Hundreds of names from Bedford Borough’s sporting scene convened at the Bedford Corn Exchange on Monday night (7 December) to celebrate the 29th Annual Sports and Physical Activity Awards.
14 award winners were announced, out of a record 157 nominations, on a bumper night of celebration with individuals, clubs, community groups, schools and sporting personalities recognised.
The night was opened with a lively introduction from the Mayor of Bedford, Tom Wootton (Conservative) before a short film promoting the ever-popular Junior Aquathlon was aired, an event that has taken place twice this year at Robinson Pool and Bedford Park.
Also present was guest speaker Luke Tarrant, the Bedfordian who, only six months ago, lost a leg in a motorcycle accident in Colombia but presented his story in an inspirational interval that saw the numbers in attendance rise in a standing ovation.
However, the main event were the fourteen awards and the monumental number of nominees; 157 in total, marking another record-breaking year for the Sport Development Unit at Bedford Borough Council, who organised the event.
Here are the winners of the 2024 Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards:
Club of the Year
Bedford Hockey Club were the first award winners of the night, winning the Club of the Year award on a successful evening for the Chester Road outfit, with the club and individuals picking up three prizes in total.
With 14 adult sides and numerous junior competitors, alongside masters and national-standard players, Bedford Hockey Club remains one of the largest sporting community clubs in the Borough.
The highlights from 2024 include The Women’s Over 55’s team finishing as Tier 2 Silver medallists in the English Hockey National Championship and twelve players receiving national Masters caps with individuals representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Community Club / Group Award
The Community Club or Group award recognised those in Bedford’s community who offer physical activity as a way of improving fitness, mental health and wellbeing in a variety of ways.
The winner was Parkinson’s UK Bedford and District Support Group, a specifically designed group to support those with Parkinson’s, an incurable, progressive neurological condition.
The group has evolved from a fundraising group to a support network since the pandemic with weekly table tennis sessions, boxercise classes, aquatic exercises, indoor bowls and Parkinson’s exercise classes among the long list of activities provided.
There was also a Special Commendation for Deaf Gentle Fit Club, Access Bedfordshire, who promote accessible fitness opportunities for the Deaf and hard of hearing community.
Primary School of the Year
Ursula Taylor Church of England school picked up the Primary School of the Year award for their outstanding work in asking pupils to become their school’s sport leaders.
They choose the activities at break and lunch times, as well as incorporating movement into their curriculum-based lessons, including orienteering courses with maths and English tasks.
With their own swimming pool in situ, the school also offer two hours of physical education to every student, every week and they were recognised for their consistency in providing opportunities for all of their children.
Secondary School of the Year
Kempston Academy were the recipients of the Secondary School award, recognised for their wide range of opportunities that include traditional sports such as football and rugby all the way through to dance, table tennis and the lesser known kin ball.
At Key Stage 4, students are given the freedom to choose which sporting route they go down, opening up opportunity to their students who may want to follow different sporting paths in their education.
Tag football and badminton are also on the curriculum with the variety of options noted by the judging panel.
Young Volunteer of the Year
Manpriya Sira was the winner of the Young Volunteer of the Year award and became Bedford Hockey Club’s second prize winner of the night, recognising her work with the Under 8’s and Under 10’s at Chester Road, leading them to tournament victories in a coaching capacity.
Her contributions do not end there however, with Manpriya setting up weekly medal ceremonies to recognise the efforts of the Club’s youngest members and she now supports players with specialised sessions and provides private coaching sessions to children free of charge.
A Special Commendation was also given to Sam Miller for his work on the water in a number of water sports. Sam has completed a large number of paddle sport qualifications including PSRC (Paddlesports Safety and Rescue Course) and the Paddlesports Instructor (PSI).
Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year
The prize for the most enthusiastic winner of the night, as well as for the Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year went to Archie Freeman; the basketballer having shown great courage in overcoming adversity to compete in his favourite sport.
One of Archie’s conditions is so rare that it doesn’t yet have a name, but known in the medical world as ’16p12.2 Reoccurring Microdeletion Syndrome’, a condition that affects just 64 people worldwide.
That hasn’t stopped Archie however, who continues to progress at great speed at Bedford Thunder and doesn’t let his disability stand in the way of him competing with his able-bodied peers.
Junior Personality of the Year
The winner of the Junior Personality of the Year award went to Bedford and County athlete, Thaila-Jade Mason.
Thaila-Jade’s list of achievements in 2024 alone is a lengthy one, with highlights coming in the English Schools Championships, the South of England Indoor and Outdoor Championships and various international matches.
She also showed incredible resilience in recovering from injury half way through an international pentathlon event in Glasgow to win bronze in November.
