The Champagne (and lemonade) was flowing at the Active Essex Sports Awards on Monday night when the spotlight fell on two of Squash’s brightest stars.
British U-13 champion Alice Green and top coach Lauren Selby were shortlisted from over a thousand Essex sportsmen and women for the prestigious awards evening held at Colchester United FC’s Community Stadium. And both our nominees were cheered onto centre stage by 250 specially invited guests at the event which was broadcast live by BBC Radio.
Former top WSA professional player Lauren, now one of the leading British squash coaches and senior Essex junior mentor, was praised for her extraordinary achievements and drive, especially in the field of inspiring and encouraging girls to participate in sport. Lauren was the only female in the shortlist of nominees for Coach of the Year and she finished the night being highly commended.
It was then Alice’s turn to hear the MC’s dutiful phrase: In no particular order, the nominees for the Young Sports Personality of the Year are…Imogen Newby, archery, Joshua Bain, athletics and Alice Green, squash. With X-Factor like tension, the announcement continued : And the winner is…Alice Green.
It’s safe to say that the cheers from Table 8 were the loudest of the evening as Alice was presented with her award and then interviewed live on BBC Radio Essex. With just a few nerves, Alice charmed the crowd as she thanked her parents, coaches and sponsors for supporting her. She revealed that her ambition was to see squash played at the Olympics and put a smile on everyone’s face when she admitted: “I used to be a tennis player but I got bored with it. Squash is so much better.”
Fine words and a great performance by Alice, who was later interviewed alongside mum Jo, brother Ollie, dad Graham and Lauren for a special BBC Radio special on squash to be broadcast shortly.
Full list of Active Essex winners below.
The Active Essex Sports Awards Winners and Finalists:
Max Whitlock: Winner of Sports personality of the year, sponsored byColchester United FC
Highly commended: Fiona Pennie, Oliver Dingley
Alice Green: Winner of Young sports personality of the year, sponsored byEssex County Council
Highly commended: Imogen Newby, Joshua Bain
Lucy Hodges MBE: Winner of Disabled sports personality of the year, sponsored by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Highly commended: Hannah Stodel, Matthew Hamilton
Jack Edgar: Winner of services to disability sport, sponsored by Upshot
Highly commended: Lucy Hodges, Recoil Trampoline Club
Dot Naylor, Winner of: Unsung hero (Volunteer), sponsored by MRL Productions
Highly commended: Dave Record, Wendy Robinson
Olivia Hope Whyte, Winner or: Young volunteer (U18),sponsored by Essex & Suffolk Water
Highly commended: Rhianna Worth, Samuel Cox
Southend Diving Club: Winner of Sports club of the year, sponsored by Wilson James
Highly commended: Hadleigh Mountain Bike Club, Kats Netball Club,
Sgt Steven Smith: Winner Coach of the year, sponsored by Holiday Inn, Basildon
Highly commended: John Scott, Lauren Selby
Fitness in Mind: Winner of Physical activity project of the year, sponsored byFusion Lifestyle
Highly commended: Challenge 2014 Campaign – Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, , Maru Karate Kai
Columbus school and college: Winner of School or college of the year, sponsored by Morgan Sindall PLC
Highly commended: Chase Lane Nursery and Primary School, , Friars Primary School, Lee Chapel Primary School
Visteon: Winner of Active workplace of the year, sponsored by Writtle College
Highly Commended: Harlow Council, Stansted Airport,