The winners of the 2023 Surrey Heath Sports Awards have been announced at a ceremony at Camberley Theatre.
The awards celebrate the achievements of local coaches, volunteers, athletes and community groups, who have gone above and beyond in their performances, dedication and commitment to sport and physical activity.
Winners in our award categories included representation from cricket, athletics, cheerleading, football, netball and boccia, showing the depth and breadth of sport and physical activity taking place across the borough.
Congratulations to the SHSA 2023 winners:
Legacy Sportwear Sporting Moment of the Year- Harrison Taylor
Harrison represented Surrey in javelin at the National Schools competition, earning selection to the England Athletic Youth Programme at Loughborough.
The Massage Company Team of the Year- Camberley Bowling Club
Camberley Bowling Club won the National Senior Fours championship, gaining qualification to represent England at the British Isles Championships next June
Complete Coaching Newcomer of the Year- Lola-Grace Mizzi
Lola-Grace gained qualification to perform in cheer squad in an international tournament in Barcelona after only one year of competing with Eclipse Cheerleading.
Surrey Security Service Community Champion of the Year– Saba Raza
Saba has gone above and beyond in providing health and wellbeing initiatives among ethnic minority and refugee communities.
Surrey Playing Fields Volunteer of the Year- Jemma Barker
Jemma Founded the Lightwater Lasers Netball club to act as a social hub and opportunity for women in the Lightwater area to get active.
Inclusive Sport Award- Oliver Hastings
Oliver competed at national level in boccia, winning many accolades. Alongside this Oliver volunteers at his local boccia club to inspire others to get involved with the sport.
Places Leisure Camberley Outstanding Service to Sport- Keith Ross
Keith has been volunteering with Curley Park Rangers Football Club since the late 1970s and helps out at the club every Saturday morning, setting up the club’s early age teams and ensuring the teams have all the equipment and assistance needed.
Team Surrey Heath members from the Specsavers Surrey Youth Games programme were also recognised for their participation and performance.
Surrey Heath Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, Cllr John Skipper said: "I would like to congratulate everyone who was shortlisted for the Surrey Heath Sports awards, and of course the winners themselves.
“These awards don’t just celebrate the elite athletes – although for a small borough we punch above our weight in that department – but they also pay well deserved recognition to those who are often the unsung heroes in grassroots sport.
“The volunteers, the coaches, the parents, the helpers – those who give up their time for the benefit of others. I want to say a huge thank you to those people, who make such a difference to people’s lives.
"I also want to thank our host Peter Gordon, our generous sponsors, and of course the Surrey Heath Sports Council, who made this awards event possible."
For more information, visit the Surrey Heath Sports Awards webpage
Photo credit: Laura Woodrow