Read: Bedford and County athlete recovers to win brilliant bronze at international pentathlon
There was also a Special Commendation in this category, awarded to sailing superstar, Rory Luddington who has already represented Team GB at just 11 years old, competing in numerous international regattas in the UK and overseas, including France, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Team of the Year
Bedford Blues Women have once again enjoyed a fantastic year, achieving promotion to NC1 Midlands after an unbeaten season in 2023/24 and they are currently second in their new division after winning all but one of their games so far.
The team have come on leaps and bounds since forming in the midst of the pandemic, now coached by former Blues player, Eddie Rennell with participation growing year on year.
Coach of the Year
2025 promises to be an exceptional year for Amber Forman, the winner of the Coach of the Year award after leading on choreography in street and lyrical dance for the Inspire Performing Arts group.
Gaining second and third place performances in 2024, Amber is due to work with dancers at London’s O2 Arena next year in what promises to be another busy and successful year for the dance coach.
Community Person Award
Running the Borough’s only specialist SEND personal training business, Harrison Barnes of Barnes Active was recognised as the winner of the ‘Community Person Award’ after his work in providing a ‘safe, non-intimidating space’ for those with special educational needs to access gym spaces.
From young to old, and with a variety of different needs, Harrison has built a large client base helping those who may find it difficult to access the commercial gym space in keeping fit and healthy.
The Barnes Active team also recently raised money to fund a defibrillator for their premises in Stagsden, as well as raising money for charities such as Look UK and the CVI Society.
Read: Barnes Rose take on coast to coast challenge for new portable defibrillator
Unsung Hero
Described in her nomination as “an important vertebra in the backbone of Bedford Hockey Club”, Jean Fitch has been in and around Chester Road for almost thirty years now and takes on a number of roles, not least providing us with Bedford Hockey Club coverage at Bedford Independent.
However, her work at the club encompasses publicity, social media management, photography, fundraising for new pitches and running the ever-popular Walking Hockey group that provides opportunity for anyone to get involved with the game.
Also a goalkeeper herself, Jean has been recognised for an excellent all-round effort, and shows no signs of slowing down in providing all she can for one of Bedford’s largest community sporting clubs.
Adult Disability Sports Personality of the Year
John Hollowell has continued to excel in lawn bowls, just four years after losing his eyesight and was recognised as the Adult Disability Sports Personality of the Year on Monday.
This sport is very much a double act, and it would be amiss not to mention John’s wife, Beate who has supported John all the way, culminating in a gold medal at the Disability Bowls World Championships in South Africa in June.
Read: Harrold bowler wins gold at Disability Bowls World Championships in South Africa
The next two years also promise to be globetrotting ones for John and Beate as John has already been selected to represent England at the blind bowls World Championships in New Zealand in two years’ time.
He will also compete in trials for selection for the Commonwealth Games taking place in 2026.
Adult Sports Personality of the Year
The Adult Sports Personality of the Year award went to Laura Allen, the judo star winning a vast number of medals across national competition in 2024, including a stunning silver in the British Championships at senior level.
Other medals include another senior silver at the English Open tournament, gold and silver at the London Open as well as golds at the Northern Home Counties and North Hertfordshire team events.
Laura also made her international debut at Senior Danish Open and will look to build on a successful calendar year in 2025.
Service to Sport
The night’s premier prize was the Service to Sport award, and three individuals were recognised for their overall contribution to sport in the Borough.
The winner was Ian Brown, the former Bedford Town and Kempston Rovers goalkeeper who still dons the gloves in a coaching capacity with Real Bedford FC at the Ledger Stadium as well as coaching youngsters.
His football career also encompasses Watford and Birmingham City youth sides as well as Biggleswade Town and Hemel Hempstead in a goalkeeping career spanning 30 years in playing and coaching capacities.
Special Commendations were also given to Jan Emms; the footballing trailblazer who played for England in the unofficial Women’s World Cup in Mexico in 1971 and has campaigned for equal access and opportunity in the game ever since.
Boxing coach, Carl Hazelwood was also recognised for 46 years’ worth of boxing coaching at Bedford Amateur Boxing Club, beginning in 1978, dedicating a lot of his time to coaching boxing to people of all ages.
Next year will be the 30th edition of the Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards, hosted by the Sport Development Unit at Bedford Borough Council.
Congratulations to all the winners!
Full list of winners
Club of the Year: Bedford Hockey Club
Community Club / Group Award: Parkinson’s UK Bedford and District Support Group
Primary School of the Year: Ursula Taylor Church of England Primary School
Secondary School of the Year: Kempston Academy
Young Volunteer of the Year: Manpriya Sira
Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year: Archie Freeman
Junior Personality of the Year: Thaila-Jade Mason
Team of the Year: Bedford Blues Women
Coach of the Year: Amber Forman
Community Person Award: Harrison Barnes
Unsung Hero: Jean Fitch
Adult Disability Sports Personality of the Year: John Hollowell
Adult Sports Personality of the Year: Laura Allen
Service to Sport Award: Ian Brown
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