THOMAS COSTELLO SPORTSMAN Thomas Costello was an outstanding amateur boxer and with 5 wins from 5 bouts at lightmiddleweight is beginning to make an impact on the professional scene, and has already fought on the under-card of an Amir Khan event in front of a 10,000 sell-out. Having grown up in Birmingham, Thomas is only too well aware that boxing has given him an amazing chance in life, and is keen to give something back to the community. This he manages to do by making regular trips to Young Offender Institutes and a number of schools, taking his gloves and punch bag, and preaching the benefits of boxing. RACHEL JENNINGS SPORTSWOMAN Rachel attends Solihull College and has been described as a golfing sensation, having been selected to represent team Great Britain and Ireland in the Vagliano trophy against Europe at Hamburg Golf Club on 24/25 July. Andrew Schneider, England Golf AASE Academy Manager at Solihull College said We are really proud of Rachel s achievement, through dedication and determination she has rightfully earned her place on team Great Britain and Ireland. Rachel is no stranger to international competition having helped England achieve 7 th place in the World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy after which Susan Simpson, Head of Golf Operations for the Ladies Golf Union said Rachel is a player of great talent and potential. Further evidence of Rachel s prowess was evident as she was a close runner-up n the Welsh Open Stroke-Play Championship, and 3 rd qualifier in the English Championship. SSC Sports Awards Citations 2009 (2) Page 1 of 6 29/07/2009
DORRIDGE JUNIOR SCHOOL U11 FOOTBALL TEAM AWARD REPRESENTING ASTON VILLA IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE SCHOOLS TOURNAMENT The Dorridge Junior School U11 Football Team represented Aston Villa at the Premier League Schools Tournament in the mixed section at Old Trafford, and secured the trophy with a 1-0 success over their Bolton Wanderers counterparts. Each of the 20 Barclays Premier League Clubs had staged their own competition to select a school to represent them in the regional finals, with more than 8,000 pupils from over 1,000 schools taking part. From there, eight teams in each section made it through to the national finals where they played 3 group matches with the group winners playing in the final. Coach Michael Jones said I am immensely proud of them. All the kids have been fantastic, they were behind twice in their early group games but came back to win, which is not easy when the matches are so short. That shows the character and spirit in the team and I am delighted the hard work has been rewarded. It has been a fantastic event and a wonderful day for all the competitors. It is great that the Premier League provides opportunities like this for school children. Smith s Wood Sports College U13 Table Tennis Team COMMENDED FOR TEAM AWARD The players in the team only started playing in their last year at Primary School and have continued to improve dramatically. This year they have won: Solihull Schools U13 Table Tennis League Warwickshire Schools U13 Championships the first team ever from Solihull to win these championships. Represented Warwickshire at Regional Finals where they reached the finals. Represented the Region in English Schools Zonal Finals where they finished joint 2 nd. SSC Sports Awards Citations 2009 (2) Page 2 of 6 29/07/2009
PAUL ARCHER COACHING ACHIEVEMENT Paul took over coaching at Hobs Moat Boxing Club five years ago and immediately decided that it needed a higher profile within the community and re-named it Solihull Amateur Boxing Club, and in that time successes have come with four Midland Champions, two National semi-finalists, and a Womens ABA finalist. Training sessions are held on a Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and Paul is always there offering advice and encouragement. Furthermore, he gets involved in other aspects of the Club and has taken the group paint-balling, and for a weekend away to Weymouth. Space is limited at the Hobs Moat Centre, which has been the Clubs home since 1968, but Paul is at the forefront of negotiations to consider extending the centre or re-locating to ensure that the Club can continue to provide a safe and secure environment for local people to compete at amateur boxing. PAUL JAYES COMMENDED FOR COACHING ACHIEVEMENT Paul has contributed hugely to high quality football coaching for young people on the Fusion Project, and managed the Fusion U18s football team on a voluntary basis. JON WALL COMMENDED FOR COACHING ACHIEVEMENT Jon is the well respected coach at Altair Trampoline Club and has guided Madison Jordan to the last four British Championships at which she won the Synchro event two years ago. Jon was also the West Midlands Squad Coach for four years before stepping aside 18 months ago, although he still takes an active role with the squad. SSC Sports Awards Citations 2009 (2) Page 3 of 6 29/07/2009
