Its been quite a time for our Rugby team, they were awarded Freedom of the City by Rugby Borough Council earlier in the week and the honours keep on coming both for the team as a whole and individual members.
Yesterday in Darlington stars of the region’s sporting community descended on the Dolphin Centre for the 15th annual Northern Echo Local Heroes Awards. These awards celebrate the contribution made by sports people across the North-East and past winners have included Olympians and title-winners through to unsung groundsmen and coaches.
Source: Dan Sheridan/INPO
This year’s ceremony welcomed VIP guests including Sunderland legend Kevin Ball and top athletes turned broadcasters Steve Cram and Allison Curbishley.
Winner of the Senior Sporting Excellence Award was Katy Mclean for leading her side to victory at the Women’s World Cup in France this summer.
Meanwhile at the 2014 Sports Journalist’s Association (SJA) British Sports Awards in London the Women’s rugby team were winning the Team of the Year award ahead of the Ryder Cup team and Britain’s world title-winning men’s eight rowing crew. This is the first time since 2009, when the winner was the Ashes winning Women’s Cricket Team, that a women’s team have claimed the award.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2014 SJA BRITISH SPORTS AWARDS
Sportswoman of the Year: Jo Pavey (Athletics)
Team of the Year: England women rugby
Sportsman of the Year: Rory McIlroy (Golf)
The National Lottery Spirit of Sport Award: Dame Kelly Holmes
SJA President’s Award: Sir Chris Hoy
BT Sport JL Manning Award for services off the field of play: Welcome to Yorkshire and organisers of the Tour de France Grand Depart
SJA Committee Award: Claudia Fragapane (Gymnastics)
SJA Bill McGowran Trophy for achievement in Paralympic sport: Dan Greaves (Athletics); Kelly Gallagher with Charlotte Evans (Skiing)
SJA Peter Wilson Trophy for international newcomer: Moeen Ali (Cricket)
SJA Chairman’s Award: Lou Macari, Neil Baldwin and Peter Bowker
SJA Pat Besford Award for outstanding performance of the year: Adam Peaty (Swimming)
