Previous Award Winners 2008/7
2008
The National Aquaforce Volunteer Awards Lunch was held on Sunday 19th October in celebration of the outstanding contribution that volunteers give to our sport. The Awards are an opportunity for the asa, County Associations, clubs and individuals to say thank you to the exceptional people that help to deliver our sport so successfully.
The judging panel, made up by members of the asa Volunteer Forum and asa Youth Forum, found it incredible hard to select just five national winners. There were 133 nominations nationally and 28 Regional Aquaforce Award winners.
The nominees for the Outstanding Contribution at County and Regional Level Award were:
Fred Murray from the North East Region
Alan Boyle from the North West Region
Jan Van Der Velde from the London Region
Carole Halpin from the East Midlands Region
Jean Timmons from the East Midlands Region
Ian Cotton from the East Region
Margaret Tuppen from the South East Region
Jill Beard from the South West Region
The winner for the Outstanding Contribution at County and Regional Level was Fred Murray. Fred has been actively involved with North Tyneside Amateur Swimming Club for over 20 years. He has been on the County Management Board since 2001, becoming Chairman of the County Management Board in 2006. Fred is also on the North East Regional Management Board. Fred has been a Technical Official for ten years and is now one of the most respected Technical Officials tutors in the country. Thank you Fred for your outstanding contribution as a volunteer.
The nominees for the Outstanding Contribution at Club Level Award were
Graeme Smith from the North East Region
Helen Jenkins from the North West Region
Pam Crofts from the London Region
Bob Floyd from the West Midlands Region
Paul Sippitt from the East Midlands Region
Phil Nice from the East Region
Ronald Phillips from the South East Region
Thelia Beament from the South West Region
The winner for the Outstanding Contribution at Club Level Award is Graeme Smith. Graeme Smith has been a member of Middlesbrough Amateur Swimming Club for eleven years, in the role of treasurer from 1996 to 2005 and is currently Chairman. Graeme led the promotion and achievement of the swim 21 accreditation at all four levels. Graeme is a qualified referee and is an Executive member of the Northumberland and Durham counties ASA. Thank you Graeme for your outstanding contribution as a volunteer.
The nominees for the Long Service Award were
Harry Stenton from the North East Region
Jane Elizabeth Birtle from the North West Region
Stephen Baker from the London Region
David Boot from the West Midlands Region
Laurie Webster from the East Midlands Region
Sharyn Bord from the East Region
Joseph Eyley from the South East Region
John Merritt from the South West Region
The winner for the Long Service Award, recognising over 25 years commitment as a volunteer, was Joseph Eyley. Jeff created Wantage Youth Swimming club in 1976 after he identified a free hour at the local swimming pool programme. Since founding the club Jeff’s enthusiasm hasn’t diminished, he is still as involved as a 75 year old as he was when he was in his forties, teaching children whose parents he taught to swim. Thank you Jeff for your outstanding commitment as a volunteer.
The nominees for the Outstanding Contribution by an 18 to 25 year old were
Steven Dickinson from the North East Region
Jane Whittle from the North West Region
Anastacia Long from the London Region
James Lyle from the West Midlands Region
Ashely Stirling from the Eat Midlands Region
Oliver John Christian from the East Region
Katie Offler from the South East Region
The winner was Anastacia Long. Anastacia is from Merton School of Diving and Trampolining and works tirelessly to benefit the club, giving endless amounts of time to ensure that all of the young people in the diving club are working towards fulfilling their potential and she is an excellent mentor for the teenagers in the club. She is an exceptional person for her ability, at such a young age, to be able to cope with the demands and responsibility of running a club in addition to working full time. Thank you Stacia for your outstanding contribution as a volunteer.
The nominees for the Young Volunteer of the Year Award were
Emma Hart from the North East Region
Emma Costello from the North West Region
Danielle Skelton from the London Region
Samantha Johnston from the West Midlands Region
Zoe Greenwood from the East Midlands Region
Laura Cotton from the East Region
Paul Broadway from the South East Region
Danielle Hembrough from the South West Region
The winner for the Young Volunteers Award was Laura Cotton. Laura has been a member of Deben Swimming Club for 10 years, becaming a poolside helper at 14 years old, followed two years later by becoming a level 1 teacher, coach and qualified lifeguard. Laura works hard with the swimmers whilst earning their respect and dedication. In addition to this, Laura is the Disability Liaison Officer for the club teaching disability swimmers in their session, her enthusiasm and encouragement for these swimmers has seen many integrate fully into the mainstream squads. Thank you Laura for your outstanding commitment as a volunteer.
Nominations for the 2009 Awards will being in April 2009.
2007
The winner for the Outstanding Contribution at Club Level Award was Joan Weatherington from the City of Sheffield Swimming Club. Joan has been a volunteer in Sheffield for over 30 years, giving up endless amounts of time and effort to fulfil her numerous volunteer roles. Over the thirty two years of volunteering Joan has fulfilled a wide range of roles including Team Manager and organiser for trips abroad, Swimming Secretary, organiser and promoter for many galas and competitions, Judge and Timekeeper and disability Official, Chairperson, President and Championship Secretary. On behalf of the ASA we would like to say thank you to Joan for her dedication and achievements.
