Owing to the high standard of these annual awards, the Adjudication Sub-Committee decided that only one of the nominations received met the criteria for recognition.

 

 

Since winning this award in 2012 Olympic Year, Tony has taken on further key leadership roles at Havering Athletic Club. He's now Chairman and has used his drive to build on previous successes to see his Club go from stength-to-strength. In 2018 he drove through new policies on the use of social media, photographic imagery and his Club's Privacy Policy - in response to General Data Protection Requirements.  He both initiated and then steered through arrangements for Havering Athletic Club's high-profile Golden Jubilee Celebration event in May.

 

He lead his Club's response to an accident in April which led to a National Review of throwing cage safety, involving him in many meetings and discussions with UK Athletics and local Authority representatives which saw the drafting of new risk assessments and safety requirements.

 

He a committed coach of both hurdles and sprints events and has a successful squad under his wing - three of whom became National medalists. He's a hard-working Manager of his Club's Senior Ladies Team who won Division 3 of the UK Women's League. Tony makes arrangements for National League fixtures and co-ordinates Officials to support the Club's many fixtures.

This award is named in honour of former Havering Sports Council President Doug Riden, who passed-on in 2002, and who himself gave a lifetime of honorary service to local Havering sport.

 

 

 

This Club had achieved so much in so few years with 2018 being another high-profile period in its short history.  During the year the Club attracted an averge of 1 newcomer each week, as it grew to 140 members, of whom 45 are ladies. Training is available on most days and at a number of sites, to wit Coopers Coburn School, St.Edward's Senior School, Hornchurch Sports Cente, Hornchurch Stadium, Abbs Cross Gym and the David Lloyd Gym. Having a passport is helpful as the Club competes globally, with 2019 venues including France, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Austria, Italy, South Africa and Norway. Their Ironman Italy trip saw 21 participate while 26 travelled to Lanzarote for a week's training.

 

2 members represented Great Britain at the World and European Championships, recording a 10th and a 1st place respectively. The Club won 1st team places at both the Marbella and Ironman Italy events.  Havering Tri-Club finished in the top 10 UK rankings and also achieved high-ranked positions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. They certainly get around!  As well as Triathlon and Multi-sport events members also enter marathons, sportives, half-marathons, 10k runs, swims, parkruns and the Spitfire Scramble. Anything involving swimming, cycling and running attracts their attention.  They have a successful mentioring programme, which sees newcomers allocated to experienced competitors who can "show them the ropes" right from debut appearances to a full Ironman challenge.  They stage an annual Aquathon at Coopers Coburn School and use an adjoining Country Park for running.  They are prominent participants in the Essex Super Series - which is a well supported League-based competition.

 

This Club is diverse, inclusive and truly wecoming which is why members enjoy being part of such a scene. They have a thriving social scene which includes staging a well-attended Awards Night at the Two Gables.

 

This school is one of Havering's smaller ones, with only 2 classes per year group.  In 2018 it was decided to introduce pupils to a new sport - cricket, which commenced with a once-a-week after-school session. It truly caught on and soon this School were playing in the Havering Kwik Cricket Tournament against larger schools.  They won all their Group games with impressive batting and bowling - and particularly fielding, so living up to that old cricket adage that "Catches Win Matches".  Such victories saw them qualify for matches against Regional winners from across Essex.  At this higher standard they won their opening 3 matches so making the final four - who then competed in a "round-robin" format. In this they defeated 2 prominent private schools, to wit St.Mary's and Bancroft, narrowly losing only once - to New Hall who were coached by former England Captain Nasser Husain. Organisers of the tournament praised them for their incredible achievement in coming so close when all playing as newcomers, and for their team spirit. Parents and staff are most supportive, and this success has inspired others in younger age groups - so be prepared to hear more from James Oglethorpe School!

 

 

This team entered 3 competitions during the season - winning all 3!  They also earned a bronze medal when representing Havering in the London Youth Games.  Being a single entry form school meant only 15 girls were available for selection.  Most players were new to the game and some had to borrow football boots and shin pads in order to get started. If such handicaps weren't enough - this school doesn't have a football pitch, having to share one with another local school and conduct its training sessions in public parks. These obstacles were dealt with as the team supported each other, so heads never dropped.

 

Serious competition commenced in February when winning the Chelsea FC Foundation sponsored Havering School Games Girls Football Tournament, winning 3 group matches and drawing 1.  They successfully negotiated the quarter and semi-finals before beating St.Josephs in the final when scoring the only goal. Their record saw 23 goals scored in 7 games with the ball only twice ending-up in their own net. This saw them invited to appear for Havering Borough in the London Youth Games where they reached the semi-final, being edged out 2-1 by the eventual winners.  July saw them win the Linda Galloway Cup where they beat Clockhouse School's 'A' team in the final - again by the only goal. In this tournament they scored 15 times without reply!

 

This team became National Champions, beating over 600 schools, having improved on their runners-up position of a year earlier.  A 13-strong squad trained hard during the summer and successfully progressed through local and regional rounds before making the grand final at Gateshead International Stadium.  It was such a convincing final victory that it was achieved with a record 520 points and a winning 56 points margin was - for good measure, also an event record.  Being the most successful team in the competition's history made it a formality for them to earn selection to represent England at the World School Athletics Championship in Croatia.

 

 

This team also became National Champions in their age category beating over 600 schools. They emulated their previous year's victory, this time with 492 points for a new National record, achieved by a huge 62 points winning margin - again a National record. Having won for 2 consecutive years and holding both age group records, they've become the most successful junior team in this competition's history.

