Wakefield District Sports Awards nominations

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THE sixth Wakefield District Sports Awards reaches its dramatic conclusion next Monday night at Castleford Civic Centre.

A record number of entries has made this year's list of nominations more diverse than ever before.

And almost every corner of the Wakefield Metropolitan District is represented.
Successful Wildcats coach John Kear will make the presentations.

MEN'S SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
1. Michael Barnes. Tumbler Michael Barnes was the anchorman for the Great Britain tumbling team crowned European Team Champions - the first time a western European team has achieved this feat. He won silver medals in two competitions in France, gold in Belgium and gold in the Ukraine. And he netted gold and silver at two UK-hosted internationals.
2. Lee Beachill. Lee is a three times British Squash champion, world no1 and Commonwealth Games gold medal winner. Lee has built on an outstanding junior career, and followed up his 2002 Commonwealth gold with bronze in the 2006 Games in Melbourne, Australia.
3. Gordon Long. Player/coach Gordon Long has been an integral part of Sharlston Rovers ARLFC's successes over the last two seasons. He has suffered serious injuries during that period, but bounced back once again last term to help Sharlston bring home three trophies.
4. James Willstrop. James has been one of the country's most consistent squash players for several years now. Currently he is world no2. He has also won team gold medals at the World and European Team Championships, and netted silver at the Commonwealth Games, Melbourne, earlier this year in the mixed doubles.
5. Les D'Arcy. Jack of all trades Les D'Arcy came up trumps again in the sporting arena for the umpteenth time with success at the World Masters Table Tennis competition. Les, 85, is the reigning World and European champion in his class and struck gold in the sport for the 12th time in Bremen, Germany.

WOMEN'S SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
1. Nora Pitchforth. Nora Pitchforth has made a little piece of Wakefield bowling history in her ten-year progression with Slazenger. Nora became third-team captain and led the team to promotion. Promotion to the second string coincided with back-to-back Frank Stephenson Trophy successes and after the topping the averages at the end of 2005 she gained promotion to the first team - the first time a lady bowler has represented Slazenger at first-team level in the league.
2. Vicky Bowering. Super shooter Vicky helped England to team gold at the World Championships in Australia. And she retained her 'double rise' title in the English and British Championships.
3. Lauren Siddall. Pontefract Squash Club's Lauren Siddall topped her year by representing England at the World and European Championships. She has represented England National Clubs on three occasions, and helped Pontefract Ladies secured national titles. Lauren, who joined the club as an eight-year-old, is a former British U17 champion, who in 2006 gained champions medals with the U19 Mixed National Club, Ladies National Club and British Universities. She will represent England in the World Championships.
4. Emily Freeman. Wakefield Harriers' super sprinter Emily Freeman has gained Great Britain selection in the last year in the Spar European Cup in Malaga which followed hot on the heels of her club record-breaking runs in the 200m, gained at the Northern Track and Field Championships. Highlight of her year (which came after the Sports Awards deadline) was silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the European Championships in Gothenberg, Sweden, in August.
5. Zara Hohn. Zippy Zara Hohn broke Wakefield District Harriers and Athletic Club's U20 100m sprint hurdles record this year - twice. Zohn was an integral part of the GB and Northern Ireland junior team at the Mannheim International in Germany. And the hurdlers efforts also gained her GB U23s selection for the World Games in Beijing.

JUNIOR MALE SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
1. Daniel Sowerby. Stanley Rangers Rugby League starlet Daniel turned his hand to Rugby Union with Sandal last season - and marked his code debut with 51 tries for the season. He played a key role in Sandal winning six national and regional festivals. The nine-year-old continued playing with Rangers and racked up 38 tries in only 19 games bringing his U8s and U9s total to 149 tries in just 12 months. He has also recently picked up the gloves to keep goal for Stanley United U9s.
2. Tom Marcon. White Rose Boxing Club hit man Tom Marcon has improved with every bout this year. Top of his list of achievements was victory over national title holder Dave Jopling in his home town of Scarborough. Two counts of eight in the second round and another in the third ensured victory for the Wakefield teenager.
3. Tom Burnell. Hot rod Tom Burnell landed a mammoth catch to book his place in the finals of the Browning Youth Masters - one of the country's top junior events. The Wakefield Angling Club intermediate booked his place with a haul of 60lb 7oz at Kestrel Lake, Thirsk.
4. Mitchel Lavin. Potential Olympic swimming sensation Mitchell Lavin is floating on air after coming away from the Yorkshire Championships - with eight golds and three silvers. The 12-year-old from Stanley has certainly made a bit of a splash after also making three 'national' times over the course of the championships.
5. Josh Hargreaves. 16-year-old sprint cyclist Josh Hargreaves is pedalling his way towards international stardom and could well be a candidate for the 2012 London Olympics. The track specialist has enjoyed success in both the UK and on the Continent.

