Hawcoat Sports and Social Club hosted last night’s well-attended presentation evening, which threw a spotlight on many of the best individual and team performances from locals over the last 12 months.
Teenage Ulverston goalkeeper Curtis Anderson picked up the Junior Sportsperson of the Year award after helping England under-17s win the World Cup in India.
Boxer Liam Conroy was rewarded for becoming Barrow’s first English professional champion by scooping the Senior Sportsperson award.
The intrepid orienteering team of Ulverston Victoria High School won the Junior Team of the year trophy after being crowned British champions and world silver medalists.
Picking up the Senior Team of the Year award were Croftlands Park FC, who celebrated a remarkable achievement in the Furness Premier League set-up by winning all three divisions in the first three years of their existence.
All the awards categories were very closely contested, with the judging panel having a difficult job in whittling down the entries into shortlists of three – and then choosing a winner.
In the Junior Sportsperson section, Anderson was run close by fellow international footballer Aimee Everett and England judo prodigy Harvey Burns.
Reigning English light- heavyweight champion Conroy faced very stiff competition from fellow Barrovians – Lancashire captain and England Test cricket call-up Liam Livingstone and jockey Charlotte Jones, who enjoyed a terrific season in the saddle, with several winning rides.
The UVHS orienteers were up against another successful team from their own school – the table cricket aces who came runners-up in a national tournament at Lord’s – plus the double-winning rugby league starlets of Dalton under-16s.
Croftlands Park went head-to-head with Black Combe Runners’ ladies, who came a brilliant second in the English Fell Running Championships and Barrow Raiders, who won the League One Cup and clinched promotion to the Championship.
In addition to the main awards, several hard-working and dedicated individuals were rewarded for their efforts with Service to Sport Awards.
From football, referee Joe Gardner has officiated for more than 60 years and is still a regular with the whistle aged in his 80s.
Evergreen Barrow Celtic and Barrow and District JFL servant Dennis Boyd was also honoured, having made an immense contribution to the local game down the years.
Millom rugby league duo Garry Kelly and Paul Roskell were recognised for their huge contribution to the Woollybacks’ cause down the years.
Hawcoat Park rugby union’s Terry Burns has worked for the club in various roles for more than half a century and is treasurer at present, and club chairman John Horne has been involved for 40-plus years.
Former Dalton cricketer Terry Atkinson has spent many years officiating in the North Lancs and Cumbria League as well as being secretary and treasurer of the league’s federation of umpires.
And Ian and Lyn Fraser have been the driving force behind Furness Gymnastics Club for decades, with Ian the club chairman and Lyn head coach and secretary.
Before the awards began, the first presentation of the night saw brilliant young runner Olesia Winder pick up the December Sports Performance of the Month award.
Winder had a fabulous month, winning the Mid Lancs Cross Country race in Leigh, Furness District Schools Cross Country Championships and Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers one-mile Christmas fun run.
Special guest was ex-Barrow AFC and Birmingham City winger Neil Doherty, who took part in an entertaining question and answer session with Holker Street PA announcer Darren Herbert.
John Knagg did an excellent job as MC and also helped organise the awards, along with wife Barbara, plus Terry Barker, Emma Broadbent and the Mail sports team.
Thanks also go to awards sponsors Furness Heating, GMB union, Barrow RL auxiliary branch, Barrow And District Amateur Rugby League and Furness Coaching Association.
Also thanks to Hawcoat Park for hosting the awards, Barrow Raiders PA announcer Cameron Lees, and last but not least, the sports-loving South Cumbrian community who took the time to vote in such great numbers.
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