East Mids Awards Evening

Inspirations Nikki Mottishaw (Notts AC) and Joyce Stevens (Sutton-in-Ashfield Harriers) are being nominated for national accolades after collecting two of the major England Athletics East Midlands Awards at a celebration evening, sponsored by Heidsieck & Co Monopole Champagne, at the Hilton Hotel, Nottingham East Midlands Airport.

Mottishaw was presented with the Performance Coach of the Year Award while Stevens was honoured for Services to Club Development. They have both been put forward for England honours ahead of the UK Awards presentation evening in December.

Mottishaw, a coach with an unrelenting ambition to improve herself and thus help her athletes to achieve greater success, is the driving force behind Notts’ huge impact in the sprints over the past couple of years. Clubmates describe her as a determined and driven coach who has shown great ability in helping her young group become extremely successful. This culminated in Michael Warner’s English Schools victory and UK School Games bronze medal, but extends far further. She has shown great commitment in being involved whole-heartedly in the East Midlands Development Squad while also supporting the Notts’ County Squads.

She received her award from the guest speaker, former British 400m record holder Derek Redmond, now UK Athletics Senior Coordinator for sprints and hurdles.

Stevens, a member of Sutton Harriers since 1986, has been club secretary for most of this time and spends many voluntary hours as secretary, Level 2 coach of the young athletes and as Notts AAA Level 3 timekeeper and field official. Her clubmates describe her as “committed, dedicated and enthusiastic. Nothing is too much trouble for her: she represents the club at various meetings, sits on numerous committees, liases with the schools and local sports development departments. Behind the scenes Joyce does much more than this, always available to deal with enquiries, new members, race entries, club kit, collection of training fees, banking, race organising, the list goes on!”

She received her award from a long-time clubmate, John Knight, who is now an East Midlands Regional Council member as well as Notts county secretary.

Three more of the prestigious awards came to Nottinghamshire:

· Hannah Mitchell (Sutton Harriers) is Young Volunteer of the Year. A member of the club for 10 years, she has completed her Level 1 coaching award and children in athletics. She has also undertaken junior and community sports leaders’ awards and is a qualified official who helps at sportshall, cross country and track and field events throughout the year. Her citation hailed her as “a role model to all young athletes.”

· Margaret Madden (Notts AC) is Club Volunteer of the Year. Described a the epitome of the all-round volunteer, she covers registration on three club nights a week; deals with parent, athlete and coach queries and runs the club canteen. She officiates at numerous club events and can regularly be seen out in the field dragging hammers, raking sand pits and collecting javelins at in excess of 20 matches throughout the season. “She is a credit to the club and the region,” said her citation.

· Gareth Bagguley (Newark AC) is Track and Field Official of the Year. Over the last 40 years, he has fulfilled many roles for his club; and since retiring as a runner has tirelessly extended his voluntary officiating throughout the country and through all athletics disciplines.

The awards evening, compered by BBC commentator Andrew James was attended by more than 180 guests including GB international hurdler William Sharman from Corby, Under 23 international pole vaulter Emma Lyons from Nottingham, wheelchair world champion thrower Danny Greaves from Loughborough and his coach Jim Edwards plus top high jump coach Graham Ravenscroft, whose current charges include UK Junior No.1 Vikki Hubbard (Grantham AC).

Among the special guests were top teenage athletes Rachael Backhouse (Corby AC) and her coach Lynn Hay; Eden Francis, Danae Matthew and Laura Samuel with their Leicester Coritanian coach Glenys Morton; Ben and Edward Mourbey, the Chesterfield and District AC brothers; Chris Shorthouse (Notts AC); Jenna Winson (Derby AC) and her coach Joe Walker; and Richard Woolley (Mansfield Harriers).



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