Shropshire Star

Spotlight falls on Shropshire's sporting stars

Shropshire's international stars and heroes enjoyed the spotlight at the Shropshire Schools' Sports & Athletic Association's award night.

Published

The annual event is held to recognise the talented youngsters who have represented their respective countries.

It's also to pay tribute to the coaches and volunteers who help ensure the county continues to punch above its weight on the sporting front.

The SSSAA serves Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin and is the umbrella organisation which co-ordinates and supports 14 individual school sports, each with its own association.

A total of 28 talented youngsters saw their sporting prowess rewarded with long service awards also being handed out to cricket coaches Rod Jones, Dave Nock and Ian Roe and football coach Mark Hignett.

There were also two team gongs to mark impressive performances from Adcote School's gymnastics squad and Ellesmere College Under-15 boys cricket team.

Vice-president of the SSSAA, Derek Hayward, who has received an MBE for his services to sport, stepped in to hand out the awards.

Wales footballer Dave Edwards was forced to pull out after breaking his metatarsal playing for Wolves.

Hayward said: "These occasions are really nice nights and it was great to see all those sports people there.

"To represent your country at any sport is an amazing achievement. And to have so many from Shropshire is fantastic.

"School sport in Shropshire is very strong. But a lot of this is down to what's done outside of school as well.

"There has to be support from local clubs and coaches. And these successes say a lot about the standard of coaching in sports across Shropshire."

Councillor Stuart West was also in attendance at the council chamber at Shirehall, Shrewsbury.

He said: "It's a fantastic achievement for them to be recognised. The public don't know how hard they work and what the youngsters put themselves through. Their parents must feel very proud.

"It's a big thing to represent the county never mind your country."

SSSAA vice-chairman Paul Sanderson paid tribute to Edwards, who had taken the time following surgery to forward a letter congratulating the recipients in their awards.

Sanderson said: "It was a good night and I think all the recipients enjoyed it. It was good of Dave to take the time to send a letter. That was very nice of him.

"It's hard to get an international vest or call in any sport.

"Shropshire has one of the smallest secondary school populations in the country, so for so many of our youngsters to excel and gain international recognition is amazing."

Dave Nock, cricket

Long Service Award

After many years of playing, coaching was the avenue that Dave took to give something back to the sport he loved. He began coaching in Shropshire Schools in 1996. In October 2004, he gained his UKCC Level Three award and became a coach educator from 2006.

Dave has continued to coach players from U12 to U17 including Shropshire Ladies and worked in the Shropshire Cricket Academy.

Highlights include Shropshire U13s winning the Taunton Festival and being named Regional Sky Sports Coach of the Year.

Ian Roe, cricket

Long Service Award

Ian's coaching career started in 1986, after he passed is Level One coaching badge.

Following a number of years coaching children at club level in the Bridgnorth district, Dave was recruited by the Shropshire Cricket Board in 2000 following completion of the ECB Level Two badge and has worked with most county age groups from U10 to U17 boys, and more recently the County Women's Squad.

In recent years, Ian has been involved in the 'Chance to Shine' project with local schools in the Bridgnorth area.

Mark Hignett, football

Long Service Award

Mark was invited to manage one of the Shropshire Schools and Colleges FA county representative teams following a successful first season culminating in two Gay Meadow victories. At the same time as this he also took on the role of secretary for the Shrewsbury District Football Association.

Twelve years on, he continues to serve SSCFA.

He was appointed to the English Schools' FA national council in 2014 where he serves on several committees as well as representing the Midlands on all matters.

Rod Jones, cricket

Long Service Award

Rod became the first Level Three coach in Shropshire in 2001. He developed the youth section at his club Whitchurch and has been involved with the county age groups since 1998.

Having two daughters, Rod realised that there was nothing for girls at county level and with the help of Liz Phillips, started the county girls section in 2000.

From this, a number of girls have gone on to bigger things –- no more so than his daughter, Evelyn, who is now with the England Women's Academy. Rod now coaches at Ellesmere College.

Ollie Westbury, cricket England

Shrewsbury School

Ollie represented England U18s against Australia U19s, opening the batting and scoring 57 and 26. Ollie was also selected to play for MCC Schools against English Schools Cricket Association at Lords.

Jack Dirkin, golf, GB

Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge CE Primary School

Jack represented GB in the U7 European Championship in Scotland as well as the World U6 Championships at Pinehurst USA.

He competed in the British U7 Boys' Championships and also won the UK U6 Wee Wonders Grand Final at St Andrews – making him the UK's U6 champion.

