Matrix Fitness Sponsors West Suffolk Sports Awards

Matrix Fitness was proud to be amongst the sponsors of the inaugural West Suffolk Sports Awards, which took place in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in front of a packed audience, with Matrix ambassador, Sally Gunnell OBE as the guest speaker.

This was the first joint sports awards for West Suffolk, delivered by Abbeycroft Leisure on behalf of St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath councils, celebrating sporting heroes, volunteers, clubs, coaches, teams and individuals.

There were thirteen categories including Sports Personality of the Year, Young Sports Personality of the Year, Club of the Year and Lifetime Achievement plus two public vote awards; the People’s Champion and People’s Youth Champion.

Ian Parker, took the title of Sports Personality of the Year for his role as a Team UK Tchoukball player and coach. Ian also plays and coaches for his local Bury St Edmunds club, mentoring and inspiring many junior players into volunteering and coaching.

Wyn Jones, PE co-ordinator at Westley Middle school was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for over 30 years dedication to the development of all sport and all children within his school and across Suffolk.

Two unexpected guests made their way onto the stage, when Matrix ambassador, Sally Gunnell and BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Lesley Dolphin were taking questions from the audience. Sisters, Isobel 9 and Poppy 6, who both take part in triathlons and junior parkruns, delighted the audience when they asked Sally for her advice on how they could be successful.

Warren Smyth, chief executive, Abbeycroft Leisure said “It was a superb evening in a stunning venue and our pleasure to host the first joint awards for west suffolk. The sporting talent we have in this area as well as the many people behind the scenes deserve an evening of celebration such as this, and it provides yet another opportunity to underpin our ambition to become England’s Most Active County”.

The full results were as follows:-

Allied Health Professionals Most Active Workplace – Sanofi

Verse Facilities Management School of the Year – Bury St Edmunds County Upper

Unison Unsung Hero – Ann Williamson

Newprint Community Volunteer of the Year presentation – Allan Loveday

Greene King Triumph Over Adversity – David Swales

Our Bury St Edmunds BID Lifetime Achievement – Wyn Jones

Matrix Individual Performance or Achievement of the Year – Anna Street

Suffolk Sport Coach of the Year – Paul Hope

Iliffe Media People’s Champion – David Swales

Newmarket Racecourses People’s Youth Champion – Phoebe Hastings

Music Sales Club of the Year – Jetts netball Club

Paddy & Scotts Young Sports Personality of the Year – Esther Little

Greene King Sports Personality of the Year – Ian Parker