Triathlete Launches St Edmundsbury Sports Awards 2010
Steeple Bumpstead triathlete Barbara Leverett has launched the 2010 St Edmundsbury Sports Awards, run by Abbeycroft Leisure, in Haverhill as she was presented with the 2009 Sports Personality of the Year Award.Barbara won the award at the St Edmundsbury Sports Awards last year but was unable to attend the ceremony held in Bury St Edmunds because she was in Australia defending her World Triathlon Championship title. The award is presented to the sports person who has made great progress over time and has achieved a vast deal. The award will be presented by Rick Wildridge whose company Haldo Signs and Graphics in Bury St Edmunds sponsored the Sports Personality of the Year category.
Barbara came fourth in the World Triathlon Championships but a few days later won the World Aquathon Championships where she ran, swam and ran her way to 1st place and a gold medal. She also travelled to the USA and came first in the World Duathlon Championships for the second time and gaining another gold medal to add to her growing collection.
The St Edmundsbury Sports Personality of the Year Award is the third award she has won in the last year. Barbara went forward to the Suffolk Sports Awards in October and was a runner up. She was also a runner up in the Living Sport Award in Cambridge, just losing out to the England Cricket Captain Charlotte Edwards, who led the team to victory in the Ashes.
Barbara joins a prestigious number of St Edmundsbury Sports Award winners from the Haverhill area, including Haverhill Rugby Club junior section (Club), Samantha Milner (Young Sports Personality), Tom Cole (triumph over adversity), Alessia Thomas-Jackson (young sports personality), Steffi Biller (sports personality).
Barbara said: “I am so thrilled to receive this award and to launch the 2010 St Edmundsbury Sports Awards. These awards are extremely important as they focus on local sporting achievements and they seek to inspire other up-and-coming sports men and women in St Edmundsbury to strive for success both locally, nationally and internationally. I urge people in the Haverhill area to vote for their local sporting stars.”
The St Edmundsbury Sports Awards are run each year by Abbeycroft Leisure to recognise outstanding sporting achievements made by sports men, women and juniors throughout the year and to celebrate the huge amount of work that takes place within sport in the borough of St Edmundsbury.
Rick Wildridge, Chairman of Haldo Developments which runs Haldo Signs and Graphics, said: “We are very pleased to finally be able to present Barbara with this well deserved award. We are thrilled to be a sponsor of St Edmundsbury Sports Awards as we work closely with Abbeycroft Leisure, providing their indoor and outdoor signage.”
The award scheme is open to all sports enthusiasts and volunteers who are affiliated to a club within St Edmundsbury, part of a school team in the Borough of St Edmundsbury or reside within St Edmundsbury Borough.
Awards are made for the Sports Personality of the Year, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Unsung Hero, Lifetime Achievement, Triumph Over Adversity, Coach of the Year and Contribution to Disability Sport.
A glittering awards ceremony for 300 guests will take place on Sunday 26 September 2010 at the brand new Apex in Bury St Edmunds to celebrate the successes of St Edmundsbury’s sporting stars.
Winners of the St Edmundsbury Sports Awards then go on to the Suffolk Sports Awards in October hosted by Suffolk Sport. If they are successful there they could be put forward for BBC East Sports Awards.
To nominate a sports person or team for the above awards visit St Edmundsbury Sports Awards to download a nomination form or pick up a form from Haverhill or Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centres. If you would like to know more about sponsoring an award for 2010 contact Michelle Curran on 01284 757482.