Winners of the Cumbria Sports Awards have been revealed.
Richard Johnston, chair of the judging panel, said: “The awards are an excellent opportunity to celebrate the enormous effort and talents of the sporting stars of Cumbria.
“We had some great nominations for the awards this year, and I know that our judging panel had a real task to choose all of the deserving winners.
“It just goes to show what great talent and dedication to sport that we have in the county. The support of the media, and our sponsors continue to make these awards a massive success, acknowledging the quality of our major sports performers and our emerging talent, as well as recognising the very important role played by the army of volunteers and coaches in Cumbria.”
Organised by Cumbria County Council’s Active Cumbria team, the awards recognise the outstanding successes of teams and individuals who are involved in sport.
The 13 categories recognise the outstanding commitment and achievements of individuals, clubs, coaches, volunteers, schools’ and community groups in Cumbria sport in the past year.
Cumbria’s Sports Personality of the Year: Luke Greenbank
Following his stunning performances in this year’s Olympic Games, where he brought home a silver medal in the 4 x 100m medley and a bronze medal in the 200m backstroke, Greenbank picked up the prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award at this year’s Cumbria Sport Awards.
Performance of the Year Award: Hannah Horsburgh
She has been in tremendous form in winning the 2021 English Fell Running Championships, winning all four races and setting new course records in each race.
She also won the 2021 British Fell Running Championships, winning the ladies race by a massive margin, and finishing 4th overall, the best ever finish by a female athlete. She will now compete for Team GB in the World Mountain Running Championships in Thailand.
Junior Sports Personality of the Year: Jessica Bailey
From Ulverston, she has won the English Schools 3000 metres, England Athletics U17 3000m champion, silver medallist at the British U20 3000m, as well as winning a Home Countries Fell race in Northern Ireland whilst representing England.
Disability Performance Award: Anna Nicholson
Anna, originally from Brampton, competes in the F35 classification for shotput and discus – for athletes with cerebral palsy or similar disabilities that mainly effect their legs.
This year she has competed in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in the Shot Put event, and after throwing a seasons best she placed 6th, just 57cm outside of the medal positions. She’s already stuck into a winter training programme with the aim of medalling at next year’s World Championships.
Team of the Year: Workington Bowling Club
What a season our Team of the year have had this year, winning the county mixed pairs, county men’s junior under 25s, ladies county singles, ladies county pairs, men’s county pairs, men’s county triples, men’s county fours, and the men’s national 4s winners.
Junior Team of the Year: Hensingham ARLFC U16s
They have had a great season, going unbeaten throughout the year, winning their league, and the North East Cup. The majority of the group are actually playing a year young, and will be looking improve again next season.
Coach of the Year: Mark Stevens
From Workington, the karate coach has been making a difference, not just to performance levels, but also on his students’ outlook.
Over the last 12 months, he has been coaching karate in gardens, yards, or anywhere else that is safe, ensuring the well being of his students is front and centre of his delivery. He has been building skills, mentoring, increasing confidence, and maintaining and improving the wellbeing of all his students during these challenging times.
Service to Sport: Tom Armstrong
From Flimby, he has given his services to Cumbria Squash for 50 years.
He has been involved in many different activities including managing the county leagues, overseeing the county and junior county training programmes, leading on the inter-county competitions, as well as leading the county organisation through a significant legal restructure, ensuring it is fit for purpose moving forward. He has been a true stalwart of squash in the county.
Becky Underwood Volunteer of the Year: Julie Labbett
Julie, of Penrith, is a British Cycling Breeze Champion and Breeze Ambassador. She is well organised, friendly and re-assuring with a great amount of knowledge of cycling and the areas she is riding in. This alone makes the women attending her rides feel comfortable and relaxed and keeps them engaged in cycling. She is out whatever the weather the rain and wind won’t stop her rides which shows her total dedication to cycling, and she has led over 500 rides over the last 8 years.
Community Club or Group of the Year: Penrith Netball Club
They have completely turned their club around in the last 12 months. COVID-19 meant that they couldn’t play or train, and their participant numbers dropped massively. In June 2021, they held their AGM and decided they would merge with another group from their town. This brought in an additional 15 new members, and a completely new outlook. They are now much more social and have increased their membership to over 110 members aged 11 to 70 plus.
Active Education: St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Ulverston
They have put sport and physical activity at the heart of their school. They have incorporated physical activity into their curriculum and have also loads of extra-curricular opportunities for their pupils to be active. They’ve recently even installed a 100-metre running track on the school site to help them with their daily mile activities for all pupils. They have an active playground as well as an outdoor gym for pupils to use and are seeing the benefits in their pupils physical and mental wellbeing, as well as their learning.
Special Award: Gary McKee
The Cleator Moor man was given this award to recognise his outstanding achievement of running 110 marathons in 110 days earlier in the year.
He raised over £200,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, and his local hospice. His amazing efforts have inspired others to get active, and his efforts have been recognised by TV and media, as well as legends such as Sir Mo Farah.
Rising Star Awards: Ruben Razzetti, Emily Trotter, Anna Mason
Ruben Razzetti, of Hesket Newmarket, is excelling in the sport of orienteering.
A Border Liners Club member, he has won numerous races during the year across all parts of Cumbria. He was also selected to attend a three-day Badaguish summer training camp by his Governing Body, as well as being selected to join the GB Talent North Squad.
Emily Trotter, from the world of trampolining, has had a fantastic year. Despite the opportunities to travel and compete being hit hard this year, she has performed brilliantly at two elite level competitions, taking a bronze medal at the virtual Dutch Open event, and a gold medal at the V-Tramp International event, cementing her place in the GB national squad.
Anna Mason, of Branthwaite, is excelling in her chosen sport of athletics.
She has had a great year in her sport of athletics on the track. She competed in the 1,500-metre event at the English Schools Championships on July 9 and capped a fine performance with a time of 4m.31.38s, and also competed in the England Athletics U20 Championships on 19th June, as well as competing in three Grand Prix fixtures.
