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The next Sports Recognition Awards will be held on Monday 2nd December 2024. For information of our previous event, see below.

Sports Recognition Awards December 2024

 

This year’s Awards are being held on Monday 2nd December once again at the Civic Centre.

Do you know a person, a team or a club deserving recognition for their sporting achievements this past twelve months? Maybe a relative or a neighbour? If you are involved in sport in any way perhaps you are aware of an individual or a team or a club that ought to be considered? If so, please consider making a nomination.

The hunt is now on to find Mansfield’s next big sporting stars to follow in the footsteps of local sport heroes, Rebecca Adlington, Ollie Hynd, Sam Hynd, Charlotte Henshaw, Ben & Tom Birchall, Elliot Clogg, and the many others who have represented Mansfield nationally and internationally winning world titles and Commonwealth and Olympic medals.

The Armchair Club, with the support of More Leisure Community Trust and the News Journal is asking for nominations for this year’s Mansfield Sports Recognition Awards.

The deadline for nominations is 5.00pm on Friday 3rd November – just over 2 weeks away, so please submit your nominations asap!

The awards are intended to recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements by individual sports people, coaches, volunteers, teams, and clubs from our community between 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023. Nominations are invited for ten categories:

• Junior team of the year
• Junior sportsperson of the year
• Junior Sports Leader of the year
• Junior disabled sportsperson of the year
• Club of the year
• Disabled sportsperson of the year
• Sportsperson of the year
• Coach of the year
• Team of the year
• Volunteer of the year (this also includes referees, officials, administrators etc.)

 

Further information and a nomination form to download are available here or by calling the Armchair Club on 07873 026009.

Nominations for this year’s awards are only being accepted by e-mail with a scanned or photographed application form and must include a photograph of the nominee, and preferably a 30/45 second video of the nominee in sporting action. Postal applications are not being accepted.

Nominees must either live (or have lived) or pursue their sport within the District of Mansfield.

Sportingly yours,

Geoff Waller, Chris Adkin, Stewart Rickersey, Andrew Saunders, Martyn Knox, John Morley, Zac Coupe, Gary Jordan, Emma Dallman and Rachael Richardson

Armchair Club Members

email: stewart@rickersey.net

Below are details from the 2014 event:- Monday 8th December 2014

Mansfield celebrates its sporting heroes

Mansfield celebrated another great year for sport at the 2014 Sports Recognition Awards on Monday night (8 December).

The annual ceremony, organised by Mansfield District Council in association with The Armchair Club, the Chad and supported by the Schools Advisory Service, recognised the District’s sporting greats, including the best teams, coaches, volunteers, sportsmen and sportswomen. The guest speaker was Bryan Steel, former Olympic silver and bronze medal winning cyclist.

Staged at the John Fretwell Sporting Complex, Sookholme, the awards attracted a record 57 nominations across 11 categories.

There were also two additional awards; the Mayor’s Special Achievement Award, which recognises the work of an individual in promoting sport within the District and the Ian Bagshaw Memorial Award in memory of Water Meadows manager Ian Bagshaw, who lost his life to leukaemia in May this year, aged 57.

The winners are:

Coach of the year – Glenn Smith (swimming)

Glenn had another outstanding year in 2014, coaching Ollie Hynd to his first Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in the SM8 200m Individual Medley in Glasgow and helping him to retain his European title at the IPC European championships. Glenn also coached Charlotte Henshaw, who retained her number one world ranking for the Women’s SB6 100m Breaststroke. Glenn is a senior coach for the British Swimming and UK Sport ‘Para to Rio’ coaching hub.

 

Volunteer of the Year – Bob Truswell (rugby)

Bob set up the Tag Academy at Mansfield Rugby club, which educates coaches and parents and creates links with local schools. He is a tireless club volunteer, who has been at the forefront of setting up a structured and skills focused coaching environment and encouraging more parents to get involved.

 

Junior Sportsperson of the Year Under 15 – Lisette Westwater (martial arts)

2014 has been a phenomenal year for Lisette. Selected for the Great Britain Martial Arts team, she was crowned world champion at the WUMA (World United Martial Arts Federation) world championships in Geneva.  Lisette trains in disciplines such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Sparring Weapons and Leadership and is aiming to compete in the Olympics.

 

 

Junior Sportsperson of the Year 15 to 17 years – Beth Mortiboy (athletics)

Beth has had a great season, becoming the Under 20 Women’s Midland triple jump champion with a jump of 11m 55cm. She also finished 6^th in the English Schools competition.

Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year – Ben Foulston (swimming)

Ben has had a successful season being a multi medallist in the junior DSE championships, qualifying for senior finals at the ASA Youth championships and taking bronze in the MC 100m Freestyle event at the Sainsbury’s  School Games in September. He has also been selected for the Para-World Class Podium Potential Programme.

 

The Mayor’s Special Achievement Award – Maureen Arnold (swimming)

Maureen has represented her country at both swimming and athletics. In 1954, she came sixth in the final of the 110 yards backstroke the British Empire games (Commonwealth games) in Canada. She went on to become a swimming teacher and coached numerous national and international swimmers, including all three Adlington girls. Maureen was also a formidable discus thrower and represented Great Britain in  1962. Now aged 80, she still teaches swimming and attends her local gym. 

Junior Sportsleader of the year – Matthew Hall (The Manor Academy)

Matthew has been engaged in Sports Leadership at a district level for two years. Through the Mansfield Leadership Academy, he has become a mentor and participant of the Football Specific programme. He has also been selected to represent the district as a member of the Youth Advisory Group with the Nottinghamshire FA. His commitment and involvement have always been outstanding.

 

Junior team of the year – Samworth Church Academy Year 8 football team

Samworth Church Academy won the County Schools Year 8 championship and the Mansfield District cup in the same season. Their success is due to the commitment, hard work and team spirit shown both in training and on match days.

 

Team of the year – Sherwood Colliery Swimming Club

The club achieved back to back Premier Division championship wins in the Nottinghamshire Sports Centre League. They have also booked a place in the East Midlands Premier Division Regional B Final of the country’s most prestigious competition, the National Arena swimming league. In addition, the squad has won three senior champion titles in a variety of competitions.

 

Club of the year – Mansfield Rugby Union Football Club

A true amateur side competing in semi-professional leagues, the club has been a beacon for community sport. The club plays in the Midlands One (East) league, which places it in the top 150 out of almost 2,000 clubs in the country. It has also successfully created a Tag Rugby Academy for under 7s and under 8s, as well as a girls’ team for under 13s.

 

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year – Oliver Hynd (swimming)

Another outstanding year for Ollie, who is now the holder of all four major championship titles (Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth) in the SM8 200m Individual Medley. He retained his IPC European title in Eindhoven, where he also took the Gold Medal in the S8 400m Freestyle, as well as the Relay Silver Medal in the 34 point Men’s 4x100m Medley team.

 

Sportsperson of the year – Stephen Lisgo (athletics)

Stephen competed for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in the 3,000m steeplechase, finishing eighth. His achievements also include a win at a European Permit Invitational meeting in Belgium and selection as a travelling reserve for GB at the European Team competition held in Germany. Unlike his peers, who benefit from sponsorship, Stephen has to work full-time.

 

Ian Bagshaw Memorial Award – Maureen Shaw (swimming)

Maureen has worked tirelessly both for the Nova Centurion Club and the Mansfield Swimming Club, which she currently chairs. She communicates well at all levels and is highly motivated. She is one of Mansfield’s unsung heroes.


Cllr Philip Shields, Portfolio Holder for the Environment at Mansfield District Council, said: “These awards demonstrate yet again the amazing sporting talent we have in the district. Our sportsmen and sportswomen are competing on a local, national and international level, putting Mansfield on the map. We should be extremely proud of our athletes, teams, coaches and volunteers, who have made 2014 such an incredible year.”

 

Below are details from the 2013 event:-

Mansfield’s Sporting Heroes Celebrated
at the Mansfield Sports Recognition Awards 2013

Another incredible year for Mansfield sport was celebrated at the 2013 Mansfield Sports Recognition Awards (Monday 9 December).

The annual ceremony, organised by Mansfield District Council in association with The Armchair Club and the Chad, recognised the District’s best teams, coaches, volunteers, sportsmen and sportswomen. Awards were presented in 11 categories at the ceremony at John Fretwell Sporting Complex, Sookholme, Mansfield.

A range of sports were featured, including cycling, rugby, taekwondo, athletics, hockey, powerlifting and swimming.

Powerlifter Phil Beniston was named Sportsperson of the Year after an incredible 12 months in which he won the World Powerlifting Federation World Championships in powerlifting, bench press and deadlift. He also broke 17 world records in the process. He defended his British bench press crown and won the powerlifting and bench press titles at the European Championships in Vienna. He plans to retire next year after 27 years to concentrate on coaching and refereeing.

