshire premier champions Moddershall CC winning the senior team of the year, Milford Hall's Mike Redfern (special contribution to sport), while England u15 and Moddershall CC youngster, Sam Kelsall was the under-18 sports performer prize.
Other awards went to Phil Reece (Stafford Town), coach of the year; Brian Townsend and Nigel Pepper (Brocton FC), special achievement award; Nikki Sims (boxing), Tony Bents award.
See Thursday's issue of the Staffordshire Newsletter for full report, pictures and reaction from Stafford Borough's big sporting occasion.
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