The Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards 2023
The local sports scene sparkled at the 2023 Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards, held last night at Newport's Medina Theatre. The event honoured the Island's sporting stars, with high emotions and pride palpable among those present.
The hall was packed with a large crowd of guests, including the shortlisted nominees, their proud families, team-mates and enthusiastic supporters, all coming together to celebrate outstanding sporting achievements by Islanders.
The task of narrowing down the winners from the impressive list of nominees fell to an independent panel of judges - a significant challenge given the high calibre of entries across the board.
The awards spanned a wide variety of categories, recognising remarkable achievements from youngsters involved in school sports and rising stars to those making waves on local, national and international stages. The ceremony also shone a light on the unsung heroes - the volunteers whose dedication underpins the success of clubs, schools, and sports at both junior and adult levels. Their dedication to nurturing the spirit of sport on the Island received the applause it truly deserved.
Presenting the awards were ITN politics correspondents, Romilly Weeks, who grew up on the Island, and veteran local journalist, Lucy Morgan.
The Isle of Wight Sports Foundation chairman, Claire Beasley, said: “Welcome to a wonderful evening celebrating sport with 28 awards. Thanks to our sponsors, adjudicating panel, and High Sheriff. Thanks to you for attending and enjoy the evening.”
Congratulations to the 2023 Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards Winners!
Junior Boys
Harrison Hendy
Harrison Hendy, 14, from Arreton, achieved a remarkable third place on the European Youth Tour in Holland and won the British Schools Hill Climb event, among many other cycling achievements.
Club Official
David Beckingham
David, of Newport, has dedicated more than 30 years to volunteering as a swimming judge on the Island and across Great Britain. His nominator says without his support, swimmers on the Island and across the nation would not be able to compete.
Intermediate Girls
Matilda Moore (Pip Pibey Collecting)
Matilda Moore, 16, from Cowes, has been selected for the Northern Ireland Under 17 Short Squad and will be competing at the European Netball Championships this month. She has also been selected by mainland club Swans, Millfield School, Ryde School and Island clubs.
Disability Senior Men
Zac Lacey (Abi Lacey collecting)
Zac Lacey, 23, won gold at the DSISO European Champs winning Gold in the 200 fly, Silver in 100 fly at the Global Games in Vichy and also retained two titles at the British Downs Syndrome Championships.
Junior Teams
Shanklin & Sandown Rowing Club 14 Girls Quad
Layla Katirewa, Ella Haydon, Immy Burfitt and Izzy Bounds went out in all weathers and were able to beat crews from all along the South Coast in the end-of-season championships at Folkestone for the second year running.
Island Games Outstanding Sports Team Achievement
Island Games Shooting Team
The amazingly successful 15-person shooting team took part in just 29 of the 43 shooting events at the Island Games. However they still managed a fantastic performance in winning 23 medals.
Disability Senior Women
Laura Curwood
Triathlete Laura Curwood (30) finished second in the 2023 London Excel Triathlon in her age category and also won the Para Super Sprint class at the Arctic One Para Triathlon Festival.
Joint Junior Girls
Ellora Jones and Alice Critchison
Ellora Jones, 10, from Newport, is with the Legacy Gymnastics Academy Jones and is part of the elite women’s artistic gymnastics squad. She has performed consistently well throughout 2023 and secured an all-round first at Basingstoke.
Alice Critchison, 10, is from Niton. During 2023 Alice and her ponies accumulated over 229kms and made her way up the ranking to be placed in the top three junior riders in the country.
Senior Women
Pip Smith
Pip Smith, of Calbourne, achieved her lifetime dream for all equestrians, winning the Supreme Championship in the Mountain and Moorland Section of the Horse of the Year show held in Birmingham.
Making a Difference
Gemma Cowley
Gemma Cowley, of Cranmore, is chairman of Isle of Wight Netball and has made a big difference to the sport, including introducing walking netball sessions, Bee Netball and club netball, which has seen an increase in membership and participation.
Club Volunteer
Pauline Proud
Pauline, of Wootton, has represented Bowls IOW for more than 40 years and continues to work as a volunteer on the executive committee to promote the game and encourage others. She is a former national champion and a life member of Bowls Isle of Wight.
Service to Sport
Dave Ball
David, of Newport, is a legend in Island rugby and is only now, in his eighties, stepping down from his role as a coach to generations of pupils at Ryde School. He has also coached Island senior teams and in Hampshire.
Lifetime Achievement
Harry Kirby
Isle of Wight Hockey Club legend Harry is still involved with the club at the age of 80, having been part of the set up for 50 years. His nominator says that even now he is always there to encourage senior and junior players from the sidelines.
Island Games Outstanding Individual Achievement
Kevin Chant
Kevin Chant won individual and team gold in the Men’s Road Time Trial at the 2023 International Island Games, becoming the first IW rider to win an individual medal at the games since 2011, and also helping to secure the team gold medal
Outstanding Commitment
Trevor Davies
Trevor Davies of Newport has dedicated the last 45 years to teaching generations of children to swim. He is one of the remaining founder members of Seaclose Swimming Club, which was set up back in 1978.
Primary Sporting School
The Bay CE Primary School
Intermediate Boys
Harvey Abbott
Harvey Abbott, 15, of Sandown, finished with a bronze medal at the Kickboxing European Championships, after he was selected following victory at the British Championships. He also achieved other victories during 2023.
Coach
Shannon Betts
Shannon Betts of Newport, is the head coach at Legacy Elite Gymnastics Academy. Her high standards of coaching have seen multiple squad members reach both the south regional grades and south regional classic challenge finals this year - a first for IW gymnastics.
Senior Men
Dominic Marsh
Dominic Marsh, 22, of Lake, achieved several bronze medals at kickboxing World Cup events in Turkey, Austria and Italy and was selected for the GB team for the World Championships in 2023. He has also started entering boxing matches and is an inspirational coach.
Masters Women
Emily Fry
Emily Fry, 40, of Newport, won gold in the long jump and silver in the 100m at the British Masters Athletics Championships. She also won gold at the Southern Vets Championships and competed in the Island Games, finishing sixth.
Masters Men
Daniel Eckersley
Dan Eckersley, 37, of Cowes, took gold in the European Masters Athletics Championships 3,000m Steeplechase, Gold in the British Masters Championships, and was narrowly beaten to second place in the open Island Games 3,000m event.
The Ray & Rosemary Scovell Trust Community Award
Ian Broadsmith
Ian Broadsmith is well known across the Island for the the effort and enthusiasm he has for basketball. He was nominated for the time he gives to children of all ages to provide the opportunity for them to play basketball and improve their skills.
Intermediate Team
Shanklin & Sandown Rowing Club J-16 Double
Carter Horrix and Louis Sheasby had a very successful 2016 season, including winning gold at the Inter-Regional Championships. They have now been accepted onto the Great Britain J-16 Pathway,
Secondary Sporting School
St Georges School
Senior Team
Shanklin Bowling Club Mens A Team & Ryde Marina ladies
Disability Team
IW Cricket Board Disability Super 9’s