Chesterfield trio honoured at 2016 Derby Telegraph Sports Awards
A trio of Chesterfield sporting heroes were recognised for their excellence at the 2016 Derby Telegraph Sports Awards, held in Association with Derbyshire Sport and Champions UK, on November 10.
Liam Pitchford, Tim Sadler and Alicia Barrett were category runners-up at the prestigious ceremony, staged at The Roundhouse in Derby, which brought together the leading contenders from across the county in elite and grass roots sport.
Table tennis player Pitchford, who represented Great Britain at this summer’s Olympics in the singles and doubles, made the final three in Sportsperson of the Year, along with fellow Rio stars Adam Peaty and Lewis White.
But it was swimmer Peaty who got the nod to win the award for the third year running after the City of Derby star won gold in the 100m breaststroke in emphatic style out in Brazil with a new world record.
The race for the Young Sportswoman of the Year title was keenly fought, with Newbold’s sprint hurdler Barrett, a finalist at the World Junior Championships this year, edged out by with North East Derbyshire heptathlete Niamh Emerson, who beat the British age group record twice and won a European Junior heptathlon bronze medal.
Alicia Barrett, Chesterfield Athletics Club member, said:-
“It’s great to be nominated again, even if I didn’t win.
“If I was going to be runner-up to anyone it would be Niamh because I’ve known her for a really long time and we are good friends.
“It’s really nice to get the recognition because you don’t expect to be chosen from all the talented young athletes in the county – it’s really cool.”
The Service to Sport award saw Chesterfield’s Tim Sadler make the final three for his sterling work with Brampton Rovers, Chesterfield Town and Newbold Community Football Training.
However, he was pipped to the top prize City of Derby’s Lesley Sturgess who has volunteer in sport for nearly 40 years at Derby Ladies Hockey Club and then in Derbyshire squash.
Tim Sadler said:-
“I was really excited when I first found out I’d been nominated for the county awards.
“I was lucky enough to win that and it’s great to be here with so many other great sports people on this stage.
“As a player my career was halted by injury, but I‘ve continued to get involved as a secretary, manager and coaching. It’s the love of the game, a bug. I love to see the young players, from under-privileged areas in some cases, develop and then themselves become coaches, and I also like to see people of all abilities enjoying the game.”
The evening was hosted by television presenter and sports reporter Gary Newbon and weather presenter Emma Jesson and saw around 300 guests in attendance, with money raised for Rainbows Children’s Hospice.
