The inaugural Jaguar Academy of Sport awards took place at the weekend in a ceremony packed to the rafters with sporting legends, past and present. The Jaguar Academy of Sport, launched in March 2010, aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent. It was an evening to commemorate this year’s success as well as looking forward to the future.
The award for Most Inspirational British Sportswoman of the Year went to Jessics Ennis, current European and World heptathlete champion as well as European Indoor pentathlon champion. Ennis was up against Rebecca Adlington, who won double gold at this year’s Commonwealth Games, Shanaze Reade and Kelly Smith.
British Sporting Performance of the Year was awarded to Amy Williams who captured the nation’s heart when she slid to victory in the skeleton, winning the first British individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics for 30 years.
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Ellie Simmonds, double Paralympic champion, won Best British Sporting Performance for an athlete with a disability where she was up against Daneille Brown, fellow Paralympic champion and first paralympian to compete in an able bodied event when she represented England at this year’s Commonwealth Games, winning gold in the women’s compound team event.
The award for Sporting Legacy went to Dame Kelly Holmes while Tom Allen (swimming), Sheree Cox (shooting), Kelsie Gibson (rowing), Jade Jones (taekwondo) and Grace Reid (diving) all picked up Jaguar Academy of Sport Recognition Awards. Jade Jones, who won gold at the Youth Olympics won the Star of the Future award.
Dame Kelly Homes, talking about the Jaguar Academy of Sport, commented, “This is a fantastic initiative and I’m very proud to be a patron. If you have a special talent in life it is a big journey ahead to reach success on the world’s stage. Reaching the top is a rollercoaster ride and there is a lot that can be learned from other people that have experienced it - this is what we do at the Jaguar Academy of Sport, pass on our experiences and support to help these youngsters achieve their potential.”
Kirsty Page, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
