Durham and Chester-le-Street Local Sport and Physical Activity Awards

The County Durham Sport and Physical Activity Awards celebrate unsung sports stars, coaches, clubs and schools. This page contains the results for the Durham and Chester-le-Street area.

Contribution to Physical Activity

This award is for an individual or group that has made a significant difference in County Durham through demonstrating the positive impact physical activity can have on people's lives. They will be seen as a role model for their contribution within their community.

The winner is... Kate Macpherson

Kate is 44 years old, and after despising sport at school she got the bug for running in her late 20s. Friends gave Kate the opportunity to run with them, but she would only run in the dark where nobody could see her!

In 2000 Kate moved to Durham, carried on her running and eventually became a member of Elvet Striders. In 2013 Kate realised a lack opportunity for 'beginner' runners, and approached the club to see if she could run a Couch to 5k program. Rewarding her dedication and commitment, the club put Kate through her Leadership in Running Fitness qualification.

This was the beginning of Kate's fantastic journey in changing many people's lives, and perceptions towards physical activity.

Coach of the Year

The Coach of the Year award is for an individual who has demonstrated their commitment and passion through coaching in sport, seen as an inspiration within their role as a coach and having made a positive impact on those they have coached. This particular category had one of the most nominees and was extremely hard to judge.

The winner is... Peter Wileman

Peter is a highly regarded sprint coach in the North East and is a member of Durham City Harriers for over 30 years and a valuable committee member.

Peter organises Athletic Events and the daily running of the club, but most of all he dedicates his life to coaching athletes to reach their full potential and to succeed. Six days a week through endless winter nights and beaming summer sky, Peter is always there to keep a watchful eye.

Peter's knowledge of athletics is phenomenal and passes it on through his coaching ability. He is enthusiastic and has earned great respect through his ability to get his athletes to reach finals in all competitions in the athletics calendar. He improves sporting ability and skills not just by little amounts but by huge strides.

Primary School Contribution to PE & School Sport

This award is for a primary that has demonstrated a positive impact on the community through sport, shows high quality and innovation in the delivery of PE and/or displays a commitment to developing opportunities for pupils through school teams, including involvement in the School Games.

The winner is... Cassop Primary School

During the year, Cassop have been involved in several sporting initiatives such as Change 4 Life, Relax Kids, FISCH and healthy schools.

Last year they were awarded silver in the Sainsbury's School Games award by Kate Mclean. The children attend many festivals with all year groups being involved in regular, varied physical activities each week.

Coaches enjoy going into Cassop, the children are keen, friendly and are very determined and passionate about sport. They listen carefully to instructions and do their best at all times. The children have the opportunity to attend both breakfast and after-school clubs all of which are well attended.

Secondary School Contribution to PE & School Sport

This award is for a school that has demonstrated a positive impact on the community, shows high quality and innovation in the delivery of PE and/or displays a commitment to developing opportunities for pupils through school teams, including involvement in the School Games.

The winner is... Durham Trinity School and Sports College

As a Sports College, Durham Trinity School is an Inclusion Lead school who act as role models within the Local Authority to deliver high quality, fully inclusive P.E. and School sport. The college provides guidance and support to pupils and teachers in Durham County Schools in P.E. so that every child has the opportunity to take part in high quality P.E, and specifically promote the School Games and increase the inclusive opportunities in competitive sport.

The school places teachers on a weekly basis in schools to upskill other staff to deliver high quality fully inclusive P.E. Feedback from this work is excellent, the current focus in on Chester le St schools improving their access to the school games. They have run 4 Sainsbury s IPE courses this year training over 80 school staff to improve their current skills in delivering high quality P.E.

Their after school clubs are always full and many pupils access these clubs from mainstream schools in the area, giving parents and their child some rest bite and a high quality experience of an after school club.

Given the recent success at the Paralympics, this award is very fitting.

Volunteer of the Year

This award is for an individual who works behind the scenes in a sports club or community group and where their role will be vital and without them the club or group would not be the same.

