South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 04/12/2013

​The annual event recognises the achievement, dedication and contribution of local people who are involved in playing, coaching and organising sports across South Gloucestershire. Local residents nominate people who they feel deserve to be recognised for their accomplishments, and all award winners have demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring sporting activities are championed at a grass roots level.

Cllr Ian Boulton, Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “The Active South Gloucestershire 2013 Sports Awards ceremony was a really enjoyable occasion for all involved. There were many worthy recipients amongst the nominees who have achieved a great deal over the past year and their sporting achievements emphasise the large number of talented athletes and coaches that we have in South Gloucestershire. Congratulations to everyone who received a nomination, you are all winners.”

And the winners are…

Sportsperson of the Year

Football player Siobhan Chamberlain, representing Bristol Academy Women’s Football Club (WFC) who play at the South Gloucestershire & Stroud College WISE Campus in Stoke Gifford.

Siobhan has been a goalkeeper since the age of 12 and has played for Bristol Academy in the Women’s Super League since 2011. As part of this team she reached the FA Women’s Cup Final beating three Women’s Super League teams to get there. Siobhan is the only player in the Women’s Super League who has played every minute of every match since the league started in 2011. She is an England international goalkeeper and played in England’s World Cup qualifier in September against Turkey.

Siobhan said: “It was an honour to be nominated for this award, and to win it was just fantastic. It is great to see so many people getting recognition for their efforts, particularly those who are normally behind the scenes. I would like to thank everyone at Bristol Academy WFC, particularly the fans who are just brilliant!”

Young Sports Person of the Year

Tom Scammel, 17, Bradley Stoke

Tom represented GB British Cycling at the under 18 International Junior Competition in Ghent, Belgium. He was tenth place and the highest placed under 18 in the British Cycling Open National Track Championships. Thomas was a member of the team sprint that finished fourth overall in the British Cycling Open National Track Championships, the highest place non National team in the competition. At the British Cycling Junior National Track Championships Thomas achieved fourth place in the 1000m time trial and first place in the match sprints and the Keirin. Along with all of these race achievements Thomas is also one of only two under 18s on the British Cycling’s Olympic Development Programme.

Contribution to Inclusive Sport Award

Sharon Langley from Little Stoke

Sharon supported the set up and constitution of the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Marlins swimming club. She helped her disabled athletes to attend three separate swimming events in Cardiff, Reading and Nationals at Sheffield, as well as support the national Special Olympic Games in Bath.

Contribution to creating an Olympic and Paralympic legacy

BUDS and SUDS, Bradley Stoke

This team are a group of adults with learning difficulties that currently train and compete in swimming, football and boccia. They have played at local regional and national level this year all with the aim of representing the south west at the national special Olympic Games 2013 in Bath.

Lifetime Contribution Award – Sponsored by Airbus in the UK

Keith Cameron from Yate

Colin Sirett, Head of R&T Business Development and Partnerships for Airbus in the UK, said: “Many of our employees live locally and are part of the sporting community we celebrated on the evening, so it was really good for me that the winner of the lifetime contribution award that we sponsored was nominated by an Airbus employee. It was great to meet some of the people in South Gloucestershire who make sports great.”

The Active South Gloucestershire 2013 Sports Awards are sponsored by Airbus in the UK and the Active Partnership.

For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/sportsawards