Sport Newcastle’s Annual Awards Dinner held at Newcastle Civic Centre, has celebrated the very best of sporting achievements from around the region and the rising sports stars of the future.
Supporting grass roots sports and helping the sporting dreams of young people and sports clubs and organisations, Sport Newcastle is the City’s oldest and most inclusive sports charity.
The annual award ceremony recognises the success across all sports and also focuses on the young Rising Stars of sport.
This year’s major awards were presented to:
- Olympic Silver Medallist and, reigning European BMX Freestyle Champion, Kieran Reilly (Sporting Success of the Year);
- British para-athlete and bronze medallist Anna Nicholson (Outstanding Achievement award);
- NUFC Midfielder, Lewis Miley (Young Sporting Success);
- North East Squash Coach, Bob Aynsley (Coaching Award);
- Snooker Player, Gary Wilson (Wilkinson Sword Lifetime Achievement); and
- Sport Newcastle Team of the Year Award to Gateshead FC.
The Special ‘Wor Jackie Award’ went to NUFC Academy player Aidan Harris and the ‘Jack Hixon Award’ went to NUFC women footballer Elysia Boddy.
There was also an ‘Outstanding Contribution to North East Sport’ award made to ‘Wor Flags’ for their voluntary work and contribution to sport in the region and their fan-led funded work, creating flags at sporting events for fans and teams across the North East.
Badminton player Lucy Dodds from Tyneside Badminton Association was also awarded with a ‘Sport Newcastle Platinum award’ and receives a grant of £1,500 per annum over the next three years to support with her expenses and costs towards equipment and furthering her sporting career.
Rising Stars of the future were awarded grants of £250 each and went to, Eli Adams (High Jump), Evelyn Hallissey (Swimming), Louisa Hamilton (Golf), Jack Helm (Gymnastics), Patrick Hogg (Rugby Union), Etienne Maughan (Hurdles), Francis Ogbolu (Basketball), Sadie Parker (Long Jump), Duncan Rutherford (Squash), Fleur Wilson (Kickboxing).
Mike Booth, Sport Newcastle, Vice Chair, said, “Our Rising Stars are already performing at an exceptionally high standard. All compete nationally and several have represented their country at world level.
“Sport Newcastle is proud to be able to support these talented young athletes at the early stage of their sporting career.
“Our major award winners reflect the region's success achieved across a diverse range of female and male sports.
“With the continued and on-going support of the North East business community this augurs well for further sporting success and development in the future."
The awards evening was supported by headline sponsors Tier One Capital, SOS Group and GLL Sports Foundation.
The event sponsors included Ward Hadaway, Central Employment, Graphic Packaging Int, JC Events and Wonderstuff.
Sport Newcastle is a voluntary organisation that was established in 1968 to promote and develop sport in Newcastle and the surrounding areas. The charity supports over 40 different sports and provides grants, awards, and scholarships to talented athletes, coaches, and clubs.
The charity also recognises and celebrates the achievements of local sporting heroes through its annual dinner and hall of fame. Patrons of the charity include Alan Shearer CBE, Sir John Hall, Jonathan Edwards CBE and Sarah Hunter CBE.