Sport England Celebrates South West Sporting Commitment
Jon Hill and Chris Brown pictured with their Coach of the Year award (sponsored by Sport England) Photo: Phil Mingo / Pinnacle
Jon Hill and Chris Brown from the Cornish All Blacks were jointly honoured as Coach of the Year at the annual BBC South West Sports Awards, for their outstanding contribution and commitment to sport in the region. Sponsored by Sport England, the Coach of the Year award recognises the achievements and dedication of quality coaches, paying tribute to the pivotal role they play in the sporting community.
Sport England also sponsored the Team of The Year award, presented to Truro City for their outstanding achievement in winning the FA Vase throughout the 2007 football season.
Truro City pictured with their Team of the Year award (sponsored by Sport England) Photo: Phil Mingo / Pinnacle
Jennie Price, CEO of Sport England, opened the South West sporting awards and presented the recipients with their accolades. She said:
"I am encouraged by the passionate belief in the power of sport in this region. My congratulations go out to John and Chris for their outstanding efforts as coaches this year, and to all of the coaches, volunteers and sports people in the South West whose efforts and dedication are helping create an active nation.
"With the government's long term vision of increasing and widening the base of participation in sport and achieving success on the world stage, coaching will continue to play a significant role in contributing to a lasting sporting legacy," she said.
It has been quite a year in terms of coaching in the region, with an ever-increasing number of active coaches registered across all sporting disciplines.
More than £4.5 million has been invested during the past two years as part of Sport England's Community Sports Coaching Scheme, with over 300 coaches now registered.
The programme aims to improve not only the coaching standards, but is developing an infrastructure for employing and deploying coaches across the south west to ensure the regions coaching talent is nurtured and supported, leading the way in best practice across the UK.
High-profile events such as the regional Coaching Conference hosted in Bath earlier this year, have provided the opportunity to form new partnerships across sporting organisations and business in the community.
Sport England's sponsorship at the BBC regional sports awards highlighted its ongoing investment and commitment to coaching and its aim to create a more sustainable and professional framework for coaches in the south west.
BBC South West Sports Personality of the Year
Chris Harris
Unsung Hero
Supported by Robinsons
Tony White (Exeter Harriers)
Team of the Year
Sponsored by Sport England
Truro City
Coach
Sponsored by Sport England
Jon Hill / Chris Brown (Cornish All Blacks)
Disabled Sports Person
Sponsored by The Edge UK
Jonathan Fox (Newquay Cormorants)
Lifetime Achievement
Sponsored by BBC South West
Gary Stronach (Plymouth Raiders)
Watersports
Sponsored by South West Water
Ben Rhodes and Stevie Morrison (Exmouth)
Football
Sponsored by The Edge UK
Steve Mildenhall (Yeovil Town)
Rugby
Sponsored by Western Morning News
Nic Sestaret (Plymouth Albion)
Motorsport
Sponsored by BBC Radio Cornwall
Chris Harris (Coventry Bees)
International Achievement
Sponsored by Team South West
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
Cricketer
Sponsored by University of Exeter
Andy Caddick (Somerset CCC)
Youngster (16-21)
Sponsored by South West Communications
Sam Tolchard (Torquay United Bowling Club)
Youngster (under 16)
Sponsored by South West Communications
Tom Daley (Plymouth Diving)
For further information on Sport England South West, please log on to: www.sportengland.org/southwest.
For further information about the BBC South West regional sports awards, visit BBC Devon website
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