Service to Sport Award

Thirteen outstanding nominations were considered for the 2007 award with the eventual winner representing Basingstoke & Deane at the County awards. Eight finalists attended the Award night at the Apollo Hotel last February - Chris Berry (Basingstoke & Mid Hants Athletics Club) Chris has been involved in the sport of track and field athletics for over 37 years being an athlete, coach, administrator and official, giving to each 100% effort and often more. His first post at the club was a team manager with success before also being elected as youth development officer. Later he became officials, Men’s and Veteran Secretary plus Coaching co-ordinator. Alongside this, he has been on the Local Sports Council committee in various roles for the past 9 years alongside a range of other activities. Previously, Chris has won sports awards in the local Official, Veteran and Coaching categories. Jo Brett – (Totally Tennis) Jo Brett, who has written the Serve and Volley pages in The Monday Gazette on behalf of Totally Tennis for seven years, has recently been recognised in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight LTA annual awards. The tennis centre manager collected the press award for her outstanding contribution to Hampshire and Isle of Wight tennis in 2007. The former Brighton Hill Community School pupil now looks after marketing, PR and advertising at the centre and, for 13 years, she has run the successful LTA-recognised schools programme. Pat Charman (Basingstoke & District Football League) Pat has been an active member of the Basingstoke Football League for 32 years and during this time has taken on many roles including representing the league on other football and sporting bodies. His roles include member of Hants FA Disciplinary Committee 1984-2004, Secretary of North Hants Senior League 1993-2000, North Hants Cup secretary 1996-2000 plus Member of Basingstoke League committee 1976 to present and Saturday League secretary 2007 to present. Irene Fergie (Basingstoke & North Hants Cricket Club) Irene has been associated with BNHCC for over 20 years and for the past 10 carried out all admin duties for the Junior section plus is secretary of the North Hampshire Youth Cricket League. Irene maintains a ‘hands on’ approach, attending fixtures, collecting fees, scoring games, transporting players and organising events. The club would probably not have a very successful Junior section without her endeavours and she is the only honorary life member of BNHCC. Paul Temple (Basingstoke Gymnastics Club) Paul has had an involvement at the club for 27 years in a voluntary role and is currently Chairman. He was very involved in locating new premises for the club headquarters and has also held financial roles alongside arrange of other voluntary positions. He is a very valuable member of a large successful team at the club providing Gymnastic and fitness opportunities for a very large number of people locally. Cyril Thompson (Basingstoke Cricket) In the world of cricket Cyril has given 57 years service to the premier local cricket cup competition – The Guy Jewell Cup. For the first 20 years he was a scorer of the competition, but for the last 37 years he has been an organiser. This competition sees the minnows and the top cricketing sides of the area face each other – a FA Cup of cricket and Cyril has to arranged fixtures, organise scorers and umpires and inform the media of the results. Teams which are knocked out in the first round of the Guy Jewell Cup, then go into a Plate competition is something else for Cyril to organise. Jackie Tobin (Basingstoke & Mid Hants Athletics Club) Jackie joined Basingstoke & Mid Hants Athletics Club in 1996 and has since served as a committee member in various roles supporting many sections of the club. In 1999 she took on the role of Manager of the Clubs’ National Junior League Team and in addition Jackie has supported the club, County Association and Hampshire Schools events as a Track Official and has for several years been a selector for the Aldershot Schools Track and Field and Cross Country Teams. Additionally she is Team Manager National Junior League / Men’s Secretary – British Athletics League, plus UKA Coach. The other five worthy nominations who should also be congratulated on their Service to Sport were - Sarah Mainprise & Dave Watton (Basingstoke Hockey Club), Andy Chapman (Bishopswood School), Jason Bristow (Football) & Karen McKenzie (Silchester School) Recognise those who serve local sport - Do you have people within your league, club or sports organisation who work exceptionally hard to ensure the club and sport is successful each year? The service to sport award goes someway to recognise the achievements of those people involved in local sports clubs on a longstanding basis. The various people behind the scenes at any league or sports club are those who make the sport run smoothly and are often forgotten. The Service to Sport award goes someway to recognising those achievements and it would be appreciated if nominations from within the local sporting community could now be considered and submitted. Detail who you are nominating, what club or sport they are with, why they are being nominated and as much detail as possible about that person with press cuttings or evidence of achievements if available. Previous nominations who have not actually won the award are permitted and don’t worry if you don’t know everything, as we will follow up the initial applications on your behalf. Nomination forms are available on request from between Sept 1st and Dec 1st each year from either the Borough Council (01256 845442) or the Local Sports Council (Sue Hillyard - 01256 811478). They can be either posted or emailed by return. Awards are held annually in March. 2004's winner was Gerald Merritt from the local Senior Football Community (Photo Left below), presented with his award by Steve Combes from the Basingstoke Sports Trust. 08/08/2008