Grace Garbett, inline roller hockey, Great Britain

Thomas Telford School

Grace received her second international call in February 2015. She was appointed captain of the GB U10 team that travelled to California in July and led her young squad to fourth place in the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports World Cup and gained a bronze in the Amateur Athletics Union Junior Olympics.

Kyle Gladwin, field hockey, Scotland

Thomas Telford School

Kyle was selected to play iagainst Wales U18s Easter 2015. He went on to play for Scotland U21s against the touring Brazilian team and against Wales U21s.

Kyle played in a number of matches against England U18's, GB Colleges, Scotland Ladies and Ulster U23s. He then took part in the U18 Euro Hockey Division A Championships in Spain.

Georgina Hockenhull, artistic gymnastics, GB

Wrekin College

Georgina represented Great Britain at the European Games in Azerbaijan and finished in the top six on beam. She also competed at the Glasgow World Cup Grand Prix Series, coming fourth, and the Memorial Blume competition in Barcelona. She travelled to Texas for the WOGA Championships where she came second on the floor and third on the beam. She won a silver medal on the beam at the British Championships.

Sophie Johnson, golf, Great Britain

Thomas Telford School

Sophie has competed in the Scottish U16 Championships, the English U16 Championships and the European Junior Golf Championships, finishing 11th place. Her greatest achievement last year was going to San Diego playing for Team GB against Canada, United States 1, United States 2 and Sweden. Sophie was the only undefeated player in the tournament.

Callum Mackenzie, hockey, Scotland

Adams Grammar School

Callum is a member of the Scotland U18 team and competed in the U18 Euro Hockey Championships in Spain. At just 16, Callum was selected for the Scotland U21s and played matches against the England and the Wales Development Squad. He is part of the UK Lions squad and travelled to India to compete in the Junior World Cup.

Isla McDonald-O'Brien, golf, UK

Prestfelde School

Isla competed at the US Kids European Championships in Scotland where she came sixth. She then went to the USA to play in the IMG World Championships where she came 17th in a field in excess of 70.

Isla came fifth in the Junior World Stars event in Las Vegas and competed at the US Kids World Championships in Pinehurst.

She was third in the Wee Wonders Grand Final at St Andrews and crowned British Masters Champion at Woodhall Spa.

Rory McDonald-O'Brien, golf, UK

Prestfelde School

Rory took part in the US Kids European Championships where he came fifth and subsequently played in the Van Horn Cup for GB & Ireland against the rest of the world.

He travelled to the USA to play in the IMG World Championships where he came 32nd and finished 13th in the Junior World Stars event in Las Vegas.

In the August, Rory was crowned Wee Wonders Grand Champion at St Andrews as well as British Masters Champion at the US Kids British Masters held in Lincoln.

Emily Price, golf, England

Lacon Childe School

Emily has played nine times in the last 12 months for England winning eight of her nine matches.

Emily was one of only six girls selected to play in the Vagliano Trophy which brings the best female golfers from GB and Ireland together to take on Europe.

Her handicap is now +1 and she is in the U18s England International Team.

Drew Wright, sailing, Great Britain

William Brookes School

Drew came fifth in the National Optimist Team Selection Trials and represented Great Britain in the European and Braassemermeer Championships.

He went on to compete at the European Team Racing Championships. He is the current National Inland Champion and has been selected for the GBR winter training squad.

Derek Hayward Award for Primary School Sport

Adcote School Gymnastics Squad

The U11 team were crowned the ISA National 4-Piece champions at Haberdashers Askes School Elstree and the U9s and U11s became ISA National Champions.

The U11 and U9 B teams were ISA National Novice champions at the same venue.

The U10 team became GISGA Champions in Kent (the Olympics of the gym season) which included schools from Belgium and the Netherlands as well as Britain.

To end the season, the U9 and U11 girls completed their clean sweep and won the Misga Championships with the B teams first and second in the Novice divisions.

John Beswick Team Award

Ellesmere College U15 Boys Cricket Team

In the first round of the English School Cricket Association Midlands Section, the boys beat Rydal Penrhos and then defeated Wolverhampton Grammar School by nine wickets in the next round.

For the first time in the school's history, Ellesmere had progressed to the semi-final of the ESCA Cup, hosting Oakham School.

After dismissing Oakham for 106, Ellesmere knocked off the runs with six wickets to spare.

In the Midlands final, Ellesmere were emphatic winners over Warwick School to reach the national semi-final against Manchester Grammar School.

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