Success for Melksham at Wiltshire’s Sports Awards

IT was a big night for Melksham’s sporting talent at this year’s Wiltshire Sports awards with two ladies from Melksham clubs winning prestigious awards.

The event which took place at The Atrium, County Hall in Trowbridge on Wednesday 21st October, celebrated the exceptional work and achievements of athletes, sports clubs, volunteers and coaches across Wiltshire.

Hannah Brown from Melksham Canoe Club won ‘Sports Personality of the Year’ and Charlotte Stubbs from Melksham Swordfish Amateur Swimming Club won the ‘Young Volunteer’ award.

Hannah has been a member of Melksham Canoe Club from an early age and her many achievements in 2015 were recognised at the awards ceremony including her success at the Copenhagen World Cup in the K1 200m where she finished seventh and in the World Championships in the K2 200m.  Her team-mate finished fourth, in an extremely close final where they were only 0.03 seconds off a bronze medal.

Hannah is also a member of the GB Canoeing senior team who are aiming to compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Charlotte Stubbs from Melksham has been an assistant coach at Melksham Swordfish Amateur Swimming Club since February, having gained her level one coaching qualification. She is currently completing her level two qualification.

Charlotte said, “The whole night was very posh and was a great night to be part of. I was shortlisted in two categories; Young Coach of the Year and Young Volunteer. I didn’t win the young coach award, but never mind,  I can’t be good at everything.

“When my name was announced as winner of the young volunteer award I was chuffed. I was really surprised to win as the other people in my category were tough competition and all deserved to win.

“I absolutely love being a coach. Seeing kids progress is the best bit and knowing that you’re making a difference. I teach all levels, from little ones who have never swam before to teenagers wanting to be stronger swimmers. My ultimate goal is to be a coach for an Olympic team, that would be amazing.”

The awards were presented by 2013 world skeleton bobsled champion and Olympic silver medalist Shelley Rudman and serial adventurer James Ketchell, the first person to have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest and cycled 18,000 miles around the world.

British skeleton bobsledder, the 2013 world champion in that event, an Olympic silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in skeleton and a former World Cup and European champion

He said, “It was fantastic to see the commitment and hard work that is going on day in day out at all levels of sports in Wiltshire and to see that recognised this evening.”