IN HER final official engagement as the Island's High Sheriff, Gioia Minghella-Giddens honoured the athletes who won accolades at the 2018 Sports Achievement Awards gala last night (Thursday) as 'the cream of the Isle of Wight'.
With most sports thriving on the Isle of Wight and with so many achieving in them — all passionately backed up by dedicated coaches — it was a difficult decision for judges in presenting accolades at the awards ceremony.
There were many deserved winners and nominees in categories, that ranged from long and distinguished service given to a sport, to marking the achievements of emerging young talents and the voluntary support of clubs and organisations.
Special guest at the awards ceremony was The Lord (Michael) Grade of Yarmouth, who presented most of the accolades.
Lord Grade, a former BBC controller and chairman and Channel Four chief, said the awards gala was an amazing event which reflects so well on the Island's sporting talent.
Among the 25 winners to collect their awards at Newport's Medina Theatre was remarkable 80-year-old Newport swimmer Jenny Ball, who won the masters' women award.
Jenny, a swimming teacher at The Heights, Sandown, and at the Waterside, Ryde, who is best known as a great competitor who became a European Champion in her age group in Slovenia last year, said: "It's lovely — especially at my age — to receive it.
"I'm coming to the end of my sporting career now, so that was a bonus.
"I teach adults and I love to pass on what I've learned from the sport, because they're getting so much from it too.
"It's lovely to be able to help enable people to do what they want to do. I'm so thrilled.
"I was nominated by the West Wight Sports Centre, where it all started for me, so I'm over-the-moon.
"I still have passion for swimming and competing, but I don't do it for the medals and cups. I do it because it keeps me motivated, fit and in touch with so many people here on the Island and on the mainland."
Jenny paid tribute to West Wight Sports and Community Centre swimming teachers Trevor and Anne Collins — who taught her children how to swim — after they won the Isle of Wight Sports Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.
Anne collected the award on behalf of the couple.
They were described by Lord Grade as the backbone of the West Wight Swimming Club for over 40 years.
Newchurch Primary School, like last year, had a good evening — picking up three awards, which included best junior team, best primary school and one for PE teacher Adam Tuck, recognised for making a difference in school sports.
Among the Island's many young talents marked with awards were rower Daisy Faithfull, runner Henry McLuckie and squash player Amelie Haworth.
In her closing speech, Mrs Minghella-Giddens said the awards were great recognition of sporting achievement and endeavour among Isle of Wight athletes and that attending the event was a fitting climax to her year-long tenure as High Sheriff.
"They are the creme-de-la-creme — the cream of the Isle of Wight," she concluded.
For a full report and pictures, see next Friday's Isle of Wight County Press.
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