The great and the good of Bedford sport converged on the Corn Exchange on Monday night as the annual Bedford Sport and Physical Activity Awards ceremony took place to celebrate sporting talent, success and volunteers.
There were 119 nominations for thirteen awards that were given out across a number of categories encompassing players, coaches, volunteers, clubs and schools in what was the 29th edition of the event led by Bedford Borough Council.
A total of 23 judges across the Bedfordian landscape pored through the long list of nominations and the thirteen winners were announced either side of a welcome and farewell from Mayor Tom Wootton with films also showing the excellent work of the wider community.
Club of the Year
Out of nine nominations for ‘Club of the Year’, Bedford Cricket Club took home the first award of the night.
Off the back of another successful season at The Bury, with the huge success of the newly-formed Women’s and Girls section where the Under 11s – Under 13s team won the league in their inaugural season and the Women reached the Regional Super 8s finals in their first campaign, the club goes from strength to strength under the guidance of a strong team of volunteers.
There was also success for the Men who narrowly missed out on a Premier League berth, losing out in the Premier Division play-off in the Bedfordshire County Cricket League.
Community Sports & Physical Activity Award
The award to recognise the positive impact of local groups and individuals in the community went to Kempston Park Indoor Bowls Club for their wide variety of inclusive and popular sessions.
From offering sessions to disabled bowlers, known as the ‘Wheelstars’, to offering bowls to those suffering with dementia and even introducing the sport to 24 youngsters from the Netherlands, Kempston Park continue to grow and offer a chance for anyone to get involved.
There were seventeen nominations in total for this award, outlining the number of groups and individuals who continue to bring positivity and action to the Bedford community.
Primary School of the Year
Attending all school multi-sport fixtures as well as submitting teams into all after school games is quite the commitment made by Livingstone Primary School who took home the ‘Primary School of the Year’ award ahead of four other schools this year.
For the teachers of Livingstone Primary, it often means a late finish but their commitment to opening sport and activity up to the whole school was commended, with active lunchtimes also pushed with the presence of Sports Leaders and a variety of different programmes offered.
Secondary School of the Year
Daubeney Academy were the winners of the ‘Secondary School of the Year’ award ahead of Biddenham International School and Sports College and Castle Newnham, after demonstrating an excellent sporting programme encompassing a vast range of activities.
The inclusivity of the school in helping everyone access the sporting curriculum was also highlighted in their nomination with each year group appointing a Student Leader to lead their year group and go out into the local community to assist youngsters.
Young Volunteer of the Year
In what was a first award of a successful night for Shortstown Rangers Football Club, Lewis Knox won the ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ award ahead of four other nominees.
Lewis was recognised for his contribution coaching the Under-12’s Dolphins side, attending every training session and game as well as stepping up to help coach four and five year olds at the club at Shortstown’s soccer coaching school.
Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year
Setting new club records in wheelchair racing in four different distances – all within two years of joining the club – young wheelchair racer and basketball player, Sean Chigumba won a well-earnt Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year award.
His performances on the athletics track have earnt Sean selection for the England Athletics Youth Talent Programme and a national ranking of first in 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m as well as making regular appearances for the wheelchair basketball team in Milton Keynes.
Adult Disability Sports Personality of the Year
Christopher Bradley has enjoyed a stellar year on horseback in the world of Equestrian Dressage with two Grade 7 National Dressage Championship gold medals and a fifth place finish at the World Virtus Games held in France.
However, his season peaked with selection for Team GB at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, where he won gold medals in all three of his classes, leaving him an Olympics gold medallist.
Junior Personality of the Year
By far the most popularly contested award of the evening, with 22 nominations, the Junior Personality award covered a multitude of sports from swimming to rugby and canoeing to gymnastics.
Despite the strong competition, Gracie Wall from the world of athletics took home the prize after another successful season in the high jump arena, made all the more better after recovering from a serious back injury at the end of 2022.
