Record breaking year for Leeds Sports Awards

Caption:Yorkshire County Cricket Club, one of the nominees for Team of the Year.



ISSUED ON BEHALF OF BANANA KICK



The 2015 Leeds Sports Awards finalists were announced today and there’s no doubt that this year will have to go the distance to surpass what an amazing year it was for this talented sporting city.



Not only did 2014 see unrivalled success at the Commonwealth Games for our Leeds athletes and the unforgettable Tour de France Grand Depart, the year has also seen a record-breaking number of Leeds Sports Awards Nominations, with 273 entries put forward.



After much discussion, the judging panel have now whittled the vast number of nominees down to the shortlist of finalists. They will all be looking forward to the awards dinner at New Dock Hall in Leeds, on Thursday March 5.



The awards, now in their 12th year, celebrate the inspirational achievements of the city’s sporting stars.



Stewart Ross, chairman of Sport Leeds, said:



“Choosing the finalists proved an incredibly difficult task this year in particular, mainly because of the breadth and depth of talent available to us as a result of the huge increase in nominations.



"There were so many strong contenders in each category, and reading through the citations we received made it clear just how much fantastic work is taking place in our city’s sporting community.”



Tim Scott, senior community life co-ordinator at Asda said:



“As title sponsor of the awards this year we are thrilled that our local stores have had an opportunity to recognise their own sporting hero.



"It will be a great night which will provide a chance to celebrate the often unsung heroes in our local communities who spend their own time and effort helping to make sport happen for those around them."



Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for digital and creative technologies, culture and skills, added:



“The outstanding quality and amazing accomplishments of our nominees are a real testament to what an incredible year it has been for sport in Leeds.



“These awards give us a chance to recognise and reward some of the many people who contribute to making the city a centre of sporting excellence.



“Whilst it’s been a tough task to choose the finalists, I’m really looking forward to giving some of our athletes, coaches and unsung heroes the recognition they so richly deserve.”



Tickets for the awards dinner are still available, with prices starting from £30.



Visit www.leedssportsawards.co.uk or email emma@bananakick.com for more information.



The awards are split into three categories Young Achievers, Senior Achievers and Special Contribution, and this year will see the introduction of the special Asda Sporting Hero award.



ENDS



For media enquiries, please contact:



Emma Farquharson

07815 607619

emma@bananakick.com







Leeds Sports Awards 2015 – Finalist List



Young Achievers – Sponsored by Leeds Trinity University:



Young Sportswoman

Alicia Blagg

Lois Toulson



Young Sportsman

Jacob Fincham-Dukes

Loukas Jones

Matty Lee



Young Disability Sportsperson

Danielle Bailey

Izzy Palmer

Kizzy Blue Wade



Young Club/Team

City of Leeds Age Group Swimming Team

Grammar School at Leeds U16 Netball Team

Oulton Raiders Under 15 Invaders



Junior Sportsperson U14 – In association with Breeze

Alexandra Turner

Jake Johnson

Joe Fairburn





Senior Achievers – Sponsored by Provident Personal Credit:



Sportswoman

Laura Weightman

Nicola Adams MBE

Rebecca Gallantree

Vicky Holland



Sportsman

Alistair Brownlee MBE

Jack Laugher

Josh Warrington

Nile Wilson



Sportswoman - Disability

Hannah Cockroft MBE

Penny Andrews

Sophie Carrigill



Sportsman - Disability

Ali Jawad

Antony Cotterill

Kim Daybell



Club/Team - Professional

Hunslet Hawks RLFC

Leeds Rhinos RLFC

Yorkshire County Cricket Club



Club/Team - Non Professional

City of Leeds Diving- England Commonwealth Divers

Leeds Gymnastics Club





Special Contribution – Sponsored by Leeds Beckett University:



Student Sport

Beth Picott

Leeds Beckett University Hockey Club



Coaching

Adrian Hinchliffe

Andrew Henderson

Dave Murray

Gary Donoughue

Richard Denigan



Sport Volunteer

Amy Walker

Ann Hart

John Johnson



Services to PE and School Sport

Andrew Morley

Graham Thornton

Laura Singleton

Penny Speers



Outstanding Service to Sport

Dennis Nicholson





Asda Sporting Hero – Sponsored by Asda

Ashleigh Long

Lee Clegg





NOTES TO EDITORS



Leeds Sports Awards

The Leeds Sports Awards, held annually, celebrate sporting talent, including volunteers, coaches

and administrators from the City of Leeds. Now in its 12th year.

The City’s glamorous and glitzy sports awards will return to The New Dock Hall at the Royal

Armouries on Thursday 5th March 2015 to celebrate the achievements of Leeds’ most inspirational

sporting stars.

www.leedssportsawards.co.uk





Sport Leeds

Sport Leeds strives to make Leeds the most active big city by creating an environment in Leeds

where sport and active recreation are enjoyed by as many people as possible, and to give our city

healthier budgets, healthier people and healthier futures. Leeds has a fantastic track record of

sporting achievement, with contributions from not just athletes, but thousands of people from all

ages and backgrounds.

To find out more about the work Sport Leeds carries out, visit www.sportleeds.co.uk.





Banana Kick

Established in 2008, the agency now employs 40 full-time staff and works with clients including

Genting Casinos, Asda, Provident, Run For All, Kingstone Press, Go Racing, Satsuma and

Harringtons.

Banana Kick are creative partners and event management agency of the Leeds Sports Awards for

the 4th year running.



www.bananakick.com



Asda

Asda are 2015 title sponsor of the Leeds Sports Awards. The retailer was recently voted Community

Retailer of the Year for the second year running and is an active supporter of sport and volunteering

across the local communities to which they serve.



To welcome Asda on board the event will see the introduction of Asda’s very own ‘Sporting Hero

Award’. This award will be presented to an individual within the local community who is widely

recognised for their outstanding sporting contribution to the local community, whether it be through

volunteering, coaching or tireless work behind the scenes.





QUOTES/TWEETS FROM LAST YEAR



Jonathan Brownlee

@jonny_brownlee

“Top evening at the @LeedsSport awards. Proud to be from such a great city.”



Ali Jawad

@AliJawad12

“Can’t believe I won disabled sportsperson of the year @LeedsSport would like to thank everyone for their support :D”



Leeds Rhinos

@leedsrhinos

“Hugely proud of John Ahm and his outstanding service award @LeedsSport thoroughly deserved for a lifetime commitment to sport in the city.”



Ian Kirke – Leeds Rhinos

“You see the awards such as the community based one and the disability awards and you just get inspired by people.”



Danny Reuben – YCCC

“The event was top notch. From everyone at YCCC, congratulations on an inspiring night.”



Cyril Villiers MBE

“I was honoured to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award and particularly to share the occasion with Bernard Atha.”