You really had to be there!

A gathering of some of the award winners.

Oh What a Night.
 

 

There was plenty to celebrate at Stratford Athletic Club’s annual awards night with some 300 people present at Stratford School. 

The club’s vice-chair Hannah Osborne opened proceedings by inviting the audience to celebrate another hugely successful year and she introduced the guests for the night who were Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sam McNaught Barrow, Barbara Wood, wife of the club’s founding father Allen Wood and Megan and Gwil Price MBE. Gwil is the driving force behind schools athletics in Warwickshire.

The club have been a fixture of the town’s sporting landscape for 47 years with 650 members spread across both the Senior and Junior sections and a lengthy list of juniors’ keen to join.

Osborne opened proceedings by explaining the value the club has been to her during her 10 years plus of membership and explaining that all 3 of her children have also benefitted from membership.

The first Award of the night was the Chris Claxton Award, which is given annually to the club’s first lady finisher in the Stratford Marathon. This year’s recipient was Sue Mothershaw. Next up it was the Senior Personality of the Year. This is the only Award of the night that was voted for by the senior members, with 14 having been nominated. The winner was Simon Penson, which judging by his reception proved to be an extremely popular choice

It was then the turn of the Club Person of the Year (Junior) award presented by the Deputy Mayor. This Award is presented to the person who is considered to have been the most supportive, enthusiastic, helpful and sporting throughout the year. A visibly moved David Jones stepped forward to receive this award. 

Unfortunately neither Yumi Turner or James Lake, the winners of the Grand Prix Awards were present to claim their trophies.

Paul Bearman then stepped forward to announce the winners of various Track and Field Awards, mentioning in his introduction that the age range of the club’s competitors in the T&F season was an impressive 8 to 82. Bearman went on to add that it was now 20 years since the track was built at  Stratford School and 10 years since the pavilion was added, both made possible by the generous support of the Stratford Town Trust. He then went on to thank Carolyne Johnston and Hannah Osborne for their help in organising the even

Medals were awarded to the various members, both Junior and Senior, but primarily Juniors for their achievement in helping the club finish as runners up in the Warwickshire County T&F Championships, the medals being presented by Gwil Price MBE. Price was also on hand to present medals to the juniors who had helped the club finish runners up in the Heart of England T&F league. Members of the club’s Vets teams also picked up runners up medals for finishing 2nd in their Midland Vets T&F League and the club’s Midland League T&F team members were rewarded for their runaway league winning success and promotion. The team being made up of 70% juniors aided by Vets and a few seniors.

The most improved Senior T&F Awards went to Kathryn Woodcock and Mark Illingworth with the recipients of the Senior T&F Athletes of the year being World record holder Paula Williams and David Jones.

The first half closed with the Age Group Awards for competitors in the Club Championship held in mid-September. The winners were : U11G – Saskia Atkins, U11B – Simon Zawada, U13G – Martha Edwards, U13B – Flynn Allen, U15G – Lolita Newby Vincent, U15B – Harry Green, U17G – Rachel Blackwood, U17B – Olisa Odiamma McKenzie, U20W Lucy Lane, U20M Joe Lewis, Senior Women – Paula Williams and Senior Male – Nathan Darby.

The second half started with a speech by Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sam McNaught Barrow during which she stated how happy she was to have been invited to the awards. going on to emphasise the importance of physical activity to both our physical and mental health. She thanked the club’s 42 coaches, 20 officials and 12 volunteer helpers, all of who offer their services on a voluntary basis and without who the club would not be able to function.

It was then time to induct 3 members into the club’s Hall of Fame, a group that consists of members who have been selected to represent their country or GB, the most prominent of this group being Andrew Pozzi, the club’s former World Champion and 3 time Olympian. This year’s inductees were GB triathletes David Teasdale and Camilla Cresswell, along with GB and England athlete David Jones.