JUNIOR FEMALE SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
1. Mikaela Harrison. West Yorkshire Track and Field Champion Mikaela gained selection for Yorkshire in the 200m and sprint relay. She was first in the Yorkshire heptathlon in 2005 and finished third in the UK rankings after competing at county level and in the English Schools finals. Earlier this year she was ranked fifth in the UK rankings and was a finalist in the North of England 300m Championships.
2. Katie Louise Smith. 12-year-old Katie became England squash no1 last year in the U13 age group - after overcoming a medical condition. Within seven months of surgery she won her first tournament and went on to represent Yorkshire in the Northern Cup and U13 and U15 levels, winning both events. Other victories throughout the season which elevated Katie back into the top ten. She expects to be at no2 or 3 when she makes the step up to U15s at the end of October.
3. Bridie Fox. Bridie has played for Leeds United Girls for the last three years culminating in a recent call-up to the England U17s squad - quite an achievement for a 15-year-old. The full-back made an immediate impact and joined the team for a friendly in Holland. Her sights are now on the European U19s Championship qualifiers.
4. Lucy Holmes. Lucy is an integral part of Wakefield District Harriers and Athletics Club junior set-up. She has notched a string of first-class results at county (senior as well as junior) and English Schools levels, and Lucy has also broken U13s club records at 80m, 100m and 200m no fewer than eight times.
5. Siobhan Elliot. Top gymnast Siobhan was selected this year to represent Yorkshire for the second year running with the 12-year-old also being made team captain. Siobhan takes part in the four piece which includes bar, beam, vault and floor - the same event that can be seen at the Olympic Games.
6. Carla Cammack. 15-year-old Carla plays her football with Hemsworth Ladies FC, but this also qualified as an FA referee. In addition she helps coach 5-7 year olds at Nostell Miners Welfare FC.
7. Beth Lunn. Beth has gone from a mere 2lb premature baby to a highly rated junior footballer. In her first season with Leeds United Ladies she scored 20 goals. After a stint with Nostell Miners Welfare FC the Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA selected her for the Sheffield United Centre of Excellence. She is currently with the famous Doncaster Belles.
8. Lucy Fox. Lucy, 14, is vice-captain of the Yorkshire Women's U15 cricket team, captain of the West Yorkshire U15 team and plays junior mixed cricket with Wrenthorpe CC. The talented all-rounder also manages to find time to represent her school at cricket, netball, hockey, football, athletics, rugby, rounders and swimming.
9. Sarah Turner. Wakefield Gym Club's Sarah Turner has had an outstanding 12 months. She has won three national titles and was first in the three GB trials for the World and European Championships. Outstanding results followed on the international circuit with victories in the French Cup and French National, silver in Belgium and retention of her World Championship crown.

MEN'S TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
1. Eastmoor Dragons ARLFC. National Conference League outfit Eastmoor Dragons gained back-to-back promotions to book their place in amateur rugby league's elite division for the first time in the club's history. The reigning Wakefield District Sports Awards men's team gained promotion to NCL Division 1 last season and stormed the middle-tier tournament to reach the premier division for the 2006-07 campaign. Dragons secured promotion with a 52-6 away win over Ideal Isberg.
2. Carleton FC (Pontefract). Carleton FC had one of their best-ever seasons last year with trophies on three fronts - County Cup, League Cup and Play-off Cup.
3. Sharlston Rovers ARLFC. Highlight of the 2005-06 season for Sharlston Rovers was winning the BARLA Yorkshire Cup with a 21-8 victory over Queensbury at Dewsbury's Ram Stadium in front of a 2,500 crowd. Rovers also won the Pennine President's Cup and Wakefield District ARL Unison President's Cup but were edged out of the BARLA National Cup 27-22 by National Conference outfit Ovenden at the fifth round stage.
4. Frickley Athletic FC. Frickley put in a tremendous season-long effort to finish a game second in the UniBond Premier League - operating on one of the tightest budgets in the competition.
5. Wakefield Gym Club. The Men's 4 has been outstanding over the last year. Remarkably the line-up includes three gymnasts who still qualify for junior events. Following top spot in the British Tournament, Wakefield were pipped for gold in Belgium by the world champions. Gold again, however, next time out in Scotland followed by gold to be crowned Senior British Champions. And at the World Championship trials the team became the youngest ever called up to represent their country.

