The annual TyneMet Sports Awards were held on Thursday 1st July at TyneMet’s Coast Road Campus. Staff, students, key partners and special guests celebrated the end of another fantastic sporting year at TyneMet, which saw a huge number of individual and team successes.
The event was also a chance for the college to say thank you to all those who contribute so positively to sport at TyneMet College and the North East Sports Academy.
After a high-energy demonstration from NESA Basketball Development Centre students, TyneMet Principal John Vincent opened the ceremony with the message that sport and physical activity are a fundamental part of the fabric of TyneMet College. The North East Sports Academy, and sport in general, has been at the heart of numerous recent successes for the college, and the principal made it clear that he is keen to see more and more TyneMet students getting involved in sport .
TyneMet Governor Dr. Graeme Cruickshank then took the stage as compare for the evening, telling the audience that he was moved to become involved with the college after coming into contact with a number of players from TyneMet’s Rugby Development Centre.
The first presentations of the evening were for achievement by Development Centre students in the 5 NESA focus sports; Men’s Football, Basketball, Rugby Union, Badminton and Women’s Football. NESA Development Centre coaches took to the stage in turn to announce their award winners and the trophies were presented to the winners by Newcastle Eagles Player/Coach Fab Flournoy and Ruth Sutcliffe of Newcastle United Women’s F.C.
After a break for food and refreshments, recognition was given to sportsmen, women and teams who had seen the greatest success in their chosen sport during 2009/2010.
Awards for outstanding national achievement were presented to English Schools U19 Judo Champion, Neil McNamara, Special Olympics Swimming gold medallist, Tyrone Critchlow and GB Gymnast Matthew Hennessey, showcasing the fantastic individual talent which exists at TyneMet.
The foundation studies 5-a-side football team were presented with an award for outstanding teamwork and fair play after their performances in numerous tournaments around the region. Tyrone Critchlow and Liam Kermode proudly accepted the award along with their tutor and coach Geoff McKnight.
NESA Men’s Football Development Coaches Ian Bogie and Derek Forrest were then each presented with a special award marking their outstanding contribution to TyneMet sport over a number of years. The award marked the end of an era at TyneMet as Ian has taken a full-time management role with Gateshead F.C. Everyone at TyneMet wishes him the best for the future. Derek will remain in his role with NESA and will continue to offer the fantastic development opportunities which Men’s Football students have always enjoyed.
The final individual awards of the evening were for TyneMet Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year. With so many outstanding performers, it was incredibly hard to select the winners. However, the achievements of two individuals were thought to stand out above the rest.
The Sportsman of the Year award was presented to Steven Baptist who, after 3 years in the NESA Men’s Football Developmet Centre has just signed a professional contract with Gateshead F.C. to play in the Blue Square Premier Division.
NESA Basketball development Centre student Rachael Bland was the winner of Sportswoman of the Year, after fantastic commitment to the NESA Basketball programme, playing national league basketball for Team Northumbria and securing a place at Leeds Metropolitan University on the basis of her potential to be an elite athlete.
The final presentation of the evening was the Team of the Year award. This went to the NESA Basketball Development Centre Women’s Team who represented TyneMet and the North East Region at the BCS National Finals in April. The girls finished the tournament as runners up behind perennial winners Hackney College, confirming them as the second best team in the country, a fantastic achievement in their first full year as a team.
The NESA and Learner Services staff would like to thank all those who attended what was a hugely successful and enjoyable evening, and would like to thank all those who helped in the organisation of the event, including the estates team, the college caretakers and hospitality and catering.
The full list of winners was as follows:
NESA Men’s Football
Overall Player of the Year – Tom Bridgett
ECFA Player of the Year – Matthew Speedie
NECL Player of the Year – Tom Illingworth
Development Player of the Year – Patrick N’Gora
Most Committed Player – Steven Baptist
Student of the Year – Alex Clafton
Outstanding First Year – Dan Young
Top Goalscorer – Dan Young
NESA Rugby Union
Player of the Year – Brian Naisbitt
Most Committed Player – James Leckie
NESA Basketball
Player of the Year – Ross Wilson
Most Committed Player – Connor Cole
Student of the Year – George Gray
Most Improved Player – Modeste Kande
NESA Badminton
Player of the Year – Nicolle Henry
Most committed Player – Lee Wise
Student of the Year – Kristie Campbell
NESA Women’s Football
Player of the Year – Natalie Henderson
Most Committed Player – Daniell Parker
Individual and Team Awards
Outstanding National Achievement in Judo – Neil McNamara
Outstanding National Achievement in Swimming – Tyrone Critchlow
Outstanding National Achievement in Gymnastics – Matthew Hennessey
Outstanding Teamwork & Fair Play – Foundation Studies Football Team
Outstanding Contribution to TyneMet Sport – Ian Bogie
Outstanding Contribution to TyneMet Sport – Derek Forrest
Sportsman of the Year – Steven Baptist
Sportswoman of the Year – Rachael Bland
Team of the Year – NESA Basketball Women’s Team