The club places great emphasis not only the athletic development of their junior members but also on their development as good human beings, emphasising the importance of sportsmanship, respect for others and the need to support their fellow club members. It is for this reason that some of the most important awards of the evening were for the Most Supportive Juniors. The recipients in this category in the U11, U13, U15, U17 & 20 age groups were Florence Castle, Jacob Thomas, Alice McIntosh, Charlie Castle, Jasmine Mothershaw, Ben Harrison, Eve Cunningham and Josh Harrison.

There was a special presentation made by both the current and previous Chairs, Sarah Bland and Paul Hawkins to Paul Bearman following his decision to stand down from the club’s Executive Committee. Bearman will remain as head of Track and Field and will still be involved in many aspects of the club’s activities in the years ahead. He has been with the club for some 30 years, during which time he has greatly improved the quality of life and success of several generations of youngsters. Amongst other things he was hugely instrumental in the construction of both the track and the pavilion at Stratford School.

 

The Allen Wood Endeavour Trophies, presented by Barbara Wood and which were announced by long term club member, executive committee member, coach and England Athletic employee Danny Tolhurst. These are awarded to the Junior Male & Female athletes who are considered to have shown earnest and conscientious endeavour and effort to improve their performance and personal bests and they went to respectively female U13,15 and 17s Maggie Silvers. Lila Gallagher and Rachel Blackwood and males Charlie Jay-Cassells, Billie Sheppard and William Hovell.

 

U13,15 and 17 Junior Most Improved Athletes were Martha Edwards, Flynn Allen, Annabel Stacy, Toby Wilkinson, Holly Clifford and Tom Stanton with the Junior all round athlete being named as Ava Sheppard, Seb Hillard and Will Hovell. 

 

The junior most improved junior cross country runners’ were named as  Elsie Pipitone, Maggie Sivers and Tom Fisher, with the junior XC runners of the year going to Marijke Tear-Verweij and Sam Lambert, their senior equivalents were James Lake and Tilly Campbell

 

The senior triathletes of the year were Emma Bexson and David Teasdale, most improved triathletes – Camilla Cresswell and Olly Ray and the the most improved endurance runner awards going to Santa Pavlika and James Laycock. Jamie Hall and Georgie Campbell were named as endurance athletes of the year.

 

The final Awards of the night were to the  Female Junior Athlete of the Year Annie Silvers and it was a joint award for the Male Junior Athlete of the Year, which was share by Seb Hillard and Will Hovell. The senior Athletes of the Year were Jamie Hall and Emma Bexson.

Annie Silvers, female junior athlete of the year

All round athlete of the year: Seb Hillard, Ava Sheppard and Will Hovell with Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sam McNaught Barrow. 

Vice chair Hannah Osborne who was compére for the night.

Simon Penson – Senior Club Personality of the Year.

Jamie Hall – Senior Male Athlete of the Year

Kaili Woodward, Paul Bearman, Carolyne Johnston and Michelle Bartlett.

Paul Hawkins. Paul Bearman and Sarah Bland following the presentation to Paul Bearman after his decision to stand down from the Executive Committee. 

Below are 4 of the Most Supportive Junior Persons of the Year.
From the top: U13 male Charlie Castle with Barbara Wood, U15 female Jasmine Mothershaw, U17 & 20 male Josh Harrison and U15 male, brother Ben Harrison

Niamh Williams, Rosa Pipitone, Lila Gallinagh, Lolita Newby Vincent, a friend, Lottie Willis and Annabel Stacey

L to R: Zak Lambert, James Mayes, James Day, Sam Lambert, Dougie Garnett, Joel Ledgard, Will Mayes and Tom Fisher

Dave Wilson, Andy List, Mark Illingworth, Jane Withers and Paula Williams.

Georgie Campbell – Female Senior Endurance Athlete of the Year alongside Gwil Price.

U17 boys Club Champ – Olisa Odiamma McKenzie

The next 3 photos were of inductees into the Hall of Fame.
David Jones, David Teasdale and Camilla Cresswell.