The Everybody Awards 2021, took place on Friday 15th October at the prestigious Crewe Hall, recognising exceptional achievements of sporting and community heroes in Cheshire East from the past 18 months.
Over 190 guests enjoyed the evening, hosted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympic athlete, DBE, and crossbench peer, with 16 Paralympic medals to her name – 11 of which are gold – and 13 world championship medals.
Keynote Speaker Adventureman AKA Jamie McDonald shared his spectacular story of challenge and triumph, as well as telling the guests about buying a second hand bike and cycling 14,000 miles from Bangkok to his hometown Gloucester, UK, passing through dozens of countries. He even had the audience up and running in a challenge during his talk and each guest received a signed copy of his best selling book ‘Anyone Can be a SuperHero’.
The Mayor of Cheshire East Cllr Sarah Pochin and local business and suppliers who sponsored the event were in attendance to present the winners with their trophies.
The finalists and winners are…
Sports Personality of the Year – Sponsored by Applewood Independent
- Matthew Rigby- Obstacle Course Racing – Macclesfield
- Nicola Bruce- Ultra Running – Crewe
- Joseph Loake- Motorsport – Macclesfield
Winner: Matthew Rigby
Matt is a Level 4 qualified personal trainer from Macclesfield who specialises in obstacle course racing, running and endurance events and currently competes in obstacle course racing and road/trail based running events. He represented Team UK in the OCR World Championships after achieving a top 20 placing in a national qualifying event.
During the lockdowns, Matt worked with Macclesfield Town Council to support people virtually during the pandemic.
Matthew Rigby Sports Personality of the Year with David Pritchard Applewood Independent and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Young Sports Achiever – Sponsored by Technogym
- Mia Brookes- Snowboarding – Sandbach
- Jessica Wright- Touch Rugby – Audlem
- Amira Kandeh- Netball – Middlewich
Winner: Mia Brookes
Mia is a Team GB snowsport athlete from Sandbach and competes internationally. This season as Mia turned 14, she was able to compete on a senior European level.
Due to the pandemic Mia and her family to leave the UK in November so that Mia could compete. She made the podium at every Europa cup, even winning two. Mia took bronze place for the Europa cup snowboard slopestyle and big air season 2020/21. Next year Mia is a selected team GB athlete to train and qualify for Milan 2026 Winter Olympics.
Mia Brookes Gran receiving the Young Sports Achiever Award on her behalf with Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Everybody Trustee Harry Korkou
Disabled Sports Achiever – Sponsored by David Trowler Associates
- Struan Bird- Taekwondo – Wilmslow
- Poppy Maskill- Swimming – Middlewich
Winner: Poppy Maskill
Poppy takes part in competitive swimming with Alsager Swimming Club. Representing her club at county, regional and national competitions. Before lockdown Poppy competed in her first World Para Series event. Before classification she raced as an able bodies athlete at county, regional and national level. Poppy competes in all events from 50m sprints to 5000m open water races.
Poppy Maskill Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year with Everybody Trustee Zoe Davidson and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Coach of the Year – Sponsored by Cornerstone
- Philip Balcombe- Alsager Swimming Club – Congleton
- Amy Clark- Football – Holmes Chapel
- Sophie Mills- Gymfinity Gymnastics – Knutsford
- Peter Barker – Sandbach Karate Club
Winner: Peter Barker
Peter is a karate coach from Sandbach, who used his love for the sport to support people throughout the pandemic. Peter’s main achievement was to keep karate training going for a group of mixed age and mixed ability individuals, who, without Peter’s effort and dedication would have been without the sport they love during COVID.
Peter has now established a new club in Sandbach, a potential area of growth as karate becomes an Olympic sport.
Peter Barker Coach of the Year with David Wadsworth from Cornerstone and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Customer Hero – Sponsored by XN Leisure
- Tracey Bateman – Knutsford Leisure Centre
- Gail Brereton – Crewe Lifestyle Centre
- Jim Painter – Crewe Lifestyle Centre
Winner: Jim Painter
Jim, from Crewe started running 14 months ago. He used to go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week before the pandemic. When the gyms were closed he continued his fitness journey and started working out at home with core sessions and running in his local area. He now runs Ultramarathons on a regular basis and recently completed 62.62 miles in 15hours 55 mins! He now has a passion for all things health and fitness and intends to build up his Ultramarathon achievements.
