Grassroots Physical Activity and Sport Organisations Honoured at London Sport Awards

Thursday night saw the first London Sport Awards take place at Lord’s Cricket Groundand was nothing less than memorable.

Sports broadcaster David Garrido led the proceedings that saw eight individuals and organisations recognised for their efforts in helping more Londoners to be more physically active.

Throughout the night, the event featured Question and Answer sessions with Boxing legend Barry McGuigan, European Hockey star Sophie Bray and Olympic fencer Laurence Halsted. There was also an interactive Twitter wall, some fantastic raffle prizes (including a tour of the Sky Sports Studios) and a fascinating LED sabre performance by British Fencing.

The evening was attended by over 400 guests from the world of sport, politics and business. And with the support of sponsor; Greater London Volunteering, Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy, Teamer, Decathlon, iSportconnect, Sport England, The British Olympic Association and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, the eight Awards categories were highly contested.

With a total of 310 nominations, our expert panel had the great feat of reducing this number to a final shortlisted three in each of the eight categories. Chair of the panel was Olympic rower and Team GB Youth Olympic Games Chef de Mission Sarah Winckless MBE who said: “Judging this year’s London Sport Awards really showed how much outstanding grassroots sport takes place in London on a daily basis. Not only tonight’s winners, but every nominated programme and individual, has shown a real commitment to bringing physical activity and sport into the lives of Londoners; it is great that we have been able to celebrate their achievements in this way.”

Each category celebrated sport at grassroots level and acknowledged those that make it easier for people to be involved in physical activity and sport. Former boxing champion of the world Barry McGuigan who’s Boxing Academy sponsored the Supporting Grassroots Award said:

“Having competed at the highest levels of my sport, I know just how much work goes into making sport a part of people’s lives. It isn’t an easy job, but it’s vital for the future of people across London, and especially our children, that physical activity and sport is made available to them

“I’m delighted to have been able to present Newham’s Every Child a Sportsperson with their award for Supporting Grassroots Organisations, and greatly admire the efforts of every single person nominated for a London Sport Award.”

Sree Varma, CEO of iSportconnect who sponsored the Resources Award said: “It was a real honour to be part of the first London Sport Awards and to celebrate the achievements of grassroots sports in London. A huge Congratutions to all the winners and all the nominees, as I believe everybody is a winner in their own right tonight. We really hope to be involved in the London Sport Awards again in the future.”

The full list of winners for the London Sport Awards are:

– Volunteer of the Year (supported by Greater London Volunteering)

Tyrone George (Tower Hamlets/Pan-London)

– The Supporting Grassroots Organisations Award (supported by Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy)

Newham’s Every Child a Sportsperson Programme (Newham)

– Coach of the Year (supported by Teamer)

Jeff Clarke (Waltham Forest)

– The Making it Easier Award (supported by Decathlon)

Our Parks (East and North West London)

– The Resources Award (in partnership with iSportconnect)

Intelligent Health – Beat the Street (Multiple Boroughs)

– The Bigger and Better Workforce Award (supported by Sport England)

parkrun (Pan-London)

– The Harnessing the Power of Elite Sport Award (supported by British Olympic Association)

Rugby Football Union – Rugby World Cup 2015 and partners (Pan-London)

– Club of the Year (supported by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority)

Sanjuro Martial Arts (Haringey)