7th November 2010. The inaugural Jaguar Academy of Sport awards took place last night in the Long Room at Lord's and was attended by a glittering line‑up of British sports stars. The Jaguar Academy of Sport, launched in March 2010, aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. The evening celebrated some of the most inspirational British sporting performances in 2010, including both current sporting stars and the next generation. The Jaguar Academy of Sport Awards are unique, in terms of their peer recognition, with the judging panel formed by the Patrons and Ambassadors of the Jaguar Academy of Sport.
The Patrons and Ambassadors of the Jaguar Academy of Sport presented the winners with their awards in front of the cream of British sporting talent.
Jaguar Academy of Sport Award Winners
- Jump off the Sofa Moment 2010
Winner ‑ Tony McCoy
Other nominees ‑ Shane Williams, Frank Lampard, Amy Williams, Lee Westwood
- Most Inspirational British Sportsman of the Year 2010
Winner ‑ Graeme McDowell
Other nominees ‑ Mo Farah, Graeme Swann, Mark Cavendish, Dai Greene
- Most Inspirational British Sportswoman of the Year 2010
Winner ‑ Jessica Ennis
Other nominees ‑ Rebecca Adlington, Shanaze Reade, Kelly Smith
- British Sporting Performance of the Year 2010
Winner ‑ Amy Williams
Other nominees ‑ Mo Farah, Graeme McDowell, Emma Pooley, Jessica Ennis
- Best British Sporting Performance for an athlete with a disability 2010
Winner ‑ Ellie Simmonds
Other nominees ‑ David Roberts, Lee Pearson, Matt Skelhon, Danielle Brown
- Jaguar Academy of Sport Award for Sporting Legacy 2010
Winner‑ Dame Kelly Holmes
- Jaguar Academy of Sport Special Recognition Awards 2010
Winners ‑ Tom Allen, Sheree Cox, Kelsie Gibson, Jade Jones, Grace Reid
- Jaguar Academy of Sport Star of the Future Award 2010
Winner ‑ Jade Jones
The Bursary Fund is at the heart of the Jaguar Academy of Sport and five of this year's 35 bursary recipients were further acknowledged last night with the Jaguar Academy of Sport Special Recognition Award 2010. These awards went to Tom Allen, Sheree Cox, Kelsie Gibson, Jade Jones and Grace Reid who have all excelled in their chosen sports this year. The "Star of the Future" award was given to Jade Jones who has produced stand out performances this year winning Gold for Taekwondo at the Youth Olympics in Singapore.
Geoff Cousins Managing Director of Jaguar UK commented: " It was a great evening and I would like to congratulate all the nominees and winners. The Jaguar Academy of Sport Awards are unique in every way and it has been a pleasure to honour some of the great British Sporting performances of 2010. We are very proud to have such young talented athletes as part of the Jaguar Academy of Sport and I am sure that they will go on to inspire future generations of British sporting talent in years to come. Congratulations to the five bursary recipients who won the awards tonight ‑ you thoroughly deserve them."
Jade Jones, Rising Star and winner of 'Star of the Future Award' commented: "It was a great honour to receive this award especially as it is the first one and I just want to say a big thank you to the Jaguar team, especially their Patrons and Ambassadors because it is amazing what they are doing and I have really enjoyed it so thank you."
Dame Kelly Holmes DBE, Winner of the 'Jaguar Academy of Sport Award for Sporting Legacy 2010", commented: "This is a fantastic initiative and I'm very proud to be a patron. If you have a special talent in life it is a big journey ahead to reach success on the worlds stage. Reaching the top is a rollercoaster ride and there is a lot that can be learned from other people that have experienced it ‑ this is what we do at the Jaguar Academy of Sport, pass on our experiences and support to help these youngsters achieve their potential"
Tony McCoy OBE, winner of the 'Jump off the Sofa Moment' Award
commented:
"All you need to do is look who's around us in this room, it
demonstrates how people feel about the Jaguar Academy of Sport. For
these youngsters to have the support and to be associated with a
brand like Jaguar is an amazing boost to their young careers. I
wish I had something like this to support me when I was growing up
in sport."
Sir Ian Botham, Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, commented: "Jaguar is a great icon of British industry and this Academy of Sport represents an obvious pairing of the best of British industry and sporting achievement. Through the academy Jaguar aims to help transform British sport and I genuinely can't see why not. I'm very proud to be associated with this and I'm sure it will go a long long way."
Denise Lewis OBE, Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport,
commented: "What an array of sporting heroes! Even I feel I have to
pinch myself when working with the Jaguar Academy of Sport. It is a
very inspiring initiative.
I thought this evening was fantastic, everyone had a good time,
the bursary recipients looked in ore of some of the patrons and
ambassadors, the true legends of sport that were present tonight
and thoroughly deserved their awards
Dave Brailsford CBE, Ambassador of the Jaguar Academy of Sport,
commented: "The essence and difference of the Jaguar Academy of
Sport is that it is genuinely interested in the talent of tomorrow
and with 2012 just around the corner it is easy to forget the
excellent young talent that is out there but may not be ready in
time for the London Olympics. The Jaguar Academy of Sport is
genuinely interested in these very young people and I personally am
looking forward to getting further involved with these young stars
in the next year."
