Spotlight falls on the city's sporting heroes
Wolverhampton's unsung sporting heroes have seen their dedication honoured as they stepped into the spotlight at a special awards night.
Outstanding contributions by the city's sportsmen and women were recognised at a presentation hosted by the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Ian Brookfield.
Wolverhampton City Sports Advisory Council's annual awards paid tribute to the efforts of athletes, coaches, officials and administrators who put countless hours into running clubs across the city,
The event took place at the Mayor's Parlour with numerous gongs ranging from merit awards to coach of the year award handed out.
It was a chance for the city to celebrate sport and the acknowledge the unselfish work of countless volunteers.
Sports Advisory Council chairman Peter Holmes MBE said: "The awards recognise outstanding contributions to those sports represented on the Wolverhampton City Sports Advisory Council, and once again we heard some very inspiring stories from Wolverhampton's sporting community."
John Oliver, from Wolverhampton and Tettenhall Hockey Club, was named Coach of the Year.
John has been involved with hockey for 44 years and still turns out for the club today having first started playing at the age of 17.
As well as making a huge impact at Wolverhampton and Tettenhall, John has also shown his coaching skills on the international stage, coaching England Ladies Over-60s to a gold medal at the European Championships.
He also led his club side to second spot in the regional Men's Over-50 tournament in July at the National Training Centre at Lilleshall.
He coached the Under-14 Wolverhampton boys' team which reached the National finals in 2001 and Staffordshire Under-16s in 2002/2003.
Table tennis player Emma Hunt was named Disabled Athlete of the Year.
Emma started training with Special Olympics Wolverhampton nine years ago and the 25-year-old has since collected an impressive haul of silverware.
She won medals at the National Games in 2009 and 2013 and then, in the 2014 European Games in Belgium, Emma struck gold in the mixed doubles as well as silver in the ladies' singles.
More glory came this year in the Special Olympics in Los Angeles when Emma won silver in the ladies' doubles and singles and also a bronze in the mixed doubles.
The Team of the Year award went to the SAM netball team.
SAM were formed when Staffordshire Building Society and Midland Bank joined forces in 1976.
The set-up has expanded over the years and currently boasts five teams playing in the Wolverhampton City Netball League, with two teams in Division One, one team in Division Two and another in Division Five.
In that time the club have been league division winners or runners-up on 23 occasions and have been successful in numerous knock-out competitions.
During the evening, Awards of Merit were also presented to Yvonne Hinsley and David Tarbuck from Wolverhampton Canoe Club, Wednesfield Aces cycle speedway duo Wayne Tipton and Steve Mullinder, and Gill Beards, Maxine Bell, Emma Bleakley, Caroline Dobson, Lin Evans, Kate Flute, Brenda France, Andrea Gittings, Debbie Owen, Hannah Reed, Lorraine Shail, Linda Thomas and Hannah Williams, all umpires for Wolverhampton City Netball League.
Mary Harding (Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletic Club) was presented with the HE Lane OBE Memorial Trophy, while Deb Wilkes (Wolverhampton and Tettenhall Hockey Club) received the RV Cook Memorial Trophy.
Adam Tipton (Wednesfield Aces) was named Under-16 Volunteer of the Year and another Aces servant, Dave Jewkes, took home the Volunteer of the Year accolade.
The Veteran of the Year award was deservedly bestowed upon Mary Turnbull.
Mary arrived in Wolverhampton, aged 24, in 1964 when she took up a post as head of girls' PE at Graiseley School.
She immediately joined the Wolverhampton and District Netball League (now the Wolverhampton City Netball League) and within the year had started her own youth squad.
Mary was honoured by the Wolverhampton Sports Advisory Council with a Merit Award in 1979and received the HE Lane OBE. Memorial Trophy in 2004,
And the septuagenarian is still going strong having spent the last 51 years playing, coaching, umpiring and organising netball in the city.
Mary has helped the Wolverhampton City Netball League develop to currently boasting 45 teams in five divisions – with an age range of 13 to 75 – with many new competitions and activities. Throughout all these years she has continued to play at top division level as well as umpiring regularly.
There were also special awards for Wednesfield Aces Cycle Speedway Club and Wolverhampton City Netball League.
Mayor Councillor Brookfield presented the awards and said: "Our city has a proud sporting history, and I was delighted to meet so many dedicated sportsmen and women and club administrators, and reward them for their efforts.
"I was particularly pleased so many of the award winners were the volunteers, administrators and backroom staff –without them, none of the sports would happen, so their contribution is hugely appreciated."
