Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards showcased talent

With most sports thriving on the Isle of Wight and with so many achieving in them — all passionately backed up by dedicated coaches — it was a difficult decision for judges in the run-up to the awards ceremony, held at Newport's Medina Theatre.

There were many deserved winners and nominees in categories, that ranged from making a difference in school sports, to marking the achievements of emerging young talents and the support given to clubs and organisations by willing volunteers.

Special guest at the awards ceremony was gold medal winning Olympic sailor, Shirley Robertson, who co-presented with County Press audience and content editor, Lucy Morgan.

Gillian Burnett and Robin Courage, centre, both receiving the the Trustees' Award for Outstanding Commitment to Sport.

Olympic gold winning sailor Shirley Robertson speaks to the audience at the Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards. Photo: Paul Blackley

Cowes-based Shirley, 53, was the first British woman to win an Olympic gold medal at consecutive games, in Sydney 2000 and in Athens 2004 — no doubt a huge inspiration to many of those who appeared tonight.

Among the highlights of this evening's sporting 'Oscars' was the special joint presentation of the Trustees' Award for Outstanding Commitment to Sport, to Gillian Burnett and Robin Courage, from the Isle of Wight Sports Foundation, which organised tonight's event.  

Robin, a former Isle of Wight High Sheriff, received an MBE in 2010 for services to disability sport, while Gillian has been the backbone of the Isle of Wight Sports Foundation for more than two decades — dedicating a huge amount of her time to promoting sport on the Island. 

Also among the 24 winners to collect their awards were the Isle of Wight Super 9s cricket team who won the disability team award, and disabled sailor Natasha Lambert, in the disability senior category.

Members of the Wight Crystals synchronised skate team receiving their award. Photo: Paul Blackley

The Wight Crystals won a team award.

The cricket team had an incredible 2021 season, amid all the restrictions and problems associated with living through the pandemic — forced to spend much of their playing time off the Island so they could compete in the South East Super 9 League programme — beating teams from Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wales along the way to take the South West Counties title and reach the regional final.

Natasha, 23, of Northwood — born with quadraplegic cerebral palsy — continues to push new boundaries in the sport, and was the first person ever to skipper a boat across the Atlantic Ocean using only ‘sip and puff’ technology. 

Ever since the ice rink in Ryde shut in 2016, the sport of synchronised ice skating is a sport hardest hit on the Island — so the presentation of the intermediate and junior team accolades to the Wight Crystals and Wight Sequins synchronised skate teams, respectively, were popular ones with the audience.

Ann Selby, centre, receiving the lifetime achievement accolade at the Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards. Photo: Paul Blackley

Newport CE Primary School won a schools sporting award.

Wight Crystals, who have to train off-Island, but did most of their training in their living rooms during Covid, won a gold medal in the national Lee Valley Skate London competition, their first event after lockdown.

Schools were recognised —  Newport CE Primary and Ryde Academy — for the steps they have taken to develop sporting choice and inspire greater inclusion over the past two years.

Coaches, volunteers and officials across a range of sports on the Island were also recongised for their outstanding efforts. 

• For a full report and pictures, see next Friday's Isle of Wight County Press.

                        ALL THE WINNERS (SPONSORS IN BRACKETS)

Junior Boys — Arthur Attrill (Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes), junior girls — Ruby Sunderland (Love Running); intermediate boys — Arthur Farley (Esplanade motors); intermediate girls — Ellie Lovett (Bembridge Harbour Authority); senior men — Caymen Colllins (BCM Ltd); senior women — Nikita Heathfield (Glanvilles Damant); disability senior — Natasha Lambert (Esplanade motors); junior team — Wight Sequins (Spence Willard); intermediate team — Wight Crystals synchronised skating team (Churchers Solicitors); senior team — Isle of Wight Beach Soccer Team (Moore (South) Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors); disability team — the Isle of Wight Super 9s cricket team (Harwoods of Yarmouth); national/international men — Jim Mcmillan (Cowes Yacht Haven); national/international women — Janet Fletcher (Inshape Fitness Studio); primary sporting school — Newport CE Primary School (The Garlic Farm); secondary sporting school — Ryde Academy (PhysioCare and Sports Injury Clinic); making a difference in school sport — Paula Blackley (Newport Grammar School); charity trust coach — Diane Gould (Toymaster); club volunteer/official — Ron Cook (Rouse Limited); making a difference — Luke Kerr (Churchers Solictiors); The Ray and Rosemary Scovell Trust Community Award — trustees of the Waterside Pool, Ryde (The Ray and Rosemary Scovell Trust); service to sport — Pete Giles (The Delphie Lakeman Memorial Trust); lifetime achievement — Ann Selby (Isle of Wight Sports Foundation); The Trustees' Award for Outstanding Commitment to Sport — Gillian Burnett and Robin Courage (Isle of Wight Sports Foundation).