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l-r Craig Russell, Coastline Produce; Stefan Burnett; Elaine Bell; Daniel Clark; Adam Lallana, Southampton FC; Mark Stenton, The Grange School Headteacher.
Christchurch Schools Sports Awards
The annual Christchurch Schools Sports Awards, held on Friday 29th January at The Grange School – Christchurch’s specialist sports college – were a fantastic celebration of talent in the town. Winners aged from seven to nineteen, with young people awarded for school, Dorset, UK and even international success. Grange headteacher, Mark Stenton, said that the evening “was a tremendous showcase for the exceptional talents of the children and young people of the town, with The Grange School feeling very privileged to have the honour of holding this annual event.”
Mudeford Infants, The Priory, Christchurch Junior, Somerford Primary, Highcliffe St. Marks, St. Josephs, Burton Primary, Twynham, Highcliffe and The Grange all nominated students for trophies. Guest of honour Adam Lallana from Southampton FC presented the trophies and posed for photographs with the students.
The event was sponsored by Coastline Produce Limited; MD Chris Lewis selected the overall sportsperson of the year. Nominees were:-
Highcliffe;- Elaine Bell
Elaine has been sailing since she was 3 years old. She has sailed Optimists at national level from the age of 9 at 4 national championships, and internationally from the age of 11. She sailed Cadets for a year when she was 14 and did the promotional Wold Championships in Holland, Flanders Youth championships in Belgium and the Nationals in Torquay. Elaine is now sailing 420 with her sailing partner; they were 52nd at the Nationals in Plymouth last August. Her best achievement has been 14th in the silver fleet at The Cadet promotional Worlds in 2008.
Twynham:- Stefan Burnett
During the summer Stefan competed in the 16 & under and the 18 & under Nationals held at the National Tennis Centre aged just 15. This competition is only for the top 32 in GBR in the age group.
Stefan also reached the quarter finals of the Bournemouth Open, one of the top junior tournaments in the country, he defeated the Welsh number one who was seeded 4 for the tournament, but lost to the finalist. He has moved up a rating to 5:1, one of the best junior ratings, and will certify that he will be seeded for every U16 and most U18 events.
Stefan will be competing in the U18 Grand Prix tournaments which are held at the Sunderland and Gosling Tennis Academies; these two tournaments are the highest junior events in Britain, other than the Nationals, and again are only for the top 32 in the country. He will also be competing in Taunton and Nottingham Tennis centres and hopes to continue where he left off at the Paddington British Tour where he qualified for the main draw which contains world ranked players
The Grange School:- Daniel Clark
Daniel has been playing badminton since the age of 7. He represents Dorset at U17 and Seniors. Last season he played in a national team challenge tournament. Dan has also represented Dorset in many other competitions. In the Dorset U17’s restricted tournament Dan reached the semi finals and has recently been selected for a badminton academy which trains potential national / international players.
Daniel has won the BBC Radio Solent schools tournament where he was representing the school. He is ranked 125th in the country for U19, even though he is only 15!. He has never lost a singles match and is a fantastic role model for all students and is always willing to help out in the PE department.
Winner – Stefan Burnett.
Photo used courtesy of Fraser Portraits
Photos available to buy online www.everybodysmile.biz/fraserportraits/schools.html