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Paralympian Sophie Christiansen honoured
on special night for heroes of sport
Paralympic hero Sophie Christiansen CBE became the first woman inducted into
the Bucks and Milton Keynes Sporting Hall of Fame at a glittering awards night.
The 31-year-old,
who was born
two months
prematurely with
cerebral palsy,
took centre stage
as nearly 300
people gathered
on November 22nd
at Aylesbury’s
Waterside Theatre
for the 13th annual
Bucks & MK Sport
Awards.
The evening is organised to pay tribute to
the people and organisations who make
grass-roots sport happen, while also giving
the special Hall of Fame tribute to the
county’s elite-level athletes.
Christiansen, a Paralympic dressage
rider and eight-time Gold medallist, first
began riding for physiotherapy aged six,
joining the South Bucks Riding for the
Disabled Association in Fulmer aged 13.
She was presented with the award by the
Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, Sir
Henry Aubrey-Fletcher.
Afterwards, she told of her delight at the
accolade which puts her in the same
league as the likes of previous Hall of Fame
recipients Sir Steve Redgrave and Greg
Rutherford MBE. She said: “To be in the
same league as all those talented athletes
and being the first female para athlete opens
the door to all the diversity coming through.”
Sue Imbriano, Chair of Leap – the County
Sport and Activity Partnership which
co-ordinated the awards – told the audience:
“We have a relentless focus on improving
people’s lives through physical activity and
sport.”
If you know a local community sport hero
who deserves thanks and recognition, please
nominate them for next year’s awards. Email
[email protected] or call 01296
585249.
The winners were:
• Group of the year 2018 (Sponsored by
My Milton Keynes) - Wycombe Squash &
Racketball Club
• Community Coach of the Year 2018
(Sponsored by Evolve and Places Leisure)
- Melanie Timberlake from Aylesbury
• Performance Coach of the Year 2018
(Sponsored by PJ Care Ltd. Specialist
Neurological Care) - Kevin Brooks, Head
coach at Wycombe District Swimming
Club
• Project of the year 2018 (Sponsored
by Buckinghamshire County Council)
- Cancer Rehabilitation at Wycombe
Leisure Centre
• Primary School of the Year 2018
(Sponsored by Bucks New University) -
Swanbourne Church of England School,
Milton Keynes
• Secondary School of the Year 2018
(Sponsored by The University of
Buckingham, Leaders in Entrepreneurship);
Denbigh School, Milton Keynes
• Young Leader of the Year 2018 (Sponsored
by Buckinghamshire College Group) -
Isabella Parola, 17, who lives near Great
Missenden
• Volunteer of the Year 2018 (Sponsored
by MK Council) - Sarah Prior of High
Wycombe for her work at Wycombe
Hockey Club
• Unsung Hero of the Year 2018 (Sponsored
by More Leisure at Stoke Mandeville
Stadium) - Denise Knibbs, from Bourne
End, who founded the South Bucks
Special Schools Association
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