The winner is... David Shotten

David has always volunteered in one way or another all his adult life. A former school teacher, David ran football teams and badminton sessions in schools and voluntarily ran a badminton club with his wife on Saturday mornings back in the 80s. He also helped coaches to run tennis sessions (in all weathers) for young people and tennis crash courses during the school holidays.

Since retiring in January 2000, and after some recovery time, he has volunteered with a wide variety of things. Not only within sport and physical activity, he has also helped neighbours, doing things such as digging footings for an extension, supported the church café setting up and putting chairs away and helped students within I.T classes at Cheveley Park School.

David started volunteering within swimming at the old Elvet baths in Durham when he did the School top-up lessons volunteering in the water to help young people achieve the required standard before leaving primary school. Since opening Freeman's Quay Leisure Centre in 2008 he continued to support the learn to swim programme focusing on the adult beginners and improvers classes. He has supported lots of adults, from many different backgrounds who have either never learnt to swim, had a bad experience in the water as a child, or those who simply want to regain confidence in the water having never swam for years. He has also supported those who have swam at a more advanced level, helping them improve technique and go onto triathlons and open water swimming events.

Young Volunteer of the Year

This award is for a young individual who works behind the scenes in a sports club or community group and where their role will be vital and without them the club or group would not be the same.

The winner is... Dominic Ellis

Dominic is an example to many people of a great volunteer. He has juggled his various volunteering commitments with GSCE & A level studies.

Dom 'volunteers at both Houghton Harriers & at Chester-le-St Athletics Club. Dom 'also helps the club at number of levels as well as competing for them including helping out the Senior Track Team as well as competing at junior level. He most recently officiated at the English National Schools Finals & has also helped out with the North-East Counties Track and Field Championships & at numerous other meetings.

He is currently the youngest qualified official within the North-East Counties area and has already built a reputation as being an organised, reliable, efficient and calm referee earning the respect of many of his older and more experienced colleagues.

When not competing he is often to be seen helping out as part of the officiating team at many indoor & outdoor track & field events as well as other athletics competitions and events. For example, he also helps out Gateshead Harriers as part of their officiating team.

He has always been an impressive young man in a number of roles as described above over a long period of time. Dom' gives up many evenings and weekends to help out in various ways across three different athletics clubs with coaching and competing as well as being part of the team running events via his officiating duties.

Sports Club of the Year

This award is for a club that has demonstrated commitment and passion to sport through the activities and opportunities they provide for their members.

The winner is... Durham Tri Club

Club membership is wide ranging from ages five to 75 and all abilities are welcomed, supported with personal development plans for each member. Junior membership has also seen a substantial increase this year as shorter events have encouraged novice athletes to try the sport. The Club also boasts GB masters athletes and several Ironmen.

The club is run entirely by volunteer coaches who provide daily coaching sessions for the clubs members in all aspects of swimming, running and cycling. The club have also linked with the local swimming, cycling and running clubs to share coaching and to encourage membership and participation across these clubs.

The Club coaches are highly committed and provide a very high standard of tailored coaching, ensuring that training sessions are "fun" and all of the latest techniques are tested and applied. The coaching approach is collaborative and, as a result all member's abilities and aspirations are equally valued within the club and by its members.

Junior Sports Club of the Year

This award is for a club that has demonstrated commitment and passion to sport through the activities and opportunities they provide for their junior members.

Durham City Amateur Swimming and Water Polo Club The winner is... Durham City Amateur Swimming & Water Polo Club

DCASC has taken a huge step forward during the 2015/16 season, providing more opportunities for their junior members and achieving more success than ever before.

In particular, the Club's 9-12 year old swimmers competed in Division 2 of the local Junior League, winning 2 of their 3 heats before dominating the final, winning 5 of the 6 trophies on offer, including the coveting overall champions trophy meaning they have been promoted to the top Division next year to compete against the 7 other best junior Clubs in the Durham and Northumberland area. Individually junior swimmers won medals at county and regional level.

