Inaugural Dorset High-Performance Sports Awards held

Held for the first time on Wednesday night at Bournemouth University, the awards sought to celebrate some of the world-beating talent that the county helps to produce.

There was a huge breadth of nominees, in sports including trampoline, freediving, Formula Kite, stand up paddleboarding, para-canoe, rowing, pentathlon, taekwondo, cycle speedway and swimming.

After some words from guest speaker Jeff Mostyn, former AFC Bournemouth chairman, the awards were handed out by Mostyn as well as the panel of judges.

(Image: Newsquest) The panel featured organiser Dawn Exley from Dorset Spotlight CIC, Martin Wells, Bournemouth University’s high-performance sports manager, former England netball player Geva Mentor CBE and sports journalist Jordan Clark.

The first award of the night was given to iQFOiL star Darcey Shaw in the Youth U18 Sportsperson of the Year, who recently claimed the U19 world title in Mallorca.

Up next, Team GB trampoline coach Brian Camp was awarded the Coach of the Year award in what would be a successful night for trampolinists – after a golden year on the world stage.

Paralympic gold medallist Leo McCrea was given the Sportsperson with a Disability award after winning gold for Switzerland this summer.

(Image: Newsquest) Bryony Page, who won Team GB’s final gold medal at the Paris Olympics in trampoline, won the Sportswoman of the Year award.

Sportsman of the Year went to multiple world champion and record holding freediver David Mellor, who was unable to accept his award in person on the night as he was in Dahab, Egypt, but he sent a message that was played to the event.

Paddleboarding record holder David Haze was awarded the Special Recognition award, while the final award of the night, Team of the Year, went to trampoline stars Bryony Page and Izzy Songhurst.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after the ceremony, organisers Dawn and Martin said it had been an ‘amazing’ evening.

“It's very special,” Martin said.

(Image: Newsquest) “People are hanging around and chatting and I think those connections between the parents, the coaches, the organisers, and the athletes, I think it will become infectious and we're hoping that become its own little family of people that have been nominated.

“It's a special night and I’m really pleased for both of us of how it's turned out.”

Dawn said: “I think the most important thing is the fact that the majority of athletes here are self-funded.

“That's the key thing here, is the fact that these people put in so much effort and they have their parents and everybody running them around.

“It's a collaboration of people who will help each other, this is what this is about.”

On how the evening came about, Martin explained that he and Dawn were discussing the stories Dawn shares in Dorset Spotlight, a bi-monthly digital magazine that showcases local athletes.

(Image: Newsquest) They decided to host an awards night and, despite it being a ‘rocky road’ to get to the event itself, Dawn continued to drive it, with support from friends and family, which Martin said was ‘inspirational’.

The list of nominees was impressive, with multiple Olympic, Paralympic and World Championship medallists, as well as world record holders and top-class coaches.

“It's great,” Dawn said.

“From in the magazine, we've had people from the start of their journey through to now, when they're winning Olympics medals.

“So, it's just, it's really incredible that they're all here.”

Martin agreed, adding that next year they want to continue to highlight as wide a breadth of sports as possible – encouraging everyone to nominate themselves or others who are succeeding.

“If they're doing well in their sport, they are winning,” he said. “We just need to know about it so we can then help promote that and maybe get that sport a little bit more of a profile.”