Rugby league award winners announced

Award winners pictured with former New Zealand international Robbie Hunter-Paul

Over one hundred guests gathered at Mayfield Sports Centre, Rochdale to celebrate the successes of the season and present awards to stand out volunteers, players and teams.

The highlight of the night was local stalwart Dave Ramsbottom receiving the achievement award from Robbie Hunter-Paul, for his dedication to Rochdale Rugby League as a player and more recently as a coach with Hornets and the Town Team.

'Rammy' has been involved with near enough every club within the town in his numerous years and the award was a popular one amongst all guests.

The following Town Team players were also presented with Town Colours:

Seta Tala (Hopwood Hall College)
Michael Robinson (Whitworth Spartans)
Jo Qaniucui (Rochdale Cobras)
Alex West (Rochdale Cobras)
Rob Clegg (Rochdale Cobras)
Gareth Sharrocks (Littleborough ARLFC)
Ben Duffy (Rochdale Mayfield)

This year’s winner in full are:

Volunteer of the Year The volunteer of the year award is a reward for those volunteers who have made a real difference at their club in the last 12 months.
The winner has been selected by the RFL Volunteer officer and North West counties representatives.

Winner: Fi Bowker, Rochdale Cobras
Fi only joined the club this season but has had a massive impact.
She has used her experience from other sports to organise the committee and take the Cobras to that next level- applying for funding and making the club more than a ‘one man band’.
Fi is exactly what the Cobras needed this season- someone to grip a hold of the club and put in time and effort to ensure the club has strong foundations on which to build in the future.
She is selfless, giving up her free time for the Cobras, Town Team and also giving up her house for team parties.

Young Volunteer of the Year The young Volunteer of the year award is aimed at volunteers under the age of 25 and is run in association with the young volunteer charity v involved. The award was selected by the Link4Life and the RFL volunteer officers.

Winner- Emily Wynn, Rochdale Swarm
She helps organise training, matches and the Swarm Festival.
The festival is now the largest in Europe and it is Emily’s time and dedication to the club that have made this possible.
Away from the Swarm Emily plays full contact with Littleborough/Hillside Hawks and is starting to get involved in club matters up there.
For a break she also helps out on the admission desk at Hornets on match days, showing that it is not just the ‘glamorous’ roles she is interested in.

Coach of the Year The coach of the year award is presented the coach who has gone that extra mile with his/her team in the last 12 months. Everyone knows it isn’t just results that count but what impact you have on those that you coach.
The award has been chosen by the RFL Talent Coach and coaches from Rochdale Hornets.

Winner- Dean Hartley, Mayfield Mustangs/Rochdale Service Area If you speak to Dean about why he is still so involved in RL despite not playing as often as he used to, he will tell you that he wants to give something back. The time and patience spent with him as a young player he has never forgotten and he has vowed to give back to young people just as his coaches did for him.

He has motivated the A team at Mayfield, asking them to keep up with the 40 year old if they could. He gave players encouragement and support on the field whilst letting them know their errors.

He has been a strong coach at service area level and has gone that extra mile- providing fitness and diet facts sheets for all.

Dean, off his own back and in his own time, unpaid, has also coached in numerous secondary schools this year, looking to promote our great game and his club.

Young Player of the Year The young player of the year award is for players under the age of 23 who have excelled in the last year.
The winner was chosen by Rochdale ARL and Rochdale Hornets coaches.

Winner- Ben Duffy, Rochdale 18s/Mayfield NWC/Town Team Ben has excelled this year, playing for the Rochdale 18s in the North West Counties league and also being shortlisted for the RFL North West under 18s team.
He has recently graduated upto the Mayfield NWC team and, even though getting injured, has impressed all with his willingness to progress.
Ben is also the youngest player to play for the Town Team and must be knocking on the door of the NCL team.

Player of the Year The player of the year award is aimed at the player who has been a stand out performer for their club. It is aimed to reward the player who week after week has given there all for the cause.
The award has been selected by Rochdale ARL representatives, NWC representative and the Oldham referees society reps.

Winner- Gareth Sharrocks, Littleborough
Top try scorer and leading point scorer for player of the year this season. Ever present for the town team and an excellent team player. Gaz has had to lead borough through some tough games this year, and has done so admirably.
His performances in the Riley cup trophy summed him up- no none sense and gives his all for his team mates.

Team of the Year This award recognises the significant achievement of a team.

Winner- Hopwood Hall College
Hopwood Hall was treble winner in 2010 and has since seen numerous players’ graduate to professional clubs including Oldham, Halifax and Warrington.
They have lost numerous good players but still managed to retain the NW Carnegie Colleges Crown and continue to uphold the proud Rugby League traditions associated with the College.

Club of the Year Club of the year is awarded to the club who has made the greatest strides in the last 12 months.
The winner has been chosen by the Link4Life, Bury Sport Development and Bolton School Sport Partnership.

Winner- Rochdale/Milnrow Cobras
The Cobras have this year united to offer the juniors a pathway to open age rugby, and ensuring that the adult teams has a constant feed of players in the year to come.
The club has achieved Clubmark gold standard and has secured a 25 year lease on 2 pitches, a pavilion and changing facilities at Firgrove, allowing the to develop a site worthy of there number of teams.