Plenty of success at Herts Services to Sport Awards

Chelzea Taygu was presented with the Nadine Mehta Award by Nadine's mother Maggie and Jess Hall, of sponsors Saracens Sport Foundation (Image: Archant)

Special Olympics St Albans (SOSA) and Chelzea Tayag, from St Albans School Sport Partnership, were both winners at the event held at the Weston Auditorium at the University of Hertfordshire.

And there was also places on the podium for a number of other schools, clubs and individuals across the district.

Organised by the Herts Sports Partnership, the awards acknowledge and celebrate volunteers in sport and this year saw 53 trophies handed out to those who the independent judging panel thought make a significant contribution to supporting sport in Hertfordshire.

SOSA picked up the Contribution to Disability Sport trophy with the judging panel saying: “Dedicated to providing sporting opportunities for people with learning disabilities, SOSA have this year sent five athletes to the World Games in Los Angeles, returning with gold, silver and bronze medals.

“The group has 170 registered members and 40 volunteers, who with the coaches, provide the support and expertise needed to allow the athletes to succeed.

“The organisation and its longstanding team of coaches enjoys offering a wide range of activities for its participants and has most recently been awarded Sportivate funding for an Equestrian programme, which included coach education workshops for volunteers.”

Chelzea Tayag was the winner of the Nadine Mehta Award for U21 volunteer of the year.

The panel said the former Nicholas Breakspear pupil is “a proactive platinum sports ambassador representing St Albans”.

They went on: “She was a quiet shy individual who lacked confidence in front of groups, and has demonstrated that through working with small groups of children how you can grow in confidence and enjoy seeing others achieve.

“Her caring nature means that she has been able to advise and support other young leaders from play leaders, bronze ambassadors and other sports ambassadors.

“Most notably, her skills stretched to running sessions in a tribal village in South Africa where other young leaders were trained to hopefully leave a legacy of physical activity and sporting opportunities.

“She is a truly outstanding role model.”

St Albans Girls School and Sir John Lawes Secondary School, Harpenden, were just beaten into second and third respectively in the Secondary School of the Year award by Rickmansworth School.

And St Albans have a Tri Mini Triathlon came second in the Community Project of the Year behiind the Hertfordshire-wide We Moves, She Moves campaign, designed to get more women active.

Director of HSP, John O’Callaghan, said: “The event was a resounding success.

“The efforts of our county’s volunteers is an inspiration to everyone. Each year the awards illuminates new examples of dedication to sport and community spirit, and this year is no exception.”