Pride and poignancy at Black Country sports awards night

Scores of sports stars and clubs packed into the Showcase Cinema in Dudley for the annual Black Country and Physical Activity Awards.

In total there were eight awards handed out, including the Sports Personality of the Year – hotly contested by an Olympian and two Paralympians.

Gymnast Kristian Thomas, able-bodied cyclist Helen Scott and wheelchair tennis player Jordanne Whiley MBE were all nominated. In the end it was the guest of honour on the night, Kristian Thomas, 27, from Wolverhampton, who took the award after a stellar year, which saw him win two silver medals at the European Championships and compete in the Rio Olympics.

The recently enrolled Wolverhampton University student said: "I really was not expecting this. To be up against them when they're such good ambassadors for the Black Country and sport, it really is an honour. I am very proud to be representing the Black Country."

The night began with speeches and introductions from the host of the awards Active Black Country – the group set up to encourage active lifestyles for residents across the region. Deborah Williams, the chairman of the group, told the audience it was 'great' to be able to 'recognise and celebrate the achievements of so many people and organisations'.

The first gong of the night was the Power of Sport award, set up to recognise those who have used sport to make a difference to others.

Akil Maylor, who established Rise up Yoga in a disused shop on the Heath Town estate in Wolverhampton, took home the award to rapturous applause, beating runner up Wendy Hall.

Mr Maylor's win was swiftly followed by the Community Club of the Year award, won by adult running group Stourbridge Mums on the Run.

Emma Barnes, who set the group up five years ago, said: "We were honoured to get the award."

The loudest cheers of the night came for Suzy Richards and her son Owen as they collected the award for community project of the year after their Run for Joel event.

The event, set up in memory of Suzy's son and Owen's brother Joel who died in last year's Tunisia attacks, attracted some 1,100 runners and raised more than £27,000. It was a double success day for the family as just hours earlier they were at Worcester University collecting an honorary first degree for Joel.

Suzy said: "Can I thank everybody, every runner who attended, every volunteer and all the local businesses that have helped - and of course Sandwell Leisure Trust. Joel was all about getting off the sofa, running, getting people into sports. He even tried to get me to do a few street runs."

One of the most hotly contest awards of the night was for the aspiring talent gong.

In the end it was 19-year-old Darlaston Boxer Benjamin Whittaker who edged out nordic skier Siobhan Pelow and 400-metre runner Ellis Greatrix to scoop the award.

Already in training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with Team GB, Benjamin said: "It is an honour to win this award and hopefully I can become a role model and inspire more people into sport. Thank you everyone."

Sally-Ann Chambers, 47, from Cradley Heath, who was originally nominated for unsung hero of the year, lifted the glass trophy for coach of the year. She works at Midrange Netball Club in Tipton.

There were just two nominees in the school of the year category as Dudley's Milking Bank primary school battled it out against The Streetly Academy in Walsall.

Eventually it was Streetly Academy and their 30 extra curricular clubs who won, with headteacher Billy Downie using his speech to encourage more schools to see the importance of sport.

He said: "Sport changes lives but there are too many headteachers and schools who do not see the value of sport. Sport is such a positive influence on young people's lives."

Paul Gough edged out Paul Green and Glyn Marston in the unsung hero category.

Paul has run Priory Amateur Boxing for some 20 years.

In a pre-recorded message he said: "We are going to do more in the community in the new year and hopefully we will keep benefiting the borough."