WIGAN and Leigh’s unsung heroes of sport were honoured at this year’s annual Borough Sports Awards.

Coaches, teams and sports clubs gathered at the JJB Stadium on Friday night for the ninth annual award ceremony.

The winners were:

Club of the Year

Winner - Tyldesley Swimming and Water Polo Club.

Runner-up - Leigh Rugby Union Football Club.

Finalist - Astley and Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Club.

* Tyldesley Swimming and Water polo Club have accreditation in both swimming and water polo. They are only the 3rd club in the country to have gained the swim 21 and water polo 21 accreditation.

The club have a strong coach development structure. In 2008 they invested £5000 on coach education and development.

Coach of the Year

Winner - Roy Wood – Aspull Wrestling Club.

Runner-up - Gillian Fitzpatrick – Allstars Cheer Team.

Finalist - Steve Hilton – Leigh Genesis Junior Football Club.

* Roy has mentored six club coaches over the last 12 months to gain their coaching qualifications, and is currently mentoring another 10 coaches at Aspull Wrestling Club. He dedicates four nights per week plus most weekends to wrestling and this year took the Great Britain team to the Junior Commonwealth Games in India. Roy has helped a number of wrestlers gain places on the Great Britain squad with a view to competing at the 2012 Olympics.

Disabled Sports Achiever

Winner - Hazel Johnson – Bryn Badminton Club.

Runner-up - Anthony Burgoyne – Allstars Athletics Club.

Finalist - Adam Rigby - Wigan and District Wheelchair Tag Rugby Team.

* Hazel has impaired hearing and sight, but through constant hard work, dedication and enthusiasm she has risen to the top of her sport.

She competed in the Four Nations Disability Championships during 2008, competing against the best badminton players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In each of these competitions Hazel has won gold and silver medals in the ladies singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She has been selected to participate in the Special Olympics National Championships in Leicester in July 2009.

Sports Achiever

Winner - Jenny Meadows – Wigan Harriers and Athletics Club.

Runner-up - Laura Riches – Leigh Harriers and Athletics Club.

Finalist - Declan Gregory – Aspull Wrestling Club.

* Jenny competes internationally in 800m and has won every British indoor race in 2008. She finished 5th in the World indoor championships in Valencia, won the European cup for GB, and most impressively reached the semi finals at the Beijing Olympic Games finishing with a world ranking of 9th.

Jenny’s dedication stretches to 14 training sessions per week and 18 months ago she left work to be able to train full time.

Unsung Hero

Winner - John Charlson – Atherton Cricket Club.

Runner-up - Arnold Woodcock – Westleigh Cricket Club.

Finalist - Kenneth Buxton – Leigh and District Angling Association.

* John began work as Atherton Cricket Club’s secretary in 1958, this being his 50th year in post. He has spent 20 years as the U11s coach.

John ensures the day to day running of the club, overseeing its development from an impoverished organisation in to a highly respected outfit with good modern facilities.

Volunteer of the Year

Winner - Nicky Slack – Aspull Wrestling Club.

Runner-up - Shaun Rotherham - Warriors Junior Football Club.

Finalist - Phil McNamee – Multi-Sports Club.

* Nicky continually turns up night after night at Aspull Wrestling Club training sessions to support coaches and volunteers with a determination to not only improve herself as an athlete, but to train to be a coach and develop her own skills. Nicky’s works each day in local schools coaching and mentoring young people and also helps at Aspull club 2-3 nights per week and 3 nights per week she works on estates in deprived socio-economic areas doing outreach work

Team of the Year

Winner - Standish Community High School Year 7 Rugby League Team.

Runner-up - Wigan Schoolboys U.11's Football Team.

Finalist - Tyldesley Thunder Netball Team.

* The under 12s team became North West Counties Champions and Carnegie National Champions in 2008. The team trained on a weekly basis as well as giving up some of their summer holidays to take part in training before the finals at Wembley Stadium Winning 3 trophies in one season and becoming National Champions was achieved by determination, hard work and commitment. Not only did the team do their bit on the field, but they helped to raise £6,000 to fund the trip to Wembley and to get a new kit.

The Martin Lynn Special Contribution to School Sport Award

Winner - Jim Keating – St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School.

Runner-up - Paul Kelly – Holy Family Catholic Primary School.

Finalist - Jade Cartwright – Abraham Guest High School.

* Jim has been instrumental in developing volleyball across the Borough of Wigan over the years. Jim’s dedication to his role is second to none, and he is so enthusiastic about developing young people’s skills not only in volleyball but across most sports. Jim has built up a number of successful volleyball teams at his local school, with some of the students going on to gain national honours and regional representation.


Special guest speaker was 400m runner and silver medallist at the 4x400m relay in the Atlanta games Mark Richardson.

He said: “These winners are an inspiration. When I first started out I went to a local club and said ‘I want to win an Olympic medal’ and the coach there just looked at me and said ‘that’s a worthy ambition let’s see what we can do’.

“Winning silver in Atlanta was a wonderful feeling and it all started for me at local level.

“It’s the feeder system to national and international success.

“Everyone’s success starts here at grass roots.”

The annual ceremony, organised by Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust's (WLCT) Sports Development Unit, recognises the hard work and dedication put in by competitors, coaches and sports clubs from all over the Wigan Borough during the past year. A total of 108 nominations were received with 320 people attending the ceremony.

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust Executive Director for Sport and Healthy Living, Martin Eden said: “The stories we have heard have been truly inspirational. “This is one of the most thriving and exciting sporting hot spots in the country and that’s due to the tremendous dedication, commitment and spirit from all those who week in week out take part in sport throughout Wigan Borough.

“I would like to thank the Sports Development Unit for organising another fantastic night.”

The ninth annual Wigan Borough Sports Awards was sponsored by JJB Sports, as well as individual award sponsors Wigan Borough Sports Council, Wigan Athletic Football Club, Wigan Disability Sports Forum, Optimum Sport, Wish FM, Ferryman Blue Graphic Design, Greater Manchester and Wigan Police and the School Sports Partnership. Each of the winners received a personalised t-shirt from ADM Direct as a memento of the night.