THE countdown is on for one of the biggest and most important awards ceremonies on the Island calendar — the 2023 Isle of Wight Sports Achievement Awards.
The gala event, organised by the Isle of Wight Sports Foundation, will be held at Newport's Medina Theatre, on Thursday, March 21.
In the run-up to the ceremony, the County Press will be going through the nominees shortlisted for accolades in this and next week's edition.
The annual event recognises outstanding achievements and service, with competition fierce and the winners never failing to impress.
Remy Deegan, 13, an athlete from Ryde, won gold at the National Prep Schools 800m and took bronzes in the 100m and 200m in the South of England Championships.
A talented all-rounder, competing in athletics, hockey and rugby, Aleksander Giemza-Pipe, 14, from Ryde, was chosen as Hampshire U13s hockey goalkeeper and selected for the London and South Central Development Squad at rugby.
From Yarmouth, Oliver Mayo, 14, has had great success as a sailor. The Yarmouth Sailing Club member competed internationally with Great Britain in the ILCA40 class, and domestically in the ILCA6.
Archibald Pearson, 15, from Cowes, finished second in the Hampshire Championships 3,000m, despite being at the bottom of his age group. He also came seventh in the Island Games' 1,500m.
Arreton cyclist Harrison Hendy, 14, achieved a remarkable third place on the European Youth Tour in Holland, and won the British Schools Hill Climb event.
Talented young sailor, Will Haines, 13, from Cowes, followed up on his fifth place at the RS Tera World Championships at Lake Iseo, Italy, by winning the RS Tera Nationals Sailing event held at Royal Victoria Yacht Club.
In the same event at Lake Iseo, William Bradley, 15, from Cowes, came second, against a international field of sailors, to hoist him up to the ILCA4 class.
Ten-year-old Alice Critchison, from Niton, managed to, with her ponies, accumulate more than 229km — making her way up the rankings, as one of the top three junior riders in the country.
Alice Wroath-Hickley, 12, from Ryde, is on the Performance Development Programme (PDP) for netball. She plays in tournaments and matches representing the county. U13 PDP is on the England player pathway.
Legacy Gymnastics Academy talent, Ellora Jones, aged ten, from Newport, is with the elite women’s artistic gymnastics squad. She performed consistently well throughout 2023 and secured an all-round first in Basingstoke.
Emily Bunn, 11, from Cowes, represents the Isle of Wight Triathlon Club. She competed in the South Central Regional race series, finishing third overall in the 11-12 year age group. She qualified to represent the South Central region at the National Inter-Regional Championships.
A member of Bembridge Youth Football Club, ten-year-old Kasia Mae Delaney, from Bembridge, has been playing football with them since she was aged six. She recently joined Portsmouth ITC in her ambition become an England Lioness.
Olivia Johnson, 11, of St Helens, is a Ryde School pupil who puts her heart into tumbling, athletics, swimming and hockey, playing alongside older Isle of Wight Hockey Club girls.
A member of Vectis Equestrian Club, Mollie Sheath, 14, from Rookley, qualified for the British Riding Clubs National Championships individually and as a team member. She was dressage-to-music junior reserve champion.
Harvey Abbott, 15, of Sandown, won bronze medal at the European Kickboxing Championships, following victory at the British Championships.
Forced to change sports from rugby to rowing, due to injury, Freddie Giemza-Pipe, 17, from Ryde, finished third in his age group at the National Indoor Rowing Championships, and at the National Schools Regatta — finishing in the top 16 in the single sculls at his first attempt.
Lucy Collins, 16, from Newport, is the oldest member of the Legacy Elite Academy's women’s artistic gymnastics squad. She achieved many firsts at county and regional level during 2023.
Netball talent Poppy Cullen, 15, from Bembridge, plays netball for Hampshire, at Aspire, Andover, for Surrey Storm's pathway first team, as player and captain. She was named player of the year in the Southampton League and plays for Swans Eastleigh at U16 and U19 level.
In the same sport, Amelia Wroath-Hickley, 15, of Ryde, has achieved much in netball during 2023, playing for Team Bath ADC, Swans and Surrey Storm at regional and county level. On the Island, Amelia plays for Showell firsts.
Naomi Holdsworth, 18, of Newport, won discus silver in the Hampshire Championships and Hampshire Schools' Championships. At the English Schools Championships in Birmingham she came fifth. A sixth place at the Island Games was followed by selection for a Combined Islands at the Welsh Athletics International.
