Rochdale Borough Sports and Culture Awards

Garry Smith Bridgeability - Rochdale Borough Sports and Culture Awards

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A packed Middleton Area enthusiastically celebrated the nominees and winners of the Rochdale Sports and Culture Awards. 

Award Winners

Award 1 – Garry Smith
Gary said: "I am really surprised to have won but thrilled on behalf of all the boys and girls at Bridgeability. The award is for them as they are the ones that really matter.."

Award 2 – Parvez Qadir
Parvez said: "This award is a testament to a platform of young people to be passionate and to be heard."

Award 3 – Beryl Birch
Beryl said: "I can’t believe it, I thought there were more deserving. I have been volunteering for 50 years, this is my first nomination for anything and my first award. I am truly overwhelmed."

Award 4 – Robyn Chicot
Robin said: "Not expecting this at all, it’s a massive shock but really pleased to have won. I love spreading the joy of folk, inspiring people to have a go and watching people enjoying it."

Award 5 – Azeem Azir
Azeem said: "This award compared to all my achievements over the last year tops the lot. It has been an amazing and hectic year. I have worked hard and success keeps coming. I will keep working hard and hopefully more success will follow."

Award 6 – Skylight Circus
Jim Riley (Chairman) said: "It’s great to be recognising for all the work we do. This particular project is targeted at over 55’s and the introduction of circus skills. The project reaches people of all abilities, we take it to residential homes and have had some great results. Skylight Circus has kept me young and healthy. Some of our participants have been amazed by their achievements and long may it continue."

Award 7 – Matthew George
Matthew said: "It is an honour to even be nominated, let alone win. There is tremendous support for young athletes throughout the borough. Events like tonight show the support for young aspiring athletes. I hope that this award can inspire others to work hard to try and win this award."

Award 8 – Karen Lyons
Karen said: "A surprise and an honour to have won this award. I am very pleased. I work with a group of people (Guns to Good) and this award is something for us all."

Award 9 – Dave Robinson
Dave said: "It is nice to get recognition, after 25 years of working in football disability. The work with do at Bridge JFC is hard work but extremely rewarding."

Award 10 – Unseen Voices
Richard Rhodes (Pastoral Community Manager) said: "It’s phenomenal; this project has now won two awards. It started as a project about getting to know our students in everyday life and how we could support them but it has turned into something so much bigger. The average grade of the group we worked with moved from E- to C- with one of the students gaining the top grades in the school. There was a huge bond with this group and now that they have left there is a massive hole for us to fill. We thank the local authority for their funding and support on this project as it couldn’t have been done without them.’

Award 11 – Tracey Szymanek
Tracey said: "Amazing, but I couldn’t have been here without the support of my classes. I inspire them and they inspire me, it goes both ways. We work together brilliantly and we just gel."

Award 12 – Kevin Grocock
Kevin said: "I have been involved with amateur theatre for 45 years now across Rochdale, Oldham and Shaw. I have been able to do every job under the sun. My time of the stage is probably coming to an end but I know I have given folk pleasure and I have enjoyed every moment.

Award 13 – Rochdale Lacrosse Club
Richard Garside (chairman and first team coach) said: "We are really pleased, particularly when there is so many great sports club throughout the borough. We would like to thanks Link4Life and the Schools Game Partnership for their support and also, the Rochdale Sports Club which we are a part of."

The judges were: David Agnew (Artistic Director, The Bury Met), Sarah Lowell (Head of Participation and Learning at the Royal Exchange Theatre), Paulette Terry Brien (Co-founder and Co-director of The International 3), Russ Green (Chief Executive Rochdale AFC), Brian Belfield (Board Member Rochdale Hornets).

Comedian, actor and broadcaster Ted Robbins compered with a mixture of wit and heart-felt admiration and enthusiasm for the nominees and winners.

Skylight Circus and Rochdale Music Services That’s All Folk provided entertainment.