Sport Woking Awards 2009

On the evening of Monday 27 July the bar at Woking Football Club was full to bursting with sportspeople of all ages and sizes - literally from 2 to 7 feet tall.

With approximately 85 people in attendance, the largest turnout ever, the annual Sport Woking awards presentation applauded many and various achievements in and contributions to sport in the Woking area and was hosted by Shaid Azeem and Woking Football Club.

The Young Team of the Year was the Woking Athletic Quad Kids squad, whilst the U11 Girls Football and the Badminton teams that represented Woking in the Surrey Youth Games also received their medals.

At the other end of the height scale came the Woking Blackhawks Flyers – Team of the Year following their outstanding performance in winning promotion to the top division of their league.

Two weightlifting brothers were then recognised as Sports Personalities of the Year for their achievements in British championships: Chi ‘Tony’ Chea and Chris Leng Chea.  They then proceeded to amaze the audience with feats of strength and agility, leaping unaided and from a standing position onto a pile of weights stacked to almost their own height.

The outstanding contributions made by a wide range of Volunteers and Coaches were also recognised at the awards. There were many nominations but the Coach of the Year award goes to Janet Bayfield, long-term Coach at the Woking Swimming Club.

Martin Marshall, as Secretary with the Blackhawks was awarded Volunteer of the Year, whilst the Outstanding Services to Sport award went to Olive Carroll for her 30 years service to Woking Swimming Club.

Finally the Club of the Year went to The Woking Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club recognising their enormous strides in the provision of tennis to 800 members, with particular emphasis on the ‘tots’ and young player development.

The ultimate accolade – The Trotman Trophy – awarded each year since 1971 to the person or club felt to have achieved the most overall, was awarded to Doreen Williams, partly for her long and dedicated service as player and officer with Wishel Tennis Club; even more so for being the unflagging organiser of the Woking and District Tennis League, a role she has performed for many years, arranging fixtures and collating the results for no less than 80 different Tennis teams from the area’s clubs, in Winter and Summer leagues.  

In full the Sport Woking 2009 awards went to:

Sports Personality of the Year	Chris Leng Chea - Weightlifting
Young Sports Personality of the Year	Chi Chea - Weightlifting
Sports Club of the Year	Woking Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Coach of the Year	Janet Bayfield - Woking Swimming Club
Sports Team of the Year	Woking Blackhawk Flyers - Basketball
Young Sports Team of the Year	Woking Athletic Club's Quad Kids
Disability Sports Award	Susan Harrison
Outstanding Service to Sport	Olive Caroll - Woking Swimming Club
Volunteer of the Year	Martin Marshall - Woking Blackhawks
Trotman Trophy	Doreen Williams - Wishel Tennis Club

On the night there were also two special awards presented in recognition of Team Woking's efforts in the Surrey Youth Games.  They were awarded to:

Last year's Sport Woking Awards were held on August 1 2008 at Woking Leisure Centre with special guest of honour, the legendary Woking, Surrey and England cricketer, Sir Alec Bedser.  For last year's winner please go to the Sport Woking Awards 2008 page.

Nominations for the Sport Woking Awards 2010 will be available by the end of the year, every club has someone who is worthy of a nomination so make sure you don't miss out!  Ifyou have any further queries please call Jill Dixon on 01483 743 804 or email jill.dixon@woking.gov.uk.