Rochdale finalists for Greater Manchester Sports Awards

Greater Manchester Sports Awards celebrate the outstanding commitment and achievements made in physical activity and sport across Greater Manchester.

BBC Radio Manchester presenter, Chelsea Norris is hosting the event on 16 November at The Point Emirates, Old Trafford, joined by guest speaker, Claire Lomas; marathoner, motor biker, hand cyclist and campaigner.

The 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester hold their own awards and the winners from eight categories are invited to the Greater Manchester event. The Rochdale Sports and Culture Awards were held at the Middleton Arena on 9 October.

The finalists representing Rochdale are:

Sports Achiever of the Year: Allana Shaw

Allana, at only 11, has become number 1 in England in Boxing. Achieving a gold medal in Dublin representing the NW Region Female Squad and National Minors Champion @ 50kg, she is the first female in Rochdale to win such a title and has achieved so much. She helps out with sessions for disabled youngsters and takes it upon herself to help the up and coming young talent at her club.

Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year Award: Bridgeability Football Club

Bridgeability includes players from Redwood School and Bridge Juniors. The team have driven forward and become the most successful club-linked disability team in Rochdale.

The team linked up with Bridge Juniors to access the training facilities and league. They have been very successful with excellent league results, attendance and dedication which is exceptional because of the additional work required around developing a disability team.

Changing Lifestyle Award: Gladys Radburn

Gladys, now 100, started attending gentle exercise sessions two years ago to ensure that she could stay independent and mobile for as long as possible. Gladys is a constant source of inspiration to those who may have otherwise thought “I’m too old” and proves that age is not a barrier to keeping active! Recently Gladys decided she needed gym gear and now attends in her sketchers and gym wear!

Volunteer of the Year Award: Barbara Bayliss

Barbara is Event Director at Watergrove Parkrun. She recognised that opportunities need to be provided locally and has been instrumental in Rochdale having its first junior parkruns at Queens Park, Heywood and soon its second at Milnrow Memorial Park. Barbara has also set up Littleborough Runners, providing opportunities for local residents with the chance to participate in running and creating a series of Couch to 5k running courses.

Coach of the Year Award: Rob Johnson

Rob has been head of Hopwood Hall academy since 2001 winning over thirty trophies and reaching two national finals in English schools U18 cup. Players that he’s coached are currently playing in Australia, USA and New Zealand. Numerous alumni play at a good non-league level in the North West; currently in the news are two in Chester, with two recently signed by Radcliffe and one at Trafford.

Unsung Hero of the Year Award: Lynn Jopson

Lynn has run Queensway Royals Morris dancing troup for 38 years and has taught hundreds of dancers over the years. Lynn is not just seen as a dance trainer she is a family member to unrelated people. Working with children from lower social economic areas, she’s brought people together, helped children make new friends even when they were struggling and helped parents who can’t afford out of school activities.

School Commitment to PE & Sport: St Mary’s RC Primary School

St Marys have achieved the Youth Sport Trust GoldMark award. They offer an outstanding PE Curriculum and Extra Curricular Sport Provision to 400 plus pupils that are additional to the Curriculum PE. All PE staff have the Association for PE Level 5 Award and are Balanceability Trained. Staff have taken part in a new initiative for NFL (American Football) and they have been the lead school for Greater Manchester.

Club of the Year Award: Rochdale Junior Netball Club

Rochdale JNC have been successful at getting players into the Greater Manchester County Thunder Academy and U15s Thunder development squads. Coaches are all Level 1 trained and Level 2 if they want to progress further. Squads are U8s to U16s playing in Bury, Oldham and Greater Manchester County League and for the first time including a new U8s squad since formation coached by experience coaches and girls from the older squads.

This year also sees a new award, the Greater Manchester Mayor’ Award, which is selected and presented by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. The award recognises an individual or organisation who shows outstanding commitment to Greater Manchester Moving and their target to achieve 75% of people active or fairly active by 2025.

The three finalists chosen by The Mayor are:

Cancer Research North West Events Team

This year the Race for Life team in the North West delivered events across Greater Manchester (Wigan, Leigh, Oldham, Stockport & Manchester) engaging over 13,100 women and children and raising almost £600,000 for life-saving cancer research. The events are suitable for any ability with the mantra of 'walk, jog or run'; getting active for the cause and with it finding a healthier lifestyle. The events are linked to local health and leisure providers so that participants can continue to carry on getting active after the event. The female-only events are for all ages, and men can get involved to by volunteering at the events. Each event sees over 150 people from Greater Manchester involved in voluntary work.

St Mary’s RC Primary School, Middleton

The school aims to offer all children the maximum opportunity to achieve the Active 60 minutes a day within the school day. Within the school day, there are a variety of programmes that are extra to the Curriculum PE that each child receives. Programmes such as the Premier League Reading Scheme, The Daily Mile, Walk to School Scheme plus providing Physical Literacy Equipment bags. They run a free, over-subscribed after school programme for all pupils, pupils who do not attend an extra-curricular club are also sent personal invites to attend. The school has purchased balance bikes for their nursery and Key Stage 1 pupils to ensure all children can learn to ride a bike, supporting their Bikeability scheme for Key Stage 2 pupils. The school are also engaging with parents by providing take-home bags to support physical activity at home. The students are actively involved in decisions with regards to the provision of physical activity at the school.

Greater Manchester Ability Counts League

The Greater Manchester Ability Counts League, offers PAN Disability Football on a fortnightly basis, to both Adults and Children with disabilities. The 8 volunteer committee members who run the league, work extremely hard to ensure an inclusive league catering for all needs and is enjoyable for all. The league continues to grow and has over 50 teams from across Greater Manchester attending each month, with both male and female players. If you were to ask any player who attends the league, what they enjoy most, it will be the atmosphere created by the volunteers. Without the league, there wouldn’t be the opportunity for participants to make new friends, have fun and most importantly help improve their fitness, self-esteem and give them the opportunity to be feel part of a team that achieves something. The league does Greater Manchester proud each season, enabling disabled footballers to participate and represent their local team.

Sara Tomkins, CEO at GreaterSport said: “I’m looking forward to a great night celebrating the finalists’ outstanding achievements over the past twelve months and I’d like to wish everyone the best of luck and I hope you have a successful and enjoyable evening.”