The Club has worked hard to improve the training offered to their members, including running an international training camp to Spain, and a UK based camp to Edinburgh both of which allowed the swimmers to train long as well as offering land training and education sessions, along with building very important teamwork skills.

The coaches also organised an introduction to long course training for the youngest swimmers by running a development day at the Sunderland Aquatics Centre. Team building is very important to the Club and so volunteers organised a team building weekend at Moorhouse for all members and the Club Captains (themselves junior members) ran a Mini Olympics at Freeman's Quay to introduce the development swimmers to land training.

The water polo's minis section has also welcomed a lot of new members over the last 12 months as they introduce youngsters to the sport of Water Polo.

Sporting Achievement of the Year

This award is for an individual over 18 that has achieved a specific goal or honour in sport, or produced a notable sporting performance. They will be seen as an inspiration to others through their achievement in sport.

The winner is... Roger Burrell

2016 has been Roger's most successful year.

Earlier in May, Roger competed in the European Masters Championships at the London Aquatics centre. Roger, who competes in the 85-89yr old age group, won Gold medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke. Not only did he win these events, he also broke British records in all three and additionally, achieved a European record in the 100m. With his team, Spencer Swim Team, he also competed in two relay events; freestyle and medley. The team achieved a Silver medal in the freestyle relay with a British record and a Gold medal in the medley relay, again in another British record time. Even in the freestyle relay, Roger broke the 50m freestyle British record in the first leg.

In total at this event, Roger won 4 golds and a silver, broke 6 British records and 1 European record. This is an outstanding achievement, one of which I feel should be recognised. Roger swims regularly at Chester le Street Leisure Centre and has thoroughly enjoyed swimming both recreationally and competitively for many years. He is an excellent role model for all young people achieving great success on a European stage.

Young Sporting Achievement of the Year

This award is for a young individual or group that has achieved a specific goal or honour in sport, or produced a notable sporting performance. They will be seen as an inspiration to others through their achievement in sport. This was yet another category with a high number of nominations and extremely difficult for the panel to judge and pick a winner.

The winner is... Georgia Hewison

Georgia first began Gymnastics at the age of three and at six years old moved to Durham to fulfill her training requirements. Georgia currently trains for over 20 hours per week at Deerness Gymnastic Academy. Earlier this year Georgia was the only girls and youngest member to travel to China with team GB. Georgia and her partner qualified in the top 8 of this competition and finished a fantastic overall 3rd.

Recently Georgia has joined Acropolis the performance team at Deerness and has taken part in numerous performances as part of the group. Georgia aims to inspire others in her sport and shows that through hard work and dedication you can reach your goals. Georgia's ultimate aim is to be selected to represent Great Britain once again.

Contribution to Sport

This award is for an individual who has achieved success at county level or above through competing, coaching or volunteering in sport or made a significant difference to individuals or groups through their contribution to sport in County Durham. This person will be seen as a role model within their sport or community.

The winner is... John Tinkler

John became involved in competitive athletics over 50 years ago, in 1962, when as a young teenager displaying athletics talent he became a member of Elswick Harriers. He remained a member, competing to a regional standard, until late 1977, when he, along with his father, left to establish a new club in their home town of Chester-le-Street.

Whilst John's father Bobby served in the role of Club President for many years, the true driving force behind the establishment of Chester-le-Street & District AC was John. He has served as Club Chairman for over 30 years as well as a Senior Coach. He has been ever-present at club training evenings for 38 years, and has coached and mentored generations of young distance runners, a number of who have seen success, as junior athletes, on the national stage.

Simple maths would suggest that John has accumulated around 11,000 voluntary hours as a club official and coach, but this only takes account of his coaching on club nights. The truth is that this is many more; from committee meetings, to supervising long weekend training runs, to weekends accompanying club teams to competitions up and down the country.

As a leader, coach, friend and confidante, John is a true inspiration.