Torbay Sports Personality Awards

Torbay Sports Personality ‘Year of the Volunteer’ Awards 2007/2008

Torbay’s sporting and volunteering stars of 2007 received a fitting celebration of their achievements on the 2 May 2008 at the Torbay Sports Personality ‘Year of the Volunteer’ Awards at Torquay’s Barcelo Imperial Hotel.

The annual sporting extravaganza attracted a large turnout which saw 7 individual winners, 3 team winners and 1 Club winner honoured for their outstanding achievements and dedication to sport in Torbay for 2007.

John Hogarth from Palm FM compered the evening and special guest former England Rugby star Phil De Glanville presented the Awards and also provided an inspiring lesson in how to achieve a successful sporting career.

Among the individual winners was world quadrathlon champion Helen Parkinson, who coaches and trains at Torbay Athletics Club. The 34-year old teacher took the Senior Sportsperson of the Year Award, while the Junior version went to Welsh Hockey star Daffydd Bury, who is competing in the Celtic Cup, the Home Nations, the European Championships and the World Cup.

The Disabled Sportsperson of the Year Award went to Jordan Bright, who lost both of his legs as a youngster. He now captains the Northwest of England Wheelchair Basketball Team and is being groomed for the England U-23 Team.

The Coach of the Year Award was won by Barton Cricket Club’s Adam Parker, who is already an ECB Level II coach and spends hours throughout the summer either managing, coaching or officiating at colts matches.

The Junior Volunteer Award went to Adam White who has coaching qualifications for both football and rugby while the Senior Volunteer Awards was won by Roger Mann, well known as chairman of the Torbay Sports Council. Roger also collected the Imperial Hotel Winner of Winners Award.

The Junior Team Award went to Torquay Boys Grammar School U16 Football Squad who won the RAF Under-16 National Cup at Manchester City’s Eastlands Stadium just last month, while the Senior Team Award went to Team XCellent, the sailing squad who have represented Torbay all over the world.

Meanwhile, the Devon Youth Games Team Award was won by its DYG Gymnastics Squad and the Community Club Award went to the Torbay Olympic Gymnastics Club.

The evening was organised by Torbay Sports Partnership, Torbay Council and Paignton Community and Sports College and sponsored by the Herald Express, The Runners Guide, Devon DJ and Torbay Leisure Centre.

Runner Up Awards went to:

• Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Scott Smith and Graham Litt
• Disabled Sportsperson of the Year: Laura Green and Zach Chaffe
• Senior Sportsperson of the Year: Adam Parker and Helen Collins
• Junior Team of the Year: YMCA Torbay Tigers Basketball Team
• Senior Team of the Year: Brixham Villa Football Club
• Coach of the Year: Chris Halls and Jon and Becky Lees
• Junior Volunteer of the Year: Chris Bovet-White and Troy Culley
• Senior Volunteer of the Year: Kirsty Lewis and John Charles
• Torbay Sports Development Community Club of the Year: YMCA Torbay Tigers Basketball Club