A packed Room with young Sportshall athletes from 8yrs of age through all the age groups, up to and including Seniors and Veterans all made for a brilliant Annual Awards Presentation night. Special guest, Damian Talbot, Executive Board Member for Culture, Leisure & Sport at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, came along to present the Awards. Tony Wood, Chairman of Blackburn Harriers, praised the role of the Local Authority, and those like Damian who had worked hard to get the new Training Facility off the ground at Witton Park and now well under way in it’s construction.
There were some great moments during the evening, not least of which was the inauguration of the Arthur Almond Memorial Trophy for the best Track Performance of the year by any Blackburn Harrier. This Trophy was donated by Sylvia Almond, Arthur’s wife and it was fitting that Alison Leonard won it with her 800m time of 2.02.96 in Belgium in July.
Another new Award, and presented for the first time, was the Members Award, made by the Club Committee which recognises the contribution of members of the Club over many years. Sylvia Almond and Jean Leigh were very popular and worthy winners of this Award which recognised the work that Sylvia had done in Track Judging and Track Refereeing for the Club and similarly Jean who has been an ever present Field Official during the T & F season and then moved onto the Cross Country during the winter.
Sylvia Almond, President George Kirby and Helen Leigh, Jean’s daughter, accepting the Award on her behalf.
There were a few surprises on the night as well and none more so for the recipient than a special award to our Club secretary George Davies. It has to be the Chairman’s prerogative to alter this article put together by George so as to report accurately the events of the night. Modesty would have prevented George from including himself. This fantastic website of ours sees George brilliantly updating it daily if necessary. He has played a major part over the last 15 years in the improvement of the Club and in turn the Club wanted to reflect its admiration for all his hard work and dedication by presenting him and Anne with a gift. Katie Buckingham and Elizabeth Greenwood expressed with kind words our thanks and there followed a well deserved standing ovation. We all wish him well over the coming months.
There were many well deserved awards for athletes who had performed fantastically well in their own particular event/s displaying great Team effort, commitment and performances were recognised by Club Chairman and MC for the night, Tony Wood.
Tony Wood with Damian Talbot
The Round Chase Team Trophy was won by the Clubs U17/U20 YDL Team who, with three wins and a second place in a fabulous squad performance, secured promotion to the First Division in the inagural season of the new League.
Some of the members of the U17/U20 Squad accepting the Round Chase Trophy
And then there was the performance of the Northern Senior T & F Team which was exceptional in winning every League fixture and then the promotion Match in front of Derby and Gateshead which will see them competing in Division One in 2014.
One of the great attributes of the Club, is the way that every member of it supports one another and rejoices in the success of others. There is a smashing environment and comraderie. So many fine performances and all deserving of recognition….a here are just a few of the photos of Award winners on the Night.