 

19 year old Keiran, who belongs to Havering Athletic Club, excells at 400, 800 and 1500 metres events as well as Cross-Country running. He has autism and learning difficulties and attends Havering College's Unit for Special Needs. 2018 got off to a great start as he was part of his Club's 4-man winning team in the Essex Under-20 Cross-Country Championship. He stepped up to senior level to be part of his Club's Essex Cross-County League winning squad. In both the Southern Athletics League and the Youth Development League Keiran was a regular name on the team sheet for his 3 favourite track distances and, over 800 metres, represented his Club in the Essex County Championships.

 

At the Eastern Region Disability Championships he won gold medals at both 400 and 800m metres. In one day at the Mencap National Championship Keiran landed 4 medals : a long jump bronze, silvers over 400 and 800 metres finishing with gold at 1,500 metres. All were impressed by his talent, versatality and stamina!  He's a local parkrun regular who is always at or near the front. He represented Mencap when addressing an All-Party Parliamentary meeting in Westminster about difficulties faced by athletes with learning disabilities.

 

During the season he managed to improve personal best times over his 3 favourite track distances. In UK Under 20 T20 rankings he's No.1 at 800 and 1,500 metres and 2nd over 400 metres. British Athletics have selected him as a member of their Paralympics Development Academy for those with potential Paralympian promise. How does he do all this? - by enthusiasm which sees him train 6 days a week in all weathers!

 

 

Frances Bardsley Academy pupil Rebecca has learning difficulties. She is well known as one who competes for Havering Athletics Club and Havering Borough in the London Youth Games. British Athletics have selected Rebecca to join their Paraympic Development Academy, as one with potential Paralympian potential. This enables her to attend training camps with top coaches.

 

In the Under 20 T20 UK rankings over 1,500, 800 and 200 metres she is listed 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively.  Rebecca's trophy cabinet bulged during 2018. Both the Mencap National Games and the Typhoo National Disability Championships saw double golds over 200 and 1,500 metres.  As a junior she contested the Senior England Disability 1,500 metres Championship - and earned a silver medal! In the England Under 15 & 17 National Championships Rebecca contested the Ambulant 200 and 1,500 metres, gaining silver and gold medals respectively.

 

Versitality was shown at the London Games when she represented Havering at Athletics, Swimming, Indoor Rowing and Cross-County. Gold came in a 200 metres run, and also in the swimming pool as part of a relay squad as well as in the individual 50 metres' backstroke.

 

Rebecca represents her Club in the Youth Development League and in the Eastern Young Athletes League, in the later being part of a winning Havering AC team at the Top 6 Final Meeting. She's part of Mencap's Campaign aiming to get more people with learning difficulties involved in sport; and is one who works hard to combine school work with athletics and - for good measure - Rebecca also received a Jack Petchy award for her contribution to sport.

 

 

Fred Alsop, now in his 80s, is Havering Athletic Club's greatest ever athlete - having been selected for 3 Olympics in the 1960s. So when an athlete comes along who can beat one of Fred's Club records, which has stood since 1964, he truly deserved the kudos this feat attracted. Shandell's 2018 improvement was eye-catching as he progressed from a good standard Club athlete to being our UK No.1 ranked long jumper. June saw him win the South of England Championship which was quicly followed by a silver medal in the England Athletic Championship with a new Under-20 Club record leap of 7.78 metres - which also beat that senior record held by Fred Allsop and secured his place at the top of England's age-group rankings. In the senior table, it was the 6th longest ever witnessed.  When not long-jumping, Shandell proved himself to be a real team player as he gained League points for his Club in the high jump, triple jump, sprints and relays.

 

Selectors recongised his potential by including him as one of 30 in their National 2018 Talented Athletes Sponsorship Scheme, which aims to support youth-age group athletes as they make their way into senior competition. British Athletics have identified him as one capable of making their World Class Podium Potential Programme in future years.

 

 

 

Max is no stranger to award ceremonies as over the years he's continued to display great improvement in his chosen event - the javelin. 2018 saw him surpass previous achievements and, in the season's first event, added 6 metres to Havering Athletic Club's Under 17 record.  A series of top performances in May caught the selectors' eye, who picked him for the European Under 18 Championships in Hungary. Progress saw him in Great Britain colours by July where he rose to the occasion by thowing a huge personal best of 75.30 metres which was the second-longest throw ever by a British Under 17 athlete, so bringing distinction ot his Country, Club, School and Borough.  On this International standard occasion he held a medal position until the last round of throws, when he was edged into 4th position.

 

Max ended his season as our undisputed UK No.1 in his age group having added gold medals to his collection in the Essex, Southern, English Schools, England Athletics and UK School Games Championships.  England Schools selected him to compete in the Home Countries' Schools International and, yes you've guessed, yet another gold medal.

 

 

This talented Coopers Coburn School student currently enjoys high English badminton rankings, being No.6 for the Boys' Singles and Boys Doubles and a higher No.4 spot in the Mixed Doubles category.

 

Liam is much-travelled, having represented England on the European circuit in Belgium, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Holland, always giving an excellent account of himself. He's Essex champion in his age group and, as one who relishes a challenge, also stepped up to the Under-18 age group to earn a runner's-up medal. He helped his School to earn bronze team medals in the National Schools Championships. Nearer home he entered quality tournaments in Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Milton Keynes and Suffolk and was rewarded with medals on every occasion, mostly gold in colour!

 

His dedication impresses all who see him in action, and continued success is confidently predicted by all.