Paralympic Gold Medallist David Weir celebrates with the 2015 winners at the Black Country Sport and Physical Activity Awards

The annual Black Country Sport and Physical Activity Awards, sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton, proved a huge success on Friday 6 November with worthy winners sharing the podium with guest speaker Paralympic athlete David Weir, a six times Gold Medallist.

The special Awards dinner and presentation took place at The Ramada Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton. Attended by over 170 people the event saw the premier of the Black Country BeActive Partnership’s new film showcasing the work of the Partnership over the years.

Now in its 7th year, the Awards celebrate the achievements of local community heroes as well as Black Country Olympians and Paralympians. The 2015 Black Country Sport and Physical Activity Awards Winners are:

Sportsperson of the Year (sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton)
WINNER – Jordanne Whiley MBE

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
WINNER – Jordanne Whiley MBE

Young Sportsperson of the Year (sponsored by Decathlon Wednesbury)
WINNER – Jordan Fellows

Community Coach of the Year (sponsored by Sport Structures)
WINNER – Richard Newell

Community Club of the Year (sponsored by Dudley College)
WINNER – Tividale Football Academy

Community Project of the Year (sponsored by Walsall College)
WINNER – FREE Physical Activity Timetable, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

Newcomer of the Year (supported by BBC WM)
WINNER -  Corey Clarke

School of the Year (sponsored by Dudley Association of Governing Bodies)
WINNER – St Margaret’s at Hasbury, Dudley

Business in Sport
WINNER – Yale and Assa Abloy

Unsung Hero (sponsored by Wolves Community Trust)
WINNER – Gilbert Preece

Elvis Gordon Chair’s Recognition Award
WINNER – Hugh Porter MBE

David Weir, Paralympic Gold Medallist said: "I’m really excited to have been invited to the Black Country Sport and Physical Activity Awards in Wolverhampton.  I have been inspired by all the winners and I hope I have inspired the next generation of sports stars from the Black Country”.

Simon Hall, BeActive Partnership Director said: "The 2015 Awards have been a great opportunity for us to celebrate the inspirational athletes we have right here in the Black Country as well as celebrate those people in the community who dedicate their time to supporting and motivating these athletes. Celebrating such talent gave us a great opportunity to share our new film showcasing the work of the Partnership over the years, I hope as many people as possible view the film and are inspired by it either to train that bit harder or to give up their time to support the next generation of sportspeople.”

Hugh Porter, Black Country Sport and Activity Awards Elvis Gordon Chair’s Recognition Award winner said: "I had no idea that this was going to happen and I am for once lost for words. It is a great honour and completely unexpected”

For more information visit http://www.blackcountrybeactive.co.uk/

To watch the Black Country BeActive film visit https://youtu.be/3Clrfiqh7MY 

ENDS

For further information contact Helen Annetts, PR on behalf of Black Country Consortium on 07779026720 or email HelenLAnnetts@hotmail.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

The 2015 Black Country Sport & Physical Activity Awards Winners are: 

Elvis Gordon Chair's Recognition Award
Hugh Porter MBE, from Wolverhampton is one of Britain's greatest former professional cyclists, winning four world titles in the individual pursuit,  as well as a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 1966. More recently he has been a commentator on cycling events.  More recently he has teamed up with Wolverhampton’s Compton Hospice to offer cycling enthusiasts the opportunity to race in a in a 100 mile ride round the London Olympic Games gold medal road race course.  Hugh Porter together with his wife Anita have been loyal supporters of the Carver Wolverhampton City Marathon events almost since day one and with Hugh’s guidance and expertise the family cycle ride was introduced.

Sportsperson of the Year
WINNER – Jordanne Whiley MBE
2015 US Open Singles Champion
2015 British Open Singles Champion
2015 Wimbledon Wheelchair Ladies Doubles Champion
2015 Awarded MBE for Services to Wheelchair Tennis in Queens Birthday Honours List
2015 Doubles Champion - Japan Open
2015 USN Bolton Arena Singles & Doubles Champion
2015 Doubles Champion - Australian Open

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
WINNER – Jordanne Whiley MBE

Young Sportsperson of the Year (sponsored by Decathlon Wednesbury)
WINNER – Jordan Fellows
Jordan is a participant in alpine skiing.  In 2015 he has achieved 1st place in the under 18 slalom at the British National Junior Championships, 1st place in the Super-G, at the English Championships, 1st in the under 18 Giant Slalom at the English National Junior Championships, 1st at the BARSC Indoor Championships and 2nd in the under 18 Downhill National Championships.  The Black Country doesn’t have many mountains of snow, so Jordan has had to spend weeks on end away from home and school to undertake his training. He has successfully continued with his education, this summer gaining a BTEC distinction and 2 A-Levels.  He has also started the process of achieving his coaching qualifications.  Jordan has remained a grounded and modest individual.  His dedication, commitment and pure desire to succeed in all that he does are an example to all.

