Dateline: 19th November 2009

From Jenna Palmer,
Communications Officer at the Cornwall Sports Partnership.

The 2009 Cornwall Sports Awards kicked off in style last week, providing the perfect platform to celebrate the county's many unsung sporting heroes.

The event, held at The Esplanade Hotel in Newquay on Friday 13 November, welcomed more than 200 attendees; including special guests Olympic weightlifter Michaela Breeze, Cornwall rugby coach Dave Thomas, and last year's BBC SW Unsung Sporting Hero Chris Goninan.

Entertainment was also provided in abundance by the evening's compere, Pirate FM presenter Neil Caddy. Opening and closing the ceremony was 16 year old Athletics Ambassador Annabel Gummow.

Organised by the Cornwall Sports Partnership and Cornwall Council, the event was set up four years ago to pay tribute to the many volunteers around the county who dedicate their time and efforts to supporting our strong sports community.

This year 11 awards were presented, in three separate categories, and the well-deserved winners are as follows:

In the COACHING category (Sponsored by Truro College)

• Male Coach of the Year - Andrew Reeve, Launceston Equestrian Centre
• Female Coach of the Year - Mo Pearson, Cornwall Athletics Club
• Young Coach of the Year U25 - James Cockley, Fowey Gig Rowing Club
• Official of the Year - John Green, Cornwall Cougars Basketball

In the CLUB category (Sponsored by Tony Pryce Sports)

• Adult Club of the Year - Truro Fencing Club
• Junior Club of the Year - Penzance Hockey Club
• Club of the Year 2009 (chosen by text and postal vote, in collaboration with Devon & Cornwall Media Group Newspapers) - Looe Rowing Club

In the VOLUNTEERING category (Sponsored by LEAP Active, Miller Countrywide and Cornwall School Sports Partnerships)

• Community Volunteer of the Year - Adrian Parsons, Bude Surf Life Saving Club
• Community Volunteer of the Year U25 - Vikki Clacey, Bude Swimming Club
• Young Leader of the Year - Gemma Cliffe, Liskeard School
• Lifetime Services to Sport - John Bawden, Newquay Gig Rowing Club

Special guest Olympic weightlifter, Michaela Breeze says: "I am delighted to have been asked to attend the Cornwall Sports Awards evening which recognises the dedication and commitment of some of the many people that generously volunteer their time to sport. For me personally, without the support of so many volunteers my journey would not have been possible. The hours that have gone into coaching me and taking me up and down the country have been a significant part of my journey and one that I will be forever grateful for."

Cornwall Sports Awards organiser, Natasha Howard of the Cornwall Sports Partnership, says: "It's been another fantastic awards evening and, as ever, the volunteering efforts of all our winners has been outstanding. We're delighted to be able to honour the amazing work they do and to formally thank them, based on the nominations we receive from all the very many people that their volunteering reaches."

A variety of Cornish companies and organisations support the event, including: Truro College, Tony Pryce Sports, Miller Countrywide, Cornwall & Devon Media, the Health Promotion Service and Cornwall's School Sport Partnerships.