SPORTS stars from across the borough of Gedling have been honoured at an awards ceremony.
Eight year-old BMX rider Chance Edmond, who goes to Lowdham Primary School, was one of 21 award winners.
He walked away from the sixth annual Gedling Sports Awards at Carlton Academy on Thursday night with the Junior Sportsman Under-11 title.
Despite being only eight years old, Chance, who lives in Strelley Street, in Bulwell, competes at under-12 level in BMX racing.
He won the Midlands Regional BMX Championship series in 2011 and finished seventh in the national championships this year.
Speaking to the Post, he said: "I just love it, I love racing people and I get to meet lots of people."
The awards, which are organised by Gedling Sports Forum, were hosted by Olympic canoeist Johnny Akinyemi.
Other winners included nine-year-old triathlete Alana Meenan, of Richard Bonington Primary School, in Arnold, who scooped the Junior Sportswoman under-11 title and field and ice hockey player Tom Hovell, of Carlton Academy, who was the Junior Sportsman category winner aged 11-16.
Jessica Urquhart, 14, of Carlton-le-Willows Academy, an England and GB speed skater and ice hockey player, was crowned the Junior Sportswoman for 11-16.
Jessica, of Ernest Road in Carlton, said: "We train every day and I do fitness training every day as well. There were a lot of strong people in the categories, so I was proud to be here today."
Katie Bartlett, 18, of Sandfield Road, Arnold, was not only named Junior Sportsperson for the 16-21 category but was given the overall title of Sportsperson of the Year as well.
Katie, who rows with Nottingham Rowing Club, came 7th in the Junior World Championships in Bulgaria in August and picked up gold and silver sculls at the Munich Junior International Regatta.
The 18-year-old, who attends Loughborough University, said she had Olympic ambitions. "I used to be a swimmer, then I was tested for rowing and didn't fall in as much as anyone else!" she said. "I train twice a day, every day."
Other winners include 12-year-old Luke Huntingdon, of Phoenix Boxing Club, in Gedling, who received the Achievement in Disability Sports award. He remains devoted to boxing despite suffering with autism.
Burton Joyce FC under-9s were named Junior Club Team Under-11 after finishing third in the YEL Under-9s league.
The Junior Club Team 11-18 title went to Netherfield Colts FC Under-18s after they won the Notts Youth League under-18 Cup, and the Senior Club Title was awarded to Gedling Colliery Cricket Club 1st XI, which won all four of the competitions they entered in 2012.
The tag rugby team at Willow Farm Primary School, in Gedling, was named Primary School Team of the Year after representing Notts in a regional tournament, and the under-14s girls' football team at Gedling School was named Secondary School Team of the Year after winning the county cup for the second year.
Shanice Kinkaid, of Phoenix Boxing Club, was named Junior Coach of the Year and Ian Sturgess, of Gedling Southbank Football Club, was given the Club Coach of the Year award.
The Changing Lifestyles Award went to Charles Rouse, who turned his life around after suffering heart failure and other complications.
He joined the gym at Carlton Forum and lost six stone.
The Changing Gedling Award went to Janet Eason and Wendy Wilson, who voluntarily organise health walks in the borough.
Antonio Vocaturo was given the Young Person's award and Jamie Flynn, who works with children with special needs, received the Changing Young Lives Award. The 21-year-old, of Cross Street, Netherfield, is a coach on Gedling Borough Council's Young Person's Positive Moves Exercise Referral Scheme and his nominator described him as having "something special" and an ability to inspire those with low confidence.
Jamie said: "That's my career, I love it, I don't feel like I deserve an award. The reward for me is the kids smiling."
Karen Evans, of Carlton Forum Swimming Club, was given the Volunteer of the Year award after working there 20 years, while Phoenix Boxing Club was named Sports Club of the Year.
Club coach Dale McPhilbin was given the Lifetime Achievement in Sport award and described as the "soul of the club" for the past 30 years.