Club of the Year was North Notts Hockey Club, which is going from strength to strength and has tripled its membership numbers and had four teams gain promotion this year.

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year went to Oliver Hynd for the second year in a row. It follows another outstanding year culminating in double gold medals at the International Paralympic Committee World Championships in Montreal, Canada, in August 2013. He became World Champion in the Men’s SM8 Category 200m Individual Medley in a new European record and now in this event holds the Paralympic, World and European titles. He also stormed to an emphatic gold medal in the Men’s S8 Category 400m Freestyle. He also took an outstanding bronze medal in the Men’s S8 Category 100m backstroke, twice lowering the British record in the heats and final. In just two years, Ollie has taken six medals at Paralympic and World level, three of them gold – an outstanding achievement considering Ollie recently only turned 18-years-old.

Team of the Year went to Mansfield Harriers and Athletics Club’s Senior Men’s Track and Field Team who secured promotion to Division 3 of the British Athletics League in what has arguably been the most challenging year in the club’s history.

Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Graeme Waters, a long-standing member, coach and volunteer of Forest Town Aces cycling club and for his tireless work to fix and refurbish the Forest Town Cycle Track.

The Junior Sportsperson of the Year award went to Megan Armson who won the World Irish Dance Association U12s World Championships, while Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year went to Harry Poxon, who won three medals at his first Special Olympics Athletics meet in June.

Junior Sportsleader of the Year was won by Jade Clarke and Junior Team of the Year went to Samworth Year 7 Boys’ Rugby Team, who this year were District and County champions.

Glenn Smith was awarded Coach of the Year after another outstanding year coaching swimmer Ollie Hynd to win two golds and one bronze medal. Glenn also coached Charlotte Henshaw to a bronze medal, which was Charlotte’s 6th major championship medal since 2009. Glenn was part of the Great Britain coaching staff in Montreal and has been a member of the coaching team since 2010. Glenn also coached Oliver Hempsall to a fantastic gold medal in the Male Youth 4x100m Freestyle team at this year’s ASA National Youth Championships, while also making two individual finals as well.

The Mayor’s Special Achievement Award went to Adrian Tranter for his outstanding contribution to taekwondo in Mansfield and nationally. As well as running a hugely successful taekwondo club in Mansfield for over 14 years, he is a key member of the European Taekwondo Union Executive Council and has also been the head of the Great Britain team at world-level events including the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. He has trained, guided, supported and mentored multiple national champions.

The Executive Mayor of Mansfield Tony Egginton said: “These awards are a fitting way of ending an incredible year of sport for Mansfield. The list of nominations and winners demonstrates the exceptional sporting talent we have.

“Once again Mansfield has been put on the sporting map at a regional, national and international level. We should be extremely proud of our athletes, coaches and volunteers, who are a huge inspiration to us all.”

All 2013 winners are listed below:

Award 1 – Junior Team of the Year
Sponsored by S P Fabrications
Samworth Year 7 Boys’ Rugby Team

Award 2 – Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Sponsored by Hopkins Solicitors
Megan Armson – Irish Dance

Award 3 – Junior Sportsleader of the Year
Sponsored by T.I.S Mansfield
Jade Clarke

Award 4 – Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Sponsored by John Sankey Estate Agents
Harry Poxon (Multi Sports)

Award 5 – Team of the Year
Sponsored by Adkin Sinclair
Mansfield Harriers and Athletics Club – Senior Men’s Track and Field Team

Award 6 – Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Sponsored by Tyler Bros (Sutton in Ashfield) Ltd
Oliver Hynd (Swimming)

Award 7 – Coach of the Year
Sponsored by Mike Collins & Partners
Glenn Smith (Swimming)

Award 8  Volunteer of the Year
Sponsored by Pinders
Graeme Waters (Forest Town Aces)

Award 9 – Club of the Year
Sponsored by Assured Money Solutions
North Notts Hockey Club

Award 10 – Executive Mayor’s Special Achievement Award
Sponsored by The Linney Group
Adrian Tranter (Taekwondo)

Award 11 – Sportsperson of the Year
Sponsored by The Schools Advisory Service
Phil Beniston (Powerlifting)

Mansfield Sports Recognition Award Winners 2013

The Armchair Club would like to thank Mark Shardlow, BBC East Midlands TV Sports Editor, who generously gave up his time to compare the evening.

 Sophie Wells, MBE Paralymic World & European Gold Medallist being interviewed by Mark Shardlow

The Armchair Club would like to thank Ken Brown and Martin Cook, of Mansfield District Council for all their help in organising this event.