Previous Award Winners

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.”