Date:
Kate Davies, Club Captain and defender for Woking Ladies FC, has been crowned Woking’s 2020 Sports Personality of the Year while Vince Skillcorn, Head Coach at Fighting Fitness Judo, has been added to the list of worthy Trotman Trophy recipients.
The Sport Woking Awards celebrate the achievements of Woking’s elite athletes and recognise outstanding contribution to sport within the borough. With most sporting fixtures either cancelled or postponed in 2020, and training activities heavily restricted, this year’s award winners have been praised for their “grit and determination” and rewarded for their continued commitment to their sport.
More than 70 nominations were received by the council covering the diverse array of sports and fitness activities within the borough. Reflecting the impact the pandemic has had on sport during 2020, two new categories, ‘Active Lockdown Challenge’ and ‘Community Contribution’ were introduced, which proved popular with residents.
Deemed by the judging panel to have excelled in their chosen discipline or to have made an outstanding contribution to the development of their sport in spite of the recent challenges, the winners of the 2020 Sport Woking Awards are:
- Active Lockdown Challenge of the Year - Lucy Stevens, fitness instructor, Dancepiration
- Community Contribution of the Year - Ciaran Mitchell, Coach, The Dojo Woking
- Sports Personality of the Year - Kate Davies, Club Captain, Woking Ladies FC
- Young Sports Personality of the Year - Oliver Porter, gymnast, Woking Gymnastics Club
- Inclusive Sports Award, sponsored by Freedom Leisure - Stephen Hodges, volunteer with Woking Wheels for All
- Outstanding Service to Sport, sponsored by Surrey Playing Fields - Quamar Ellahi AKA Q, volunteer with Woking & Maybury FC
- Trotman Trophy - Vince Skillcorn, Head Coach, Fighting Fitness Judo
See photos of our 2020 award winners
Congratulating the winners, Cllr Ayesha Azad, Leader of the Council said: “The borough’s sports clubs and athletes have shown a great deal of resilience in the face of such adversity. Many have adapted and found new ways to engage their members while others have channelled their resources into supporting their local communities for which I’m very grateful.
“At a time when we’re all acutely aware of how important our physical and mental wellbeing is, the Sport Woking Awards are a wonderful showcase of the many opportunities that exist within our borough and of what can be achieved with a bit of grit and determination.
“To all our winners, thank you; you are an inspiration and it gives me great pleasure to see your efforts acknowledged via the Sport Woking Awards.”
As well as being presented with a personalised trophy, award winners will also receive a pair of Nova Cinema tickets. Stephen Hodges, winner of the Inclusive Sports Award, sponsored by Freedom Leisure also receives a free 12-month gym membership in recognition of his efforts and Quamar Ellahi, winner of this year’s Outstanding Service to Sport award will receive a £100 contribution towards his volunteering activities from Surrey Playing Fields.
More about the Trotman Trophy
Vince Skillcorn, Head Coach at Fighting Fitness Judo is this year’s deserved winner of the Trotman Trophy. He receives the award for growing the club, securing a permanent base within the borough and for the number of members competing at the highest levels of the sport.
The Trotman Trophy was introduced in 1971 in memory of the Sports Council chairman, making it the oldest and most prestigious sports accolade in the borough. It recognises outstanding performance, development or services to sport and has been awarded to both individuals and clubs in the past. Notable recipients include Olympic rower, James Cracknell OBE and modern pentathlete, Kate Allenby MBE. Vince’s partner and fellow Fighting Fitness Judo coach, Sam Skillcorn (nee Lowe), was awarded the Trotman Trophy in 2003 for her medal winning accomplishments.