Community Coach of the Year
WINNER – Richard Newell
Richard started out as a coach over 10 years ago, and he has gone from strength to strength since.  He coaches at various schools during the day whilst continuing to run his Futsal club in the evenings and at weekends.  He also runs soccer camps during the school holidays.  He works with professional football clubs to provide pathways for players who show exceptional talent.  Each year the players are encouraged to donate any kit they have out grown so Richard can send it to Kit Aid.  Richard is patient, and he does extra activities for children who are finding the sport difficult, by working with them in smaller groups.

Community Club of the Year
WINNER – Tividale Football Academy
This is a new club that has worked hard to achieve the FA Charter Standard Award.  From an initial plan of 1 team of 15 players in its first season, the club now has 17 registered teams playing in the 2015/16 season.  They have delivered 3 satellite clubs within Sandwell, and have developed a workforce strategy for the club.  They have developed partnerships within the local community, with, for example, West Midlands Police, West Bromwich Albion FC and local schools.  The club has a strong and effective leadership with a management committee and a 5 year plan for the club.  They strive to be the community club of choice.

Community Project of the Year
WINNER – FREE Physical Activity Timetable, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Since Sept 2014, the programme has seen over 1,081 individual adults accessing the free timetable classes.  The project offers a variety of physical activity sessions for people to try for free, such as aerobics, aero-tone, box-fit and aqua natal.  The sessions have received 98% satisfaction from participants attending the classes.  Activities are spread across the borough in venues that are accessible, and family classes are offered to support children and their parents and encourage the whole family to increase their physical activity levels.

Newcomer of the Year
WINNER -  Corey Clarke
Corey is a member of Warley Boxing Club.  He started boxing around 16 months ago having previously been a sprinter at Halesowen Athletics Club.  Corey has excelled and has gone from an athlete that tried boxing conditioning as part of their training, through to quickly advancing to one of the top amateurs in the area in just over a year.  During the last 18 months, Corey has reached the ABA 81 – 91KG Final, has been picked for the British squad to fight in the Tri-Nations and won Tri Nations Gold.  Corey is dedicated to his training, is respectful to competitors and coaching staff and leads from the front with the younger people.  He is a great role model.

School of the Year
WINNER – St Margaret’s at Hasbury, Dudley
St Margaret’s in Dudley has set challenging targets and this year the participation of pupils in Out of School Hours Learning has been the highest it has ever been, with 99% of pupils from year 1 to 6 attending an out of school our club.  The school provides 33 clubs in total with 21 being PE and health related.  The school has forged links with the wider community including visiting and supporting Halas Homes on their activity open day, giving staff and children the opportunity to work with people who have severe learning difficulties. Targeted and monitored CPD has enhanced staff development and had a major impact on teaching and learning.

Business in Sport
WINNER – Yale and Assa Abloy
Yale and Assa Abloy are active in the communities that they operate in from a corporate social responsibility perspective.  Their support of local community sporting activity is a demonstration of this.  They look to enable amateur sports people to be able regularly participate in sport and physical activity.  In particular they have sponsored Chloe Machin, a 17 year old debutant at the Karate World Championships, they sponsor Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway Club, and they have sponsored the World Cycle Speedway Championships.

Unsung Hero
WINNER – Gilbert Preece
Gilbert commits  up to 40 hours per week in his sport of football, all at the age of 72.  Gilbert has been a football referee and linesman for over 2 years.  He has been the manager and secretary of a Sunday football team for 10 years.  He has been secretary and coach for Darlaston Town under 18 team for the past 4 years, as well as being secretary, coach, groundsman and committee members at Darlaston Town FC for 33 years.  In fact he will do any job asked of him.  He is an inspiration and role model for players, match officials and administrators.  He has inspired others to become volunteers.  He says an old dog can’t learn new tricks, but he has learnt to text, use an iphone and listens to Capital Radio in his car!