Ashfield’s sporting champions were recognised at the Active Ashfield Awards, which rewarded some of the district’s outstanding achievements.

The night started with Kirkby paralympic champion Ollie Hynd giving an inspirational speech.

Hynd was recently named Para-Swimming Athlete of the Year at the Swim England National Awards.

Active Ashfield was celebrating its tenth anniversary and to mark the milestone gymnastics coach Kate Pearson and Ashfield School picked up special awards for their contributions to Active Ashfield over the past 10 years.

Felicia Miloro (pole vault) and Molly Cooper (kickboxing), who both compete at international level, won Junior Sportsperson of the Year awards.

World Special Olympics ice skating star Meg Macfarlane collected the Junior Disabled Sportsperson Award for the fifth year in succession.

Molly, Felicia, Joshua Walker and Jorja Atherton received a cheque for £500 each from the Harold Farr Bequest Fund.
The event included performances from Active Ashfield Factor winner Millie Martin and dancers from the Believe Academy.

Other award winners were:
Primary School Awards — Croft, Morven Park and Underwood.
Primary School Change 4 Life Award — Greenwood.
Change 4 Life Award — Beverley Beevers and Jessica Freeman.
Health Champion Award –—Keith Wallace.
Disability Champion Award — Peter Cranston.
This Girl Can Award — Jodie Binch.
Special Recognition Awards — John Geoghegan, Kevin Henshaw and Lyla Easom.
Workplace Health Awards — Ashfield District Council (gold), Paragon plc, Festival Hall, Selston and Hucknall Leisure Centres (bronze).

Coun Amanda Brown, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing at Ashfield District Council, said: “The council has a firm commitment to health and wellbeing and it’s great to see the Active Ashfield Awards recognising achievements at all levels in both sport and health.

“Celebrating 10 years of Active Ashfield shows the strength of the partnership as it moves into delivering its third strategy, with a strong focus on getting more people participating in physical and cultural activities to improve health and wellbeing.”