WOMEN'S TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
1. Pontefract Squash Club. Pontefract Ladies squash team has been National Club champions for six of the last seven years. They were Yorkshire champs in 2005 and followed up European Championship triumphs in 2002 and 2003 with a third this year. And the women's team will represent England in the European Club Championships in Sweden in October. All five team members have represented England at U19s level.
2. Wakefield Gym Club Acrobatics Team. The most notable achievement was at the European Championships where women's pair Amy Crow and Sarah Cameron and the men's pair Christopher McGreevey and Jack Atherton were crowned champions as GB representatives.
3. Wakefield Gym Club Tumbling Team. The senior women's team has gained medals at competitions all over the world this year. In the European Championships they took on and demolished the Russians. And the team gained a glut of gold and top-three placings at internationals in France, Belgium, Russia and on home turf.

JUNIOR TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
1. Featherstone Lions U16s. All conquering Featherstone Lions U16s played 23 Yorkshire Premier League games - and won them all to be crowned champions. The side also won the League Cup, Yorkshire Cup and National Cup - their first-ever win at this level.
2. Ossett Town FC U16s. It's been a record-breaking cup treble-winning season for Ossett Town U16s. On a pre-season tour to Spain, Town defeated the country's Northern Academy (coached by former Spurs player Ramon Vegas) 3-0. The U16s then became the first Ossett Town junior team to lift the Wakefield District Cup. The County Cup was next to fall to Town followed by the Leeds and District Cup. Playing four games a week in the last three weeks of the season finally caught up with them and Ossett lost out on the League title - by a single point.
3. Wakefield Gym Club Women's Junior Tumbling Team. This team has swept the board at regional, national and international level. In four international the team has taken podium places, and at the three-day GB trial Wakefield's girls took all four team places - and the reserve spot. Coaches Craig Lowther and Zoe Styles were also selected for the coaching team. The team was crowned Junior European Champions.
4. Wakefield Gym Club Junior Acrobatics Team. The most notable achievement was at the European Championships where women's pair Amy Crow and Sarah Cameron and the men's pair Christopher McGreevey and Jack Atherton were crowned champions as GB representatives.
5. Sandal Sharks Rugby Union Team. In their first competitive season, Sandal Sharks U7s went through their Yorkshire regional fixtures unbeaten and wrapped things up by winning the Yorkshire Cup, beating Otley in the final.
6. Castleford Water Polo Club. The U14s team is unbeaten in two years and won the Wakefield District League in 2004 and 2005 and are expected to win again in 2006. The team is also the reigning North Eastern Counties champions and Sheffield Invitation Cup holders.
7. Stanley Rangers U9s Rugby League Team. Stanley Rangers U9s are the only unbeaten team in the top division in their age group having beaten the best of the rest from Leeds, Dewsbury and Castleford.
8. Ackworth U10s Football Team. Ackworth U10s went through their 2005-06 Charles Rice League campaign without losing a match (the only blip was a single drawn game). They also won the Invitation Cup and League Cup, won the South Kirkby tournament and were runners up in their own Ackworth tournament.
9. Altofts U15s Cricket Team. This local team - six of the players live within 800 metres of the Lock Lane ground - won 24 games in the Heavy Woollen and Leeds Junior Leagues, was triumphant in the Leeds League play-off final, won the East Section of the Heavy Woollen and reached the Marsdin Cup final.
10. Pontefract Junior Mixed Squash Team. The Mixed Junior team contains two current England junior internationals while the other three members are all Yorkshire County players. Not surprising then that they are the current National Team Champions.

