Winners of the Sussex Sports Awards 2009 announced

Posted on 17/11/09

Sascha Kindred wins the West Sussex-Ahead of the Game Disabled Sports Personality of the Year.

15 deserving winners were announced at the awards evening in Brighton on Friday 13 November, attended by over 550 guests. The evening was hosted by Derek Redmond, one of GB’s greatest 400m runners. The Sussex County Sports Partnership, who organise the awards, received a record breaking number of nominations this year.

West Sussex-Ahead of the Game and West Sussex County Council sponsored the Disabled Sports Personality of the Year, won by the swimmer Sascha Kindred, who has strong connections to Crawley. Sascha has recently won 3 gold medals in the European championships, and in his career has won over 350 medals, breaking many British, European and world records. Earlier this year, Sascha attended London 2012 Open Weekend events in Crawley, Steyning, Horsham and Worthing, marking the three-year countdown to the Games. The award runners-up were Liam Beresford, a boccia player from Ringmer, and Richard Schabel an athlete from East Grinstead.

A number of the other award winners are from West Sussex, including the Blue Reach Response Innovation in Sport (Education) winner, Worthing College Sports Academy; the SkillsActive Coach of the Year, Julie House from Goring; the University of Brighton Young Coach of the Year Oliver Young, based in Sharpethorne; the Sport England Young Volunteer of the Year Ruby Baverstock, based in Crawley; and the University of Chichester Young Sports Personality of the Year Emily Llewellyn, for Equestrian. 

The Freedom Leisure Sports Personality of the Year was the swimmer Gemma Spofforth from Slindon, who became the first woman to win the world 100m backstroke title and the first since 1958 to hold the world record. She also set a new British record in the 200m backstroke and 4 x 200m medley relay.

To find out more about the awards and to see all the winners visit www.sussexsport.org