Borough's county sporting success

WARRINGTON had nominees in eight of the 10 categories in the annual Cheshire and Warrington Sports Partnership awards – and three took home awards.
Hundreds of people were present at the prize night at Mere Golf Club, Knutsford, to celebrate the success of all those in sport across the county.
Warrington’s three winners were:
1. Disabled Sports Achiever of the Year (Jim Cochrane Award) was won by Adrian Derbyshire who competes as part of the Great Britain Wheelchair Fencing Team. He trains up to 60 hours a week, travelling hundreds of miles in the process and has also coached more than 1,000 children and young people and will be featuring in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
2. Louise Pearson,won the Embrace the Games category. She volunteered during her summer break from university to co-ordinate and teach the “20 past 12” dance routine in Warrington in July and councillors, wardens, market traders and the public all took part.
3. Warrington’s third success story was the VPX – Victoria Park Experience – in the Innovation Award category. VPX aimed to engage young people in sport and physical activity and increase their involvement with local community and reduce anti-social behaviour.
As well as the three outright winners, local lad Mark Simmons was also highly commended by the judging panel in the Volunteer of the Year Award for his ongoing voluntary commitments to Phoenix Fire Amateur Boxing Club.
Coun Bob Timmis, the borough council’s executive member for leisure and skills said: “The winners of these awards have achieved some fantastic and far-reaching accomplishments, they are fine examples for all of us to follow and I offer my sincere congratulations to them all. Well done.”
Pictured: Coun Bob Timmis, the borough council’s executive member for leisure and skills with Adrian and his award on the night.