A RECORD number of nominations helped to make this year’s Active Braintree District Sports Awards the biggest ever as sporting dedication and achievements were celebrated at a gala ceremony.

Sports stars and volunteers from all over the Braintree District gathered at the College at Braintree to reflect on 12 months of excellence at local, regional, national and international levels as well as honouring those whose tireless work allows clubs to thrive.

John Wood, chairman of the Active Braintree Network, said the 115 nominations across the ten award categories had made it a record year and he was delighted with the scope and quality of those put forward for honours.

The top Sports Personality Award went to Braintree Golf Club’s Todd Clements after he won the English Amateur title this year, while World champion BMX rider Bethany Shriever was highly commended.

The awards were once again supported by Braintree District Council and chairman Cllr Stephen Kirby said: “It’s a brilliant occasion for the whole of the district.

“It just shows what our people can achieve and are achieving.

“It’s a brilliant awards scheme that really has my whole-hearted support.

“I was very impressed with the quality of everyone involved and they shine a light for all who follow them now.

“I’m just glad I don’t have to sit on the selection panel because it must be so tough to choose winners from the nominees.”

Another big winner was Braintree Bullets BMX star Freia Challis, who won the Young Sports Personality award.

It was an incredibly high-calibre list of nominees in the category, but Challis won after a stunning year on the track when she picked up a third consecutive British title in her age group.

She said: “This was my best year so far and I was so proud to get the award.”

Winning the Community Club of the Year award was Braintree Hockey Club.

Braintree president Mike Armsworth said: “This is a lovely award to get.

“We are a very active club with about 450 members from all age groups.

“We have won a lot of regional awards in the younger age groups and have ended up in England finals and we also have people, like myself, still playing at the other end of the spectrum. It’s so nice to be recognised by your peers for what you do.”

Another winner on the night was Braintree and District Athletic Club coach Eddie Hawkins, who received the Lifetime Services award.

Hawkins said: “I’m very proud that people actually voted for me, but to win the award was lovely.

“When you’re out there doing it, you don’t really expect people to appreciate what you do.

“You do it because you love doing it and that’s the whole point.

“I feel a bit of a fraud winning the award because I just love doing it, but I’m really pleased.

“I’ve been coaching for 21 years, but I’ve been involved in sport since I was ten - so for 65 years now - and I thoroughly enjoy it; I couldn’t imagine life without sport.”

2017 ACTIVE BRAINTREE SPORTS AWARDS
Sports Personality of the Year (sponsored by George Yard) - Winner: Todd Clements (Braintree Golf Club); Highly commended: Beth Shriever (BMX).
Young Sports Personality of the Year (sponsored by Milbank) - Winner: Freia Challis (Braintree BMX Club); Highly commended: Imogen Newby (archery), Jessica Hopkins (athletics), Ben Turp (water skiing).
Physical activity project of the year/changing lives around physical activity - Winner: Braintree Easy Riders; Highly commended: Sport for Confidence, Braintree Town Hall Tea Dance.
Services to Disability Sport - Winner: Jake Turner (Sport for Confidence); Highly commended: Ivan Street (athletics), Mark Fribbens (wheelchair exercise/boccia).
Unsung Hero (Volunteer) - Winner: Dawn Milson (Braintree Swimming Club); Highly commended: Samantha Blaney (dance), Nicki Edwards (#ThisGirlCan ambassador).
Young Community Volunteer (sponsored by Braintree District Council Chairman) - Winner: Summer and Lucia Roberts (Great Notley Parkrun); Highly commended: Owen Dawson (football), Iona Ridley (karate).
Community Club of the Year (sponsored by Fusion) - Winner: Braintree Hockey Club; Highly commended: The Martial Arts Centre Kata Team, Braintree Basketball Club.
Coach of the Year -Winner: Ash Baker (First Service Tennis Academy); Highly commended: Michelle Caulfield (running), Emma French (rugby).
School or College of the Year (sponsored by Braintree Freeport) - Winner: St. Andrews (Great Yeldham); Highly commended: Cressing Primary School, Bekers Green Primary School.
Lifetime Services Award (sponsored by Braintree & Witham Times) - Winner: Eddie Hawkins (Braintree District Athletics Club); Highly commended: Sue Brown (Beckers Green), Lee Peterson (swimming).