Jim Painter Customer Hero Winner with Adam McGreal from XN Leisure and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Health and Wellbeing – Sponsored by MHR
- Georgia Mallia – Space4Autism
- Townhouse Nursery Alsager
- Debbie Sharred – Motherwell CIO
Winner: Space4Autism
Space4Autism are an independent Cheshire based charity that provides a range of clubs, activities and services for children, young people and adults with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and their families. They began in 2005 when, as a group of parents of children with ASC, they got together to do something about the lack of support and services for families like theirs.
Their CEO Cheryl was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours list. This was great recognition into all the work she has put into Space4autism to make it what it is today.
Georgia Mallia from Space4Autism receiving the Health and Wellbeing award with Peter Lambe from MHR and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Club of the Year – Sponsored by FitAsylum
- Crewe FC- Football
- Run Middlewich- Running
- Nantwich Seals- Swimming
- Macclesfield Netball Club- Netball
Winner: Crewe FC
Crewe FC is an FA community football club, based in Crewe, offering progression pathway and football opportunities to over 450 children, young people and adults. They have 39 teams as well as running free community sessions throughout the year.
The Club also extended its support to the wider community during the pandemic, offering them access to all the online sessions for free, setting up a foodbank, a free school meal vouchers scheme for local residents to access.
Steve Parker from Crewe FC receiving Club of the Year with Mayor of Cheshire East Cllr Sarah Pochin and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Volunteer of the year – Sponsored by Bates Wells
- Greg Stuart- Football – Cheshire East Council – Middlewich
- Grace Dodd- Cheshire Youth League Football – Crewe
- Mark Sutton- Alsager Running Club
Winner: Grace Dodd
Grace volunteers her time at 2 organisations within Cheshire East – Cheshire Blades Football Club and the South Cheshire Youth League.
She dedicates her time to football, whether it’s coaching her current teams, creating opportunities for players of all abilities to get involved in the sport, and is always looking at ways to make football more affordable/accessible to people.
She fought for, and organised an extension to the season to keep kids active in the sport they love.
Grace Dodd receives the Volunteer of the Year Award from Charlie Miller at Bates Wells and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Lifetime Achievement – Sponsored by Brakes
Winner: Wilf Saunders
Wilf was responsible way back in 1978 to bring Lads and Dads football to Crewe. A league was started, and it soon grew from strength to strength and widened out in to the South Cheshire area. Due to it’s success it was changed to the South Cheshire Youth League and well over 1,000 girls and boys from Crewe, Nantwich, Sandbach and the surrounding area were able to play.
Wilf sadly passed away earlier this year, but deserves massive recognition for the amazing and hard work he dedicated to the Youth League.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson tells the audience of Wilf Saunders Lifetime Achievements
Chairman’s Award- Awarded by Everybody Sport and Recreation
Winner: Matthew Townsend
Matthew from Holmes Chapel was part of an 18-person team that cycled the full 2021 Tour de France route, one week ahead of the professionals, and raised over £1m for the charity Cure Leukaemia. The event and the charity became the first ever Official Charity Partner of the Tour de France and his team was led by ex-England footballer and Leukaemia survivor Geoff Thomas MBE.
The challenge took place between June 19 – July 11 and consisted of cycling all 21 stages over 3,500 kilometres and with 50,779 meters of climbing.
So far the tram has raised £1,067,438 and all funds from the event will be invested directly into the national Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) network which Cure Leukaemia began funding from January 2020.
Matthew Townsend receives the Chairman’s Awards from Everybody Chairman Andrew Kolker and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
For more information about the Everybody Awards visit: www.everybody.org.uk/about/everybody-awards-2021/
Ends.
Notes to Editor
Everybody Sport & Recreation – Everybody is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. As a Health and Wellbeing Charity, Everybody Sport and Recreation aims to provide ‘leisure for life’ by changing lives through healthy recreation. The charity operates 15 leisure facilities across the Cheshire East region as well as a range of Health, Leisure Development and Outreach programmes and the new Everybody Academy, providing local training and career opportunities. For more information please visit: www.everybody.org.uk or follow on Twitter @ebleisure.
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