A gold medal at the England Under-20 Championships as well as a bronze in the Indoor Internationals in the Czech Republic were the highlights of a stellar campaign with the aim being selection at the 2024 World Junior Championships.
There was also a commendation for Lola Bracey, who won the Lionesses Legacy Award earlier this year after gaining 60,000 signatures aimed at increasing participation in football for girls in schools.
Team of the Year
The perennial success of perhaps one of Bedford’s most successful sporting teams on the national and international stage continues, with the Bedford Ladies Tug of War team picking up the ‘Team of the Year’ award after another wonderful calendar year.
Winning all four weight classes at the National Championships in Yorkshire this year saw the side attend the British and Irish Championships, earning a further three gold medals and a silver.
That success saw them once again represent the nation at the World Championships in Switzerland, finishing fourth and cementing their status as one of the most successful Tug of War teams in the country.
Unsung Hero
The success of Queens Park Crescent Football Club would not have been possible without the efforts of Adnan Khan.
Putting football on the map in Queens Park, the club now have ten sides including a youth set up and a Development team, led by the efforts of Adnan who takes on multiple roles including club secretary, kit man, managing the finances and searching for further funding opportunities to help develop the club.
All of the ten nominees were strong candidates in one of the evening’s most important awards, with the judging panel also recognising the efforts of the late Steve Hawkins of Bedford Hockey Club.
Described by the Club as, “A man of immense talent, who has left his mark on the very fabric of Bedford Hockey Club”, Hawkins was one of the multi-role volunteers that help any grassroots club thrive. From ground maintenance to subscription officer and everything else in between, he will be sorely missed by all.
Coach of the Year
Netball’s Hayley Mackellar took home the ‘Coach of the Year’ prize, the Level 2 coach having a hand in all seven age groups at Team Beds Netball Club as well as playing a vital role in the coaching at Bedfordshire County.
Mackellar has also progressed on the national stage, coaching for the Severn Stars in the Netball Super League as well as for the Scottish Under-21 side.
Adult Personality of the Year
A 40-year gap between appearances on the hockey pitch did not put off the winner of the Adult Personality of the Year, Steph Daniels, who has now progressed on to trials for the England over-70 side on top of appearing for Bedford Hockey Club in the walking hockey arena twice a week.
Also participating in the Back to Hockey course as well as the 7’s team, Steph continues to show that age is no barrier to participation in sport in Bedford and deservedly took home the Adult Personality award.
Service to Sport Award
There were ten nominees for the final award of the evening, the ‘Service to Sport’ award which went to Riverside Tennis Club’s Neil Frankel for years of hard work promoting the game for all.
Neil was a tennis coach for the person writing this very article as a junior, which goes to show the longevity he has shown at Riverside. Neil’s coaching efforts span 25 years, with 20 of those as Riverside’s Company Director before moving on to become the Club’s Disability Tennis Manager, fronting the popular ‘No Barriers’ programme.
Neil now coaches Gary Cox, another one of the 119 nominees on the evening, helping him rise up the Quad Wheelchair world rankings and he was also recognised by the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Russell Beard for his services to the community.
Congratulations to all of the award winners on Monday evening, as well as those who received commendations among a vast field of excellent nominees.
Full speed ahead into 2024…
Full list of winners
Club of the Year: Bedford Cricket Club
Community Sports & Physical Activity Award: Kempston Park Indoor Bowls
Primary School of the Year: Livingstone Primary School
Secondary School of the Year: Daubeney Academy
Young Volunteer of the Year: Lewis Knox
Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year: Sean Chigumba
Adult Disability Sports Personality of the Year: Christopher Bradley
Junior Personality of the Year: Gracie Wall (winner) & Lola Bracey (commendation)
Team of the Year: Bedford Ladies Tug of War (winner) & Shortstown Rangers FC U9s Sharks (commendation)
Unsung Hero: Adnan Khan (winner) & Steve Hawkins (commendation)
Coach of the Year: Hayley Mackellar
Adult Personality of the Year: Steph Daniels
Service to Sport: Neil Frankel
