2007 Winners
Sports Personality of the Year
Anna McKenzie
Anna is the youngest ever winner of this prestigious award!
The judging panel deliberated long and hard about this award, and the standard of nominations coming forward does increase each year. However, our winner has had a truly outstanding 2007. Anna was at the helm of a two-handed Mirror dinghy, which won the World Mirror Sailing Championships in South Africa earlier in the year. In the process she became the first female Mirror World Champion, and along with her partner became the first ever all-woman team to win a world title in a two-handed ISAF Open Dinghy Class, as well as the youngest in history.
Performance Award
Cumbria Ladies Hockey Team
This team walked away with the Performance Award for their fine performance that saw Cumbria crowned County Champions for the first time, and also saw a team from the north of England win the title for the first time in 13 years.
Team of the Year
M-Sport
From the world of Rallying, the award for the Team of the Year goes to M-Sport who have just won the World Rally Championships.
Special Award
Daymon Johnstone
The Special Award is given by the Judging Panel to a nominee who stands out from all other nominations received. This year, that person was Daymon Johnstone from Workington. Despite having had a kidney transplant, Daymon has not let this stand in his way of becoming a fine sportsman, but also an outstanding volunteer in sport who has given many hours of service to sport. Daymon has had a great year, winning a gold medal for French Bowls at the World Transport Games in Thailand, as well as a bronze in the adult section of the sport and a bronze in squash.
Service to Sport Award
Jeffrey Wadsworth
The Service to Sport Award went to Jeffrey Wadsworth who has been involved in sport in the Barrow-in-Furness area for over 40 years.
Volunteer of the Year
Tony Tomlinson
Tony Tomlinson who works tirelessly to develop rugby league around Workington and Maryport walked away with the Volunteer of the Year Award.
Performance Award for People with a Disability
Paula Johnson
Paula has been playing wheelchair basketball for the Furness Falcons Wheelchair Basketball Team for the last 10 years and has just qualified for the GB squad to play in the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008.
Junior Team of the Year Award
Whitehaven School Under 16 Rugby League
This team won the North West Counties Cup, which qualified them for the National Finals, which they also won, and then went on to be crowned European Champions.
Coach of the Year
Gary Hewer
During 2007 Gary has resurrected the fortunes of his local rugby league club following their 5 year absence, coaching them to league and cup success. He was also part of the coaching team that took Whitehaven School Rugby League Team to European success in Serbia.
Junior Sports Personality of the Year
Laura Park
14 year old Laura has had a fantastic year, winning 7 National and British titles in fell running, cross country, and athletics. She is extremely committed, training 5 or 6 times each week, and her ambition is to run for Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.
Rising Star Awards 2007
Amanda Donaldson
At the age of just 17, Amanda is the youngest ever female rugby league player to play for the England Ladies Team.
Ben Stokes
Ben, from Cockermouth, was selected after he excelled in 2007 in his chosen sport of cricket.
Gregg McNally
Gregg is Captain of his amateur rugby league club Kells, as well as WhitehavenSchool under 16 Rugby League. He has recently signed professional forms with Whitehaven Rugby League Club.
Jim Atkinson
Jim has recently signed for Scottish SPL side Gretna Football club. This year he represented England in the Danone Nations Cup, which is the World Cup for Under 12 teams.
Nathan Hogg
Nathan, from Kendal, is ranked number 1 in his weight category in Great Britain for Judo, and is in the final qualifying stages for the European Championships.