TEST VALLEY’S sporting stars, teams and coaches were honoured last week at the Andover and District Sports Awards.

Over 400 people attended the event, held on Saturday 14 November at Andover Leisure Centre.

The awards, organised and run by Valley Leisure, are aimed at recognising the remarkable sporting achievements made by people in and around Andover, both on and off the field.

This year 15 individuals and three teams were honoured with awards which ranged from Sportsperson of the Year to the Services to Sport award.

Valley Leisure chief executive Kevin Patterson kicked off the evening, welcoming everyone to the event and congratulating all involved on another outstanding year of sporting achievement in Andover.

Hosting the event, The Breeze’s Ben Moseby introduced the first category, the hotly contested Coach of the Year Award.

Eight coaches were nominated this year with Andover Athletic’s coach James Coney scooping the top prize for club’s remarkable success this year.

Mr Coney has helped two of the club’s stars to gain their first international vests and has been influential in helping young athlete Holly Mills to three national titles this season.

Next up was the Team of the Year, which was also hotly contested with a total of eight finalists.

These included Andover Hockey Club’s Mens First and Second XI, both of whom achieved promotion from their respective leagues this year.

However it was netball side, Andover Arrows Purple Senior Team, who took the top honours.

The team cruised to victory in Division One of the Andover and District Netball League last season and were commended for their their work in supporting the junior club members.

52 Andover Advertiser 20 November, 2015 andoveradvertiser.co.uk Holly Mills, who could not be present on the night, was awarded the Junior Sportsperson of the Year Award.

Alongside her achievements listed above, the teenager has also claimed two South of England titles in long jump this year and won gold on her debut appearance for England at the Schools International Match in July.

Juniors Sports Team of the Year was scooped by Andover New Street Swifts U14 who went unbeaten all season, winning all 22 of their games.

Following a short break for dinner, Elaine Escritt was honoured with the Lifetime Contribution Awarded for 30 years of dedicated work within the Andover netball community.

Next came the Outstanding Personal Achievement Award which was won by Catherine Pearson, the stand-out choice after she had won double gold at the Taekwondo World Championships in Italy this summer.

St John the Baptist Catholic School Tag Rugby side were awarded the School Team of the Year award before the much anticipated Sportsperson of the Year nominations were read out.

This year’s list included two world champions, a European champion and an injured war veteran who had overcome adversity to compete at a national level.

Longparish hot-shot, Connor Gorsuch, was the overall winner after an outstanding performance at the International Shooting Sports Federation’s World Championships in October, winning a tense third place shoot-out to take a bronze medal.

Kickboxing coach, Gordon Mitchell, was then awarded the Veteran Sportsperson of the Year Award after another fantastic year which culminated in him winning WAKO British titles in two weight categories.

The 47-year-old also won a Veterans European Title and represented Great Britain at both World and European level.

Duo Jane Tunney and Barbara Snow of Andover Arrows Netball Club scooped the Volunteer of the Year Award for 12 years of dedication to the club, set up in 2003.

They are both still heavily involved in the club and are both coaches, umpires and active committee members.

Iraq war veteran, Spencer Whitely, who had missed out in two award categories so far, took to the stage for the third time for the Valley Leisure Special Recognition Award.

The Crossfit star’s remarkable story of recovery and determination to succeed after suffering injury in a mortar attack captivated the audience, who cheered loudly as he walked up to receive his award.

The final prizes of the night were the Valley Leisure Services to Sport Awards, which went to five dedicated individuals, who had gone above and beyond the call of duty in order to help develop local sporting talent.

Swimming instructors Sandy Braxton and Rexian Thomas both received an award while gym instructor trio Robyn Brown, Debbie Shepherd and Jane Turner were all recognised.

Gordon Mitchell was one of those to comment on receiving an award.

He said: “Being recognised in front of a crowd of athletes and coaches who all understand the sacrifice and effort we have to make to get there is very special.

“It was a particularly special moment for me as it was the first time in all my years of competition that my mother and father were present to see me receive a reward.”