Young Sportswoman of the Year
Esther Halford (swimming) – Winner

Esther, of Long Eaton, is a member of Long Eaton Swimming Club and has represented it in team and individual events, enjoying many successes and winning medals at major championships – with her strongest events being the 400m and 800m freestyle. This year illness prevented her from swimming her best but she still qualified for the British Championships where she was ranked 15th.

Young Sports Leader
Jessica Bakewell – Winner

Jess (18) has made a big contribution to Sawley and Long Eaton Park Cricket Club by helping re-build its depleted Kwik cricket section back to two teams. She has been invaluable in taking on the coaching and development of the Kwik sections alongside another young coach. Her enthusiasm and encouragement has brought children into the club and she has proved inspirational to a new group of girls who have joined.

Young Sportsman of the Year
Gareth Griffiths (hockey) – Winner

Gareth, a pupil at Long Eaton School, is described as an ‘exceptionally talented student’ who was this year selected to play for England Hockey after a strenuous selection process over several months. He has also been drafted into the senior squad for Beeston Hockey Club and won his first England caps against Holland and Belgium earlier this year. He is also a sports leader for the school at its events and has also coached at Shard low Primary School.

Manager/Coach of the Year
Andrew Hickingbotham & – Winners
Robert Hudson (swimming)

In recognition of their achievements as joint Head Coaches of Ilkeston Swimming Club since their appointment two years ago. They have transformed the club from one that was regularly finishing last in competition to one that is now seeing its swimmers thrive. This year saw a record number of its swimmers gaining qualifying times for the County Championships. There was more success in other championships and at the JC Dobbs Trophy Gala the club broke the points total scored by any other club in recent history,

Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
Harry Baker (BMX) – Winner

Harry, of Sandiacre, has ADHD and autism. He channels all his energy and dedication into the BMX sport and has achieved outstanding results and rankings in the Regional, Midlands, National and British championships as well as making his mark in the BMX World Championships in Belgium this summer.

Junior Sportsperson of the Year
Myles Wildbore (BMX) – Winner

Myles, of Ilkeston, is eight years old and has achieved a lot of success this year as a BMX racer. He is now World Number 4 after taking part in the world championships. Myles races for Derby BMX Club and Derby SSquared and also took part in the European Championships to become European Number 5. He won the British National Series and also came first in the British Championships.

Sportsman of the Year
Conor Edwards (Taekwondo) – Winner

Conor, of Ilkeston, has achieved multiple British, English, and Welsh national gold medals which led to his inclusion to represent GB at the Open Championships in Canada this year where he won a silver medal. He also represented England at the World Championships in Italy where he became double world champion. Conor trains three times a week at local clubs and with the England team in Loughborough.

Sportswoman of the Year
Nikki Harris (cycling) – Winner

Nikki, of Draycott, is one of the leading British cyclocross racers and was 4th in the world championships. Heading into the new season, she is looking to cement her position at the top of the cyclocross world.

Junior Team of the Year
Ockbrook KS4 Girls Badminton Team – Winner

The team members, Year 10 and 11 students at Ockbrook School, are Molly Watling, Lauren Nutty, Georgia Stevenson and Sara Marriott. Their success this year includes winning the East Midlands Regional Finals and finishing 7th out of more than 6,000 schools in the Centre Parcs National Schools Badminton Finals. The team has inspired younger students to get involved in the sport.

Team of the Year
Sandiacre Town Cricket Club – Winner

Sandiacre Town 1st Eleven, captained by Dan Wheel don, have continued their success from last year which included being National Champions and Derbyshire Premier Cup winners.

Club of the Year
Long Eaton Rugby Club – Winner

Long Eaton Rugby Club continues to grow and is known as a very welcoming and family friendly club. This year another five new age groups have been launched from the Under 5s to the Under 9s, which now gives the opportunity for children of all ages to get involved with rugby. The club has also introduced Touch Rugby, which has proved very popular.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Graham Meadows (swimming) – Winner

Graham, of Long Eaton, joined Trident Swimming Club more than 35 years ago and since then has been a part of swimming in Long Eaton – holding many post for the club, the forerunner of Long Eaton Swimming Club. A qualified official, he is a regular announcer at events and remains an integral part of the club.

Volunteer of the Year
Heather Rhodes – Winner

Heather is the Bursar at Morley Primary School but has also become the volunteer sports co-ordinator for competitions and after school clubs – doing all the organising and administration as well as attending many of the events. She has run the local swimming gala for eight schools over the last few years and also attends and supports pupils in residential and outdoor sports activities.

Active4Life
Erewash School Sports Partnership – Winner

The Erewash School Sport Partnership through its This Girl Can initiative has encouraged hundreds, possibly thousands, of girls in Erewash to try an activity and think positively about physical activity as well as changing the perception of girls taking part in sport at school. The Partnership has worked with 40 girls from four secondary schools who have become This Girl Can ambassadors. The girls have delivered assemblies to over 1,000 pupils and designed their own video clips on the This Girl Can theme. They also used a survey of local schools to help push forward numerous activities and positive changes within school sports departments – while also encouraging many girls to take part in activities outside school hours.