The winner for the Outstanding Contribution at County/Regional Level Award was John Ramsay from Hart Swimming Club. Nominated by Linda Charlesworth, John’s dedication to Hart Swimming Club, Hampshire and the South East region has been outstanding. Within John’s role as President and Chairman he has created a valued team within the local swimming community. This role has extended to run galas within schools and for brownies, guides, cubs and scouts and helping with the Heart triathlon each year. As an active Official John travels throughout the South East Region and Country as a volunteer. John has fulfilled a number of roles including Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer for Hampshire, ASA Southern Counties and Hants & South Coast League. On behalf of the ASA we would like to say thank you to John for his contribution and dedication.
The winner for the Long Service Award was Anne Collins from West Wight Swimming Club. Nominated by David Russell, whom Anne has coached and mentored, Anne’s impact within the Isle of Wight, across nearly all the aquatic disciplines and from learn to swim up to International level, has been vast. With over 32 years committed to teaching and coaching with West Wight Swimming Club Anne has taught over 17,000 people to swim on a voluntary basis. With her drive and eagerness to help out within the club Anne has been involved in many roles from teaching and coaching, Technical Official, fundraiser and she has even been seen tiling and grouting the inside of the pool! Over the 32 years Anne has become the backbone of her club and is admired and valued enormously for her caring and inspiring nature.
Anne has been responsible for establishing and growing the sychronised swimming section that has gone on to win medals at County level, she has also run life saving and diving lesions and worked tirelessly to fundraise enough money to purchase the Island’s first spring board for the club. Anne also established a disability swimming section which she and her husband have developed into one training unit with the able bodied squad. Many of these disability swimmers went on to accomplish European Medals and even World Records, a truly outstanding achievement. On behalf of the ASA we would like to say thank you to Anne for her inspiration and commitment
The winner for the Young Volunteers Award was Nick Mills from the Borough of Barnsley Swimming Club. Nominated by Martyn Stott, who was coached by Nick, he has shown an incredible commitment and passion for his club and coaching. At 22 years old and in his final year at the University of Leeds despite the stress and demands of his education, Nick continued to fulfil his coaching commitment with age group swimmers, of 16 hours a week on poolside as well as his role on the club committee as Development Officer. Nick’s dedication to coaching has helped many swimmers reach their potential and achieve medal positions at Yorkshire and North East ASA competitions, and helped his club to win most improved club in Yorkshire at the 2007 County Age Group Championships.
Nick’s dedication and willingness to go the extra mile has been shown by his enthusiasm to take on extra coaching commitments to help out team mates and other swimmers close to their NQTs. This involves Nick getting up at 4am and travelling from West Yorkshire to Sheffield to take training at Ponds Forge, he then travels to Leeds where he is studying all day for his degree before travelling back to Barnsley for evening training, which he finishes at 9.30pm. On behalf of the ASA we would like to say thank you to Nick for his commitment and enthusiasm.
All of the Winners were awarded with tickets for themselves and a guest to attend the World Championships (25m) in Manchester in April 2008.
2006
Josie Grange (Nova Centurion SC, Midlands region), Andrew Walker (Lowestoft and Oulton Broad SC, East region), Jo John (Plymouth Leander SC, South West region) and Sue Clinton (Clevedon ASC, South West region) all received Aquaforce Awards at the ASA Swimtastic dinner.
National Award winner Josie Grange has worked with the Nova Centurion Swim Club for 30 years and has been an influential force in all aspects of Nottinghamshire swimming. The award recognises volunteers for their ongoing commitment, time and dedication at county, regional and national levels.
The Outstanding Contribution Award was given to the volunteer that has made an outstanding contribution to their club, county or region. Andrew Walker, who won in 2006, has been volunteering within the region for almost ten years and was recently made president of the Suffolk ASA. As well as co-ordinating county and club newsletters and websites, Andrew volunteers at 11 sessions a week coaching at the club.
Plymouth Leander’s Jo John received the Club Awards for her invaluable role within the club. As a qualified coach she works closely with many top young swimmers from across the county, and gives up 20 hours of her free time to coach at the club.
The Community Award was given to a volunteer for their ongoing commitment and dedication at county, regional and national levels. Clevedon Amateur Swimming Club volunteer Sue Clinton won this award after working closely with schools organising galas and giving children the opportunity to enjoy competitive swimming.
ASA Director of English Programmes Anne Adams-King underlined the importance of the volunteers to the sport.
“The ASA relies on its army of volunteers to support the sport at local, regional, national and international level,” she said. “Without them swimming would not enjoy the success it currently does nor its mass participation rates.'
“By honouring all volunteers we hope to underline their value to our sport and the role they play in developing athletes from grass roots to gold medals.”
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