Olympic Civic Reception
On Friday evening (5th October) the council held a civic reception to celebrate and honour, both local residents who had taken part in both the Olympics and Paralympics and the volunteers who had contributed to both the events inLondon and the torch procession through Buxton earlier in the summer.
The reception also doubled up as the awards ceremony for this year’s High Peak Sports Awards, and as the executive member with responsibility for Sport and Leisure I had the privilege of introducing the awards section of the reception.
My introduction was as follows :
“As the council’s executive member with responsibility for sport and leisure, I have the privilege of hearing about the activities of our local sports people and clubs on a regular basis, and I am pleased to introduce the next section of proceedings this evening.
The weeks since the Olympics have the seen the county applaud its national sporting heroes for their fantastic achievements but now it’s time to turn our attention to those people who have achieved sporting excellence locally in this years High Peak Community Sports Awards.
Awards will be made this evening in 9 categories to local clubs and sports people who show a commitment and dedications to a wide number of different sports, with our local winners this evening going through to the Derbyshire Sports Awards in November.
We’re joined this evening by David Joy the chief executive of Derbyshire Sport and Cllr Carol Hart the chair of Derbyshire Sport, and whilst the commitment and dedication of our winners is clear we must no forget the unsung heroes, the family members, carers and coaches who make a wide range of sport activities available to locals across the High Peak every day.
Sport plays a vital role in promoting healthy lifestyles, bringing communities together and fostering teamwork. Now, the public can play a major part in celebrating the achievements of those who keep sport alive and well in theHighPeakand I hand you over to Caitlin Bisknell who will announce the winners.”
The awards were presented by Paralympics Gold Medallist Anthony Kappes MBE who is originally from Chapel en le Frith along with High Peak Mayor Cllr Pat Jenner.
The winners were :
Services to Sport – Jackie Pettitt (netball)
Young Sports Leader / Coach of the Year – Charlotte Young (netball)
Junior Sportsman of the Year – Eric Ham (Judoka)
Junior Sportswoman of the Year – Abbie Wood (swimming)
Club of the Year – Glossop Judo Club
Junior Disabled Sports Person of the Year – Freddie Smith (cricket)
Coach of the Year – Michael Lowe (football)
Sports Person of the Year – Jennifer Pinches (gymnastics)
Special Recognition of Sporting Excellence – Maddie Thompson (basketball)
The event was also able to pay tribute to the three local Olympic torch bearers : Mike Taylor, Bill Weston and Ben Hope, along with representatives of Buxton Community School and other locals who had acted as Games makers / volunteers during the Olympics and Paralympics.