SCHOOL TEAM OF THE YEAR
1. Outwood Grange College Year 10 Rugby League Team. A fantastic season of achieving titles in district, county and national rugby league - the final triumph coming after their Sports Awards nomination. The youngsters are Wakefield and Yorkshire Cup champions, and defeated last year's Challenge Cup winners and Welsh champions at the semi-final stage to reach the final of this year's Challenge Cup competition at Twickenham.
2. Holy Family and St Michael's Primary School. It has been a tremendous year for the Holy Family and St Michael's Catholic Primary School with victories in the Wakefield District Catholics Schools Football Tournament and the Wakefield Schools Mini Soccer Championship held at Thornes Park. And Holy Family also finished runners up in the All-England Small Schools finals at Keele University.
3. Freeston Business and Enterprise College Year 8 Cricket Team. Having given 100 per cent in every game they have played in, Freeston's Year 8 cricket team has lost only one match in two years - when they finished runners up in a regional final.
4. Normanton Junior School Year 4 Girls Football Team. This team had only been together for a few weeks following an invitation to enter a Year 4 Tournament - but went on to gain a place in the National Youth Games.
5. Castleford High School Year 8 Rugby League Team. After finishing runners up in last year's Wakefield Cup final, winning the Yorkshire Cup and being beaten in the final of the Challenge Cup, Castleford High's Year 8 Rugby League went one better and won the Wakefield Cup, repeated their feat of finishing as Yorkshire Cup champions - and again reached the Challenge Cup final which they won - after the Sports Awards deadline - to form one half of a school 'double'.
6. Minsthorpe Community College Angling Team. The South Elmsall-based school team won the Shakespeare National Schools Team Angling Championships - for the fourth time in five years. Team manager Peter Stewart and local experts Keith Archer and Malcolm Cooper have put together a strong squad of two teams with the A team taking no1 spot and the B team also finishing in the top four.
7. Castleford High School Year 7 Girls Rugby League Team. In their first season, Castleford Year 7 Girls won at Wakefield and Yorkshire levels and won through to the Powergen National Cup finals at Twickenham in August - a remarkable achievement considering they didn't start playing the sport until February of this year. And more remarkable yet - they won it to complete a cup final 'double' for the school.
8. Outwood Grange College U18s Badminton Team. Four boys from Outwood Grange had an outstanding year. Apart from winning the district competition, they went on to be crowned county champions, then linked up with the girls to win the Yorkshire Mixed tournament. The girls were also county finalists in their own category at both U16s and U18s.

DISABLED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
1. Bethany Payne. Featherstone High School and Technology College student Bethany has made exceptional progress this last year in schools sport and represented the College at the DSE (Yorkshire) Junior Athletics Championships where she gained gold in the precision bean bag event. She again took gold at the National Championships in Blackpool.
2. Outwood Grange College. Outwood Grange College's Sports Ability team trained well all year and competed in the West Yorkshire Youth Games where they finished creditable runners up in the gymnastics section.
3. Louise Simpson. Outwood-based Louise, 22, excels at Goalball - the main Paralympic team sport for people with visual impairments. Louise has been blind since birth. She is a member of the Leeds and District Goalball team and in April was part of the team that won the West Midlands tournament, organised by British Blind Sport (BBS). The team finished second on goal difference at Rochdale. On the Great Britain front, Louise and her international team-mates finished ninth in the European Championships. Away from Goalball, Louise plays cricket and is involved in athletics, archery, cycling, orienteering, skiing and swimming.
4. Elliot Hartman. Featherstone High School and Technology College Year 10 student Elliot took gold in both the wheelchair slalom and shot at this year's regional Disability Sport England (Yorkshire) Junior Athletics Championships held at the South Leeds Stadium. And he repeated the double gold feat at the National Championships in Blackpool.
5. Paul Wilson. Powerlifter Paul Wilson has faced an international-free calendar this year but is still unbeaten after two major Special Olympic Championships. He retained his UK national title (which he has won five times now) last November and in March retained his Scottish Open Championship crown - his sixth. Paul is ranked no1 at 60kg bodyweight in the UK Special Olympics 2005-06 listings, and no8 in the UK for all bodyweights up to 125kg (20 stones). He also raised his three-lift best total this year to 320kg (704lb).
6. Garreth Durrant. Amputee soccer star Garreth Durrant has succeeded in not only earning and England call-up, but at 17 was the youngest amputee footballer to be picked to play for his country. And that same kind of commitment to succeed resulted this year in Garreth getting his first full-time job - a lifeguard at Pontefract Swimming Pool.

