The Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards are back for 2023, and nominations are now open for the 13 awards to be given out on Monday 11th December at Bedford Corn Exchange.
Alongside the regular Adult and Junior Sports Personality of the Year awards, there are also prizes recognising clubs, schools, administrators, volunteers and unsung heroes in a celebration of sport in our town of Bedford.
Award nomination forms can be found here.
What’s up for grabs?
There are now four Sports Personality of the Year awards, encompassing both Adult and Junior categories and including a disability category introduced in 2022.
England and London Pulse netballer, Ellie Rattu won the Adult Sports Personality of the Year in 2022, while swimmer Eloise Cole won the Junior prize, with tennis player, Gary Cox and wheelchair racing’s Varun Bandi winning the respective Disability awards.
The much sought after ‘Club of the Year’ prize – won by Bedford Hockey Club in 2022 – will be hotly contested alongside the Community Club or Group of the Year, won by Bedford Walking Football last year, and the Team of the Year was the hugely successful Bedford Women’s Tug of War team, who have enjoyed another brilliant year at home and abroad.
Schools are also recognised, with Great Denham Primary School and Goldington Academy picking up the two prizes last year, while Coach of the Year went to golf coach, Steve Vinnicombe.
There are also awards recognising volunteers and unsung heroes, with Dave Parratt winning the Unsung Hero award for his work in the hockey field, alongside Kai Williams who won the Young Volunteer of the Year with Su Felce winning the ‘Service to Sport’ award.
There will surely be many of Bedford’s finest sportspeople in the nominations, with so many more worthy of recognition across Bedford’s wide sporting landscape.
Eloise Cole (pictured) has once again had a monumental year at local, regional, national and international level after winning medals at the World School Games in Rio de Janeiro, and the Bedford Women’s Tug of War team has also represented Bedford on the world stage.
And of course, local clubs and competitions cannot run without the dedication of its volunteers and administrators, who are a vital part of any sporting competition or venue.
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 21st November at 5pm.
The full list of categories along with the nomination criteria and the all important nomination form can be found here.