VALERIE LYNES SERVICES TO SPORT Val began swimming at an early age and joined Handsworth Ladies at the age of 10. As a junior she competed in the Warwickshire Schoolgirls and went on to win 5 Warwickshire titles and 3 Midlands titles as a senior, excelling in freestyle and backstroke. She also competed in the National Schools Championships. At the age of 14 she started to help out on poolside and by 17 had achieved her ASA Swimming Teachers Certificate and then went on to gain the Advanced Certificate Val first swam at Tudor Grange on the day the pool first opened in June 1965 swimming in an interclub gala in the evening. Her daughter joined the Club in 1982 and this was when Val brought her teaching methods to the Club and has taught twice a week from then. As the Lead Teacher of the Pre-Diddy Swimming Group she plays an important role in preparing 7-8 year olds for the Junior Diddy League. Val is known and liked by everyone and the enthusiasm and enjoyment she brings to her sessions rubs off on many. Val has often stated that she derives great pleasure in seeing children that she taught coming back to the Club to help on poolside and gain their teaching qualifications. With many years of dedication and loyalty to Solihull Swimming Club, and endless encouragement to young swimmers, Val Lynes is a worthy recipient of the Services to Sport Award. SSC Sports Awards Citations 2009 (2) Page 4 of 6 29/07/2009
SIMON UPSON COMMENDED FOR SERVICES TO SPORT Simon has coached table tennis in North Solihull for 25 years. He currently is paid for 6 hours coaching funded by the Parish Council. However he coaches on a Monday for 6 hours (4 10pm), Wednesday 3 ½ hours (7 10.30pm),Thursday 3 hours (4 7pm). In addition he travels throughout Great Britain at weekends transporting and coaching players aged from 11 18 to tournaments. This normally is 30 weekends per year (on some occasions both days and on others just the one day). Simon has been engaging in the weekend transporting and coaching since 1997. Simon is secretary of the Smith s Wood Bribar Table Tennis Club, and is Head Coach of the club coaching players aged from 9 76! Over the last 12 months he has coached County Champions and Town Champions. He was responsible for the coaching of the Smith s Wood Sports College Under 13 team who in November 2008 became the first team in Solihull ever to win the Warwickshire Schools Championship. He has coached county representatives, national ranked players, and is currently a non playing captain (in a coaching role) of the Warwickshire Under 15, Birmingham Under 15 and Under 18 squads. Simon has been awarded a number of awards during the last 20 years. Simon was awarded the Jubilee Award from Birmingham Table Tennis Association for services to table tennis in 1998. He was also voted coach of the year from the Birmingham Table Tennis Association in 1990, 1992, 2000 and 2003. In 2007 Simon was awarded the Morris Goldstein Award for services to table tennis. This is a national annual award which is awarded to one person / coach per annum in Great Britain. This is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards in English table tennis. EMMA WALL COMMENDED FOR HER SERVICE TO SPORT Emma has coached trampolining in Coventry and Solihull for some 20 years, the past ten having been with Altair Trampoline Club, for whom she also performs the administrative duties. Emma also attends and judges competitions. SSC Sports Awards Citations 2009 (2) Page 5 of 6 29/07/2009
SARAH COLLINS YOUNG VOLUNTEER Sarah is 18 joined Solihull Swimming Club as a swimmer before becoming a poolside helper and then transforming into a highly valued member of the teaching and coaching team, and a superb role model to younger swimmers. A volunteer now for some six years she has taught swimming and Competitive Start skills to people of varying abilities and ages, and for the past two years has organised the Learn to Swim programme, and taken responsibility for the whole teaching programme on a Friday evening. Some fifty or more small children have passed through the scheme in this time. Sarah has an ASA Level One Teaching Qualification in addition to Lifeguard Qualifications and she passes on her knowledge with great enthusiasm and commitment. Over the past two years Sarah has helped oversee the move into the new facility at Tudor Grange and is in the process of changing the ASA Duckling based teaching programme to the New National Programme. The smooth transition is partly due to her dedication and diplomacy, fielding questions from swimmers and parents, assisting young poolside helpers, keeping registers and records of swimmers progress, and supporting more experienced coaches. SSC Sports Awards Citations 2009 (2) Page 6 of 6 29/07/2009