School sport enjoys its moment in the sun

By Tom Reynolds and David Jordan, Sportsbeat

THE GREAT and good of British sport joined forces at the Aviva and Daily Telegraph School Sport Matters Awards at Wembley last week as school sport was given its moment in the spotlight.

RECOGNISED: World 800m bronze medallist Jenny Meadows (L) and Aviva’s UK Brand and Sponsorship Director Tara MacLeod (R) are pcitured with winner of the Aviva Unsung Hero Award Derek Steward

Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell and silver medallist Iwan Thomas were the hosts at a glittering ceremony at the Home of Football with 30 different winners announced across ten categories.

Newly-crowned Commonwealth Games heptathlon champion Louise Hazel was also in attendance as well as 1966 World Cup winner George Cohen and Olympic silver medallist Gail Emms.

But for once it was not the established stars being honoured with Aviva and the Daily Telegraph joining forces to help celebrate everything that is good and exemplary in school sport and physical education.

David English - founder of the Bunbury Cricket Festival - was handed the Contribution to School Sport Award while Needham Market Middle (State) and Whitgift (Independent) claimed their respective School of the Year crowns.

And sprint star Mark Lewis-Francis - who claimed individual silver and relay gold at last month's Commonwealth Games in Delhi - was quick to hail the impact of the event.

"I think school sport is really important to help kids grow and develop in the right way," said Olympic champion Lewis-Francis - who also claimed European Championship silver in Barcelona earlier this year.

"When I was a kid I sometimes got in a bit of trouble but sport helped me to focus on school and to enjoy it as well.

"I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for what my school did for me and they play a really important role in developing the sportsmen and women of the future."

The Aviva School Sport Matters Awards recognise outstanding achievement in school sport over the past year and represent part of Aviva's commitment to give all children the opportunity to get active by 2012 through the Aviva Academy.

It was the sixth year that Aviva and the Daily Telegraph have worked together to showcase and celebrate the successes and developments in school sport and yet again it was a memorable occasion.

Another face recently returned from the sub-continent was Middlesbrough swimmer, Aimee Willmott, 17, who was crowned Female Student of the Year having jetted off to both the Commonwealth Games and European Championships in 2010.

Two-time Youth Olympic Games medallist David Bolarinwa scooped the male equivalent while Mike De Busk (School Sport Teacher of the Year) was also hailed.

Southfield School took victory in the Excellence in Disabled Sport category while Norlington Boys Year 10 cricketers took the School Team of the Year Crown.

Churchill Community College won the Specialist Sports College of the Year Award and Tara Macleod - Aviva's UK Brand and Sponsorship Director - was quick to hail the day a resounding success.

"I think the event was absolutely magnificent and incredibly inspiring," said Macleod.

"The commitment of the teachers and the pupils and the parents and the things they have achieved is quite phenomenal.

"I think the Unsung Hero Award stood out for me - that was incredible.  For a man to be involved in sport from the age of 16 and to still be involved at 76 is an amazing and inspiring feat."

The man in question was Aviva Unsung Hero winner Derek Steward, who at 76 still teaches the sixth form at Highams Park School in North London.

And who better to sum up the ethos of the whole day and provide an insight into the hard-working nature of the award winners than Derek?

"I never ever go to bed at night not looking forward to work in the morning," he said.

The Aviva and Daily Telegraph School Sport Matters Awards recognize outstanding achievements in school sport across the UK and form part of Aviva's commitment to give all children the opportunity to get active by 2012 through the Aviva Academy. Go to aviva.co.uk/athletics