MANAGER/COACH OF THE YEAR
1. Andy Fisher. Andy Fisher steered National Conference League outfit Eastmoor Dragons to back-to-back promotions to book their place in amateur rugby league's elite division for the first time in the club's history. Fisher masterminded promotion to NCL Division 1 last season and ensured Dragons took the middle-tier tournament by storm to reach the premier division for the 2006-07 campaign. Dragons secured promotion with a 52-6 away win over Ideal Isberg.
2. Martin Howell. Martin is the senior coach at Castleford Water Polo Club, formed under his guidance in 1984. He coaches and manages four teams at U14 and U16 levels plus two senior sides. Ages range from eight to 48. Successes include an U14s side that hasn't been beaten in two years and which won the Wakefield and District League this season for the third year running. The team is also reigning North Eastern Counties champions and Sheffield Invitation Cup holders.
3. Gordon Long. Gordon Long stepped up from player to coach last season and helped Sharlston Rovers to a trophy treble as well as representation in the BARLA National Cup and the Rugby League Challenge Cup. The player/coach also ensured Rovers gained a notable runners-up berth at the end of a gruelling first season in the Pennine League's top flight.
4. Nigel Cook. Mr Cook has taught at Normanton Junior School for 20 years, and coaching football in school and out has been part and parcel of his week. Year 5 and 6 mixed teams have enjoyed success over the years, with Mr Cook coaching two teams to the National Youth Games for the last two years. The highlight this year was preparing a Year 4 girls team to success in record time.
5. Terry Dudley. Terry has been the Pontefract Squash Club captain for the last eight years. He has managed the ladies' and junior teams to six national senior titles, six mixed U19 titles, and two European Club titles.
6. Craig Lowther. Craig is the driving force behind the hugely successful Wakefield Gym Club which win titles and medals galore on the domestic and international circuit. Craig has helped produce 72 World and Eurpean medal winners which culminated this year in him being invited by the Federation of International Gymnastics to be the first non-Russian or Chinese coach to join the World Academies Programme.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
1. Walter Hirst. South Elmsall-based Walter Hirst, 62, has been a football referee for around 40 years overseeing open age games and juniors both at Charles Rice League level and in schools, and a stalwart of the South Elmsall District Referees' Society. He has also been the secretary/treasurer of the JJ Leisure Elm Valley League for over 20 years, organising seven-a-side tournaments for the SESKU Festival and the JJ Leisure six-a-side league at Hemswortth Sports Centre.
2. William Megson. Knottingley Judo Club's William Megson, or 'Old Bill' as the 83-year-old is affectionately known in Judo circles, has been involved in the sport since 1963 when he watched his sons at Wakefield Judo Club and where he first took to the mat. Four years later he qualified as a British Judo Association coach, receiving his black belt second dan in 1993 for his contribution to Judo. Bill has been associated with Knottingley Judo Club for 25 years and remains an active referee. He also helps coach the juniors and is seen as an inspiration to all.
3. Nigel Cook. Mr Cook has taught at Normanton Junior School for over 20 years and football coaching has become a key part of his job. Coaching generally centres around Years 5 and 6 for both boys and girls, and in the last two years he has coached sides to the National Youth Games. This year he coached a Year 4 team to success in double-quick time. His dedication has engendered a sense of team spirit and fair play throughout the school.
4. Nora Pitchforth. Evergreen bowler Nora Pitchforth has worked her way through the ranks with Slazenger Bowling Club. Ten years ago she joined the third team, became captain and led them to promotion. Promotion of her own to the second team culminated in back-to-back Frank Stephenson Trophy wins - the first time the seconds had ever won the trophy. And Nora claimed a club record this year when she became the first woman to represent Slazenger's first team at league level.
5. Malcolm Willstrop. England Squash World Performance Coach and 2004 Mussamdini Award for Squash winner Malcolm Willstrop has been a keystone in Pontefract Squash Club's success over the years. Under his guidance the club has won 25 British Closed events, 4 British Opens, 4 Europeans and 1 World. He has also helped unearth 16 internationals from U15s to O35s, including six current international stars.
6. Malcolm Bell. Malcolm Bell has been associated with Altofts FC for more than 40 years as a player and administrator. At present he is secretary/treasurer of the football club, a position he has held for 20 years, and secretary of Altofts Community Sports Club, something he has done for more than a decade. And he's not afraid to get his hands dirty - even washing the kit and cleaning up the club house.


Source
pontefractandcastlefordtoday.c o.uk

Image: JUDGEMENT DAY. Wakefield District Sports Awards 2006 judges, from left, Wakefield Mayor Darran Travis, district sports development officer Paul Ogilvie, Keith Aaron of Wakefield Sports Forum, and YWNG representative Adrian Kennedy. w4894a630