Meanwhile, another netball talent, Matilda Moore, 16, from Cowes, has been selected for the Northern Ireland U17 Short Squad, and will be competing at the European Netball Championships this month. She has also been chosen by mainland club Swans, Millfield School, Ryde School and Island clubs.
Kevin Chant, 34, of Newport, won individual and team gold in the men’s Road Time Trial, at the 2023 Island Games, becoming the first Island cyclist to win an individual medal at the games since 2011, and also secured the team gold medal.
Achieving four gold medals at clay pigeon shooting at the Island Games in Guernsey, Dan Bishop, 41, of Chale, excelled in individual and team in the English sporting and sportrap classes.
David Cassell, 70, of Brading, is a long-standing member of Shanklin Deep Sea Fishing Club, having put in 52 years of service — passing on his wisdom and experience to younger members.
At kickboxing World Cup events in Turkey, Austria and Italy, Dominic Marsh, 22, of Lake, achieved several bronze medals and was selected for the Great Britain team for the World Championships last year.
Last year was amazing for discus ace Nick Percy, 29, of Bonchurch, who won gold at the English Championships, silver in the UK Championships and gold at the Island Games — all achieved despite being sidelined by a mid-season virus.
In shooting, Jennie Cartwright, 55, of Freshwater, took four gold medals at the Island Games — surpassing the three she took in Jersey in 2015 — in individual and team English sporting and sportrap.
Pip Smith, of Calbourne, achieved her lifelong dream of becoming supreme champion in the Mountain and Moorland Section of the Horse of the Year Show.
Disabled triathlete, Laura Curwood, 30, had an outstanding 2023 — finishing second in the London Excel Triathlon in her age category, and won the Para Super Sprint class at the Arctic One Para Triathlon Festival.
Zac Lacey, 23, of Ryde, selected for the Virtus Sport Excel GB team, the swimmer won gold at the DSISO European Championships, in 200m butterfly, as well as silver in 100m butterfly at the Global Games, and he retained two titles at the British Downs Syndrome Championships.
A 3,000m steeplechase gold medal winner the European Masters Athletics Championships, Dan Eckersley, 37, of Cowes, matched it in the British Masters Championships. He came second in the open event at the Island Games.
Emily Fry, 40, of Newport, won gold in the long jump, and silver in the 100m, at the British Masters Athletics Championships. She also won gold at the Southern Veterans Championships and competed in the Island Games.
Multi-award winning veteran swimmer, Jenny Ball, 85, of Newport, remains a top competitor — winning numerous gold medals in 2023, including five alone at the Guernsey Masters International Meet.
Kim Holmes, 37, of Binstead, won two swimming golds at county level, together with other regional medals. Kim and Jenny coach at Ryde Swimming Club.
Undertaking volunteering roles with Wight Tri, Parkrun and Love Running, Arielle Elton-Walters, of Newport, is described as "very dedicated, enthusiastic and encouraging" to all runners and triathletes.
Fiona Graham, of Vectis Rugby Academy, is "the person that keeps the club going". She puts in many hours, which includes organising fixtures.
Chair of Oakfield Youth Football Club, Ross Hammond, of Seaview, supports all the club's players and coaches, and recently started coaching the U6s, as well as his U10 and U16 squads.
Katherine Leather, of Gurnard, of Gurnard Sailing Club for 12 years, is described as a "vital and constant" volunteer the club's had in recent times, doing everything from helping in the kitchen, to launching and recovering boats.
Coach to the Isle of Wight Disability Team — ECB South East Region Super 9s Cricket League winners last year — Martin Blackman, of Newport, is "highly dedicated" to his role.
Shannon Betts, of Newport, is the head coach at Legacy Elite Gymnastics Academy. Her high standards has led to multiple gymnasts reach south regional grades and the South Regional Classic Challenge Finals — a first for gymnastics on the Island.
Meanwhile, Steve Hobday, of Lake, has achieved much at Sandown and Lake Youth Football Club, such as establishing girls’ grassroots football. Steve has organised events to fundraise for a defibrillator and the club, including changing rooms.
Former Island Games football team coach, Tom McInnes, of Binstead, led the Isle of Wight team to bronze in Guernsey, "against very well funded and stronger teams". Tom was responsible for helping to raise £20,000, which enabled the team and support staff to participate.
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