25 Oct Inside The Tendring Sports Personality Awards 2019
A Harwich boxer who has had a knockout season has been named as Tendring Sports Personality of the Year for 2019.
Rio Gordon has been with Harwich Boxing Club for five years, and the 2018-19 season has been a breakout one for the 19-year-old – who won the England Boxing central area belt title along with another belt in May, and placed himself firmly on the national senior stage.
Meanwhile the club’s founder, head coach and secretary Martin Webb was named Sports Coach of the Year at the awards for his work driving forward both individual boxers such as Rio and the club as a whole – having been a registered coach for 31 years.
The Tendring Sports Personality Awards 2019 held at Clacton’s Princes Theatre last week (17 October) saw a host of sporting talent and personalities honoured for their outstanding achievements over the past year.
Scooping the Junior Male Sports Personality title was Ethan Day, who won the Welsh Open, Scottish International, British Open karate titles this season and will see him compete in the World Championships in Chile later this month.
The number-one ranked under-18 British javelin thrower Jennifer Rose Morgan was crowned Junior Female Sports Personality, after a season which has seen her claim the county champion title and see her place third in the Youth Nations Cup.
There were accolades and recognition for individuals and teams from across the entire District at the annual event which is organised by Tendring District Council (TDC) and the Active Tendring network.
The prestigious ceremony was sponsored by Orsted, D Marvan Tree & Landscaping Services, and Rose Builders.
Other winners were: Vanessa Roberts (Inspired by Sport); Sam Plummer (New to Sport); Frinton on Sea Cricket Club (Team/Club of the Year); Vandi Rathbone, Michael Self and Daniel Casey jointly won the Local Community Award; Tendring Technology College (Educational Establishment); Sport for Confidence (Contribution to Disability Sport); Swim Safe (Physical Activity Project).
A Special Recognition Award was presented to Jack Tattersall, a Tendring Cricket Club player who performed life-saving CPR on a bowler from an opposition team who collapsed mid-match.
Also given a Special Recognition Award was 15-year-old Ellie Challis, with the ceremony the day after the quadruple amputee was given an Amplifon Award for Brave Britons. Ellie, who lost her limbs to sepsis and meningitis aged just 16 months, has become a Paralympic swimmer – breaking her personal best breaststroke time earlier this year at the World Championships and with next year’s Paralympics firmly in her sights.
The awards were hosted by Mike Carran, TDC’s Head of Sport and Leisure, and presented by TDC Chairman Councillor Dan Land and TDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism Councillor Alex Porter, while entertainment came from Pulse Performers and Songbirds.
Councillor Porter, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism said: “It was a real celebration for both winners and those nominated for the various awards, and I know the judging must have been difficult.
“We have some brilliant sporting talent across the ages and a variety of sports in Tendring – some of whom go on to win national and international honours.”
Councillor Porter added that the event is a chance to give the sportspeople, clubs, coaches and volunteers from across Tendring the recognition they so richly deserve, and thanked everyone who had sponsored or supported the 2019 awards.
