Top Colchester sports stars are honoured (From Gazette)

Top Colchester sports stars are honoured

2:15pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in General

THE cream of Colchester sporting talent has been honoured at a special ceremony.

The 2011 Sport Colchester Sports Personality Awards, sponsored by Colchester Institute and The University of Essex, were held at the Weston Homes Community Stadium on Monday evening.

With the exception of the Premier Award, they are aimed at the amateur sportsmen and women of the borough and were presented by the Mayor of Colchester cllr Helen Chuah.

Sport Colchester chairman Mark Lloyd said: “Every year I am amazed at the standard of sport in the borough that is seen in the awards. “Twenty different sports are represented and that is phenomenal.

“The awards boast people preparing for the 2012 games, European and world champions and those who have given years of dedication to their various sports. “It makes me proud of the sports people of this town.”

The 2011 premier award went to Olympic and Paralympic Team GB sailors Saskia Clark and Hanah Stodel, who unfortunatley couldn’t make the event due to training requirements for London 2012.

Essex University student Scott Moorhouse was the 2011 Sport Colchester Male Sport Personality.

The 22-year-old is aiming to take part in this summer’s Paralympics in the F42 Javelin event.

He is currently ranked number two in the world, British number one and is a member of the UK Athletics World Class Performance Programme.

Last season, Moorhouse improved his personal best by six metres, throwing 47.33m, and broke the British record.

Denise Morley was the Sport Colchester Female Sports Personality for 2011.

The highlight of the Colchester Harriers runner’s year came as she secured 800 metre silver at the World Masters Athletics Championships, in Sacremento, California, as well as a 400m bronze medal.

The 42-year-old also claimed golden glory in the 400m and 800m at both the indoor and outdoor British Masters Championships and is ranked number one in the country in both events in the W40 age group.

And she capped a great year with double silver in these events at the European Veterans Indoor Championships in Belgium.

PREMIER AWARD: Joint-winners: Saskia Clark and Hannah Stodel (sailing).

MALE SPORTS PERSONALITY: Winner: Scott Moorhouse (javelin). Commendations: Terry Howlett (hockey), Martin Evans (sailing), Ben Foakes (cricket), David Le Grys (cycling).

FEMALE SPORTS PERONALITY: Winner: Denise Morley (athletics). Commendations: Melissa Dowell (iron man), Emma Lucraft (karate).

SCHOOLS AWARD: Winner: Fordham All Saints Primary School.

ERIC CHAPMAN SERVICE TO SPORT: winner: Lt Col Peter Andrews (Colchester and District Youth Football League). Commendations: Peter Newman (Colchester and District Youth Football League), Jocelyn Taylor (Rollerworld Skating School).

BILL TUCKER AWARDS: UNDER-18: Oliviyah Whitnell Zammit (badminton).

SENIOR: Adrian Martin (boxing).

WILKINSON SWORD AWARD: Winner: University of Essex ABC (boxing).

COACH OF THE YEAR: Winner: Gordon Charlesworth (boxing). Commendations: Tracie Allen (gymnastics).

TEAM AWARD: Winner: Colchester United Ladies Under-19 (football). Commendations: University of Essex Student Squash team (squash), University of Essex Lacrosse team (lacrosse), University of Essex HPU Triathlon Relay Race team.

UNDER-18 MALE: Winner: Reece Topley (cricket). Commendations: Jacob Lloyd (basketball), Tom Crozier (rugby), Charlie Roach (boxing), Sean Watson (triathlon).

UNDER-18 FEMALE: Winner: Jasmin Taylor (skiing). Commendations: Sarah Prescott-Smith (athletics), Rebecca Croly (karate), Kate Curran (triathlon).

UNDER-18 TEAM: Winner: Colchester Golf Club Juniors (golf). Commendations: Colchester Rugby Club Under-17 (rugby). UNDER-14 MALE: Winner: David Labrouche (sailing). Commendations: Cai James (golf). Sam O’Brien (golf), Samuel Nightingale (gymnastics).

UNDER-14 FEMALE: Winner: Eleanor Clifford (gymnastics). Commendations: Grace Smith (equestrian), Elsa Philipson (fencing), Jane Li (table tennis), Ellie Vine (gymnastics).

UNDER-14 TEAM: Winner: Colchester Royal Grammar School (rugby). Commendations: Holmwood House (rugby), Colchester Town Ladies Under-tens (football).