Posted on 11th Dec
Winners at the 2023 Mansfield Sports Recognition Awards, organised by the Armchair Club with More Leisure Community Trust and the Mansfield and Ashfield News Journal — and sponsored by Education Mutual — received awards at the Civic Corner, Mansfield.
The coveted Sportsperson of the Year title (sponsored by Education Mutual) was won by top Para-swimmer turned Para-canoeist Charlotte Henshaw for a fifth time. She was also again named Disability Sportsperson of the Year.
Charlotte, pictured (above left) receiving the award from Hannah Marshall, on behalf of Les Marshall, of Education Mutual. had another outstanding year, her main achievement becoming Para Canoe KL2 world champion for the fifth time in August.
She also had major success at World Cup meets during the year, adding more golds and silver to her medal tally.
Now Charlotte is looking forward to the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, where she’s hoping to retain her Paralympic title.
Other Sportsperson of the Year finalists were golfer Killian Ryan, ice skater Callum Mills, karting’s Owen Spiers, truck racing driver Mark Taylor, and athlete Paul Wright.
Some of the award winners at the end of the presentation evening.
Overall this year there were nominations covering sports such as ice hockey, dressage, badminton, polo, truck racing, karting, and fencing as well as from the more traditional sports for the various categories.
In many the judges — School Games organiser Nicola Biggs; Armchair Club members Emma Curry and Geoff Waller; Carolyn Hallam, of More Leisure Community Trust; Jason Harrison, sports editor of Mansfield 103.2; and Tim Morriss, editor of the News Journal — faced a difficult task, with just one point separating the winner and second place in several categories.
Compere Stewart Nicholson said: “Mansfield and the surrounding area have made a tremendous contribution to the sporting world over many years, and tonight we are going to celebrate that success in a loud and proud way.
“The Armchair Club has been supporting local sports people and sporting clubs since 1982. It’s 41 years this year since they began making grants that now total over £300,000 — and some of those recipients are in the room this evening.
“The club supports all sportspeople, the abled-bodied and those with disabilities, to make a positive difference regardless of whether they are potentially world class or just needing new kit that they can’t afford without our support.”
During the evening Nicola Biggs spoke about the Mansfield School Games programme, which she organises.
During the awards evening the success of the fifth Mansfield Charity Swimathon, staged by More Leisure Community Trust, Mansfield Rotary, and the Armchair Club in October, was highlighted.
Fronted by double Olympic gold medallist and Armchair Club patron Rebecca Adlington, and supported by Mansfield international swimmer Elliot Clogg, the event has raised more than £24,000 for charities — 50 per cent to those causes nominated by the swimmers and 50 per cent towards the work of Mansfield Rotary and the Armchair Club.
Category winners from the Swimathon received their awards on stage from Mansfield Rotary president Kelvin Bowman, including Sutton Swimming Club’s Jack Hill (below).
The Armchair Club has 12 active members, including one honorary member — Mike Collins, an active members for many years. Current members are Chris Adkin, Stewart Rickersey, Geoff Waller, Martyn Knox, Gary Jordan, Emma Curry, Mark Briggs, John Morley, Andy Saunders, Rachael Richardson, and Zac Coupe.
It is supported by seven patrons — Liz Broomhead, Richard Bacon, Becky Adlington, Bryan Steele, Oliver Wilson, John Sankey, and Bill Taylor.
