Despite another year of stunning archery success Halstead’s Imogen Newby admitted that she was “surprised” to be taking home one of the major honours at the Active Braintree 2015 Sports Awards.

The 11-year-old Hedingham School pupil (pictured right) has enjoyed another record breaking year that saw her become a Performance Academy Athlete in Archery GB’s Olympic Performance Pathway Programme.

She has taken county, regional and national honours and holds eight Essex records that were all broken in 2015 as well as claiming three UK records.

It is form that has put her on the right track to achieve her goal of a podium place at the 2020 Olympics, however, she said there was still some shock as she was announced as the joint winner of the Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

Newby, who was highly commended at last year’s Braintree and Essex Sports Awards, said: “I was kind of surprised when he said my name as the winner because all the other competitors were really good as well.

“It was really unpredictable what would happen, but it’s really special.

“I wasn’t expecting it.

“It’s nice as the amount of work that I’m having to do in my first year at secondary school means I’m really busy now. But this award means more people will see what I’m doing now and it will drive me on as I feel I need to impress them a bit more.

“They’ll have seen me win one award and I now need to win some others.”

There was also an honour in the same category for another Hedingham School pupil – Cameron Kerr.

The Discovery Triathlon Club member was highly commended after finishing 27th in the under-20s category at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in Geneva in July while still aged only 16.