Tasha Danvers, Ambassador of the Jaguar Academy of Sport,
commented: "I think this is really amazing because you feel like
you're part of history. Jaguar is a classic brand and to be
associated with such an elite group of people the Jaguar brand and
what they are doing for sport is absolutely fantastic and I truly
support it."
Gareth Edwards CBE, Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, commented: "I think it has been a wonderful occasion I'd like to think it has been inspirational to all the young bursary recipients and indeed all the young people who attended the day and appreciate what it actually means. It has been inspirational to us former athletes of years gone by to see how dedicated and how important it is for these young people to have the opportunity for their future success."
Mark Foster, Ambassador of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, commented: "For me personally, even I find the evening quite humbling, I have been with Bursary Recipient Thomas Allen all night and I think for him to be around these great sports stars he has followed for years it must be a real buzz. It means a lot getting a sponsor, and someone who backs you and takes an interest in your development. I think Jaguar do this very well, culminating here at Lord's ‑ the whole thing just works!"
Barry McGuigan MBE, Ambassador of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, commented: These wonderful intelligent group of youngsters really recognise what the Jaguar Academy of Sport is doing for them. Pearls of wisdom from the likes of Dame Kelly Holmes, Denise Lewis and Sir Ian Botham are invaluable and what this is all about, lets pass it on!"
For further information about Jaguar Academy of Sport, the Annual Awards and hi‑res images please contact:
Fiona Gaitens
E: Fiona@influenceltd.com
T: 0207 2879610
For further information about Jaguar products please contact:
E: fgoldst1@jaguar.com
T: 01926 648765
Profiles of Bursary Annual Awards Winners
Thomas Allen
‑ 2010 Amateur Swimming Association Age group National
Championships winner over 200, 400, 800 and 1500m freestyle and
200m fly
‑ Selected for the 2010 World Championships in Canada, 2010
European Championships ‑ Hoorn, Holland Junior Open Water 5k ‑
Gold
‑ Tom moved to Swansea to train with Buck McAllister at the
Swansea ITC. His track record is second to none with numerous
British Age group records and national age group titles to his
name. He is already a fully fledged Senior International for Wales
and represented GB at Senior 10k Open Water events.
‑ He is very much one of the rising stars of British Swimming and
has confirmed this by winning numerous medals at the ASA National
Championships. He managed to qualify for the World Championships
Open Water (FINA) in Canada and won the European Junior
Championships 5k Open Water race in Holland.
‑ Selected for 2010 European Swimming Championships in Budapest
Current age group British Record holder over 800m free
‑ 3rd at the 2009 FINA Open Water World Cup in the 10k event (Open
age group)
‑ 2nd at the 2010 Dave Davies International Field Open 10k Open
Water event South Africa
Sheree Cox
‑ Bronze medalist at the 2008 Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune
India in the prone event
‑ Gold medalist in the 3 positions event at the 2008 Youth
Commonwealth Games. 2009 Junior British champion 2009
‑ Team Silver medalist in the 2009 European Junior Championships
in the Prone event in Czech republic
‑ Silver medalist at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic festival in
3 positions event. 2010 Junior International, Bisley ‑ 7 Gold, 1
Silver
‑ GB Junior Rifle squad, 2010 Commonwealth Games team
Kelsie Gibson
‑ Has been in the sport for just over a year
‑ Maidstone Invicta RC, Winner of the 2009 Kent Adaptive Rowing
Championships
‑ 2009 Winner of the Indoor Adaptive Championships
‑ Ergo time well inside the GB Selection criteria for Senior
team
‑ Selected for Senior GB team for 2010 World Championships in New
Zealand
Jade Jones
‑ Jade switched from ITF to WTF (Olympic style) in 2009
‑ Winner of the 2009 Dutch Open
‑ Winner of the 2009 Paris Open
‑ Winner of the 2010 Junior British Championships in the U55kg
category
‑ Silver medallist at the 2010 Junior World Championships
‑ Gold medallist at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore
Grace Reid
‑ Member of the GB Junior Development Squad
‑ Ranked GB 1st at 3 metre springboard and 3 metre synchro, age
group
‑ Member of the 2009 Scottish National Squad
‑ Winner of the 2007 Scottish Junior (U16) National Championships
in the 1m, 3m and platform
‑ 2008 Scottish National champion 1m & 3m
‑ 6th at the 2009 GB Senior National Championships in the 3m
springboard
‑ 3rd at the 2010 British Gas National Cup
‑ Silver and Bronze at the 2010 Junior European
Championships
‑ 4th place at the 2010 Senior European Championships
‑ Youngest member of Scottish Commonwealth Games team
Jaguar Academy of Sport
The Jaguar Academy of Sport, launched in March 2010, is a unique club of the best of British sport which is used to inspire the next generation. The Academy aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. It fulfils this aim through a Bursary Fund which will support new British sporting talent, and a prestigious annual Awards Ceremony. For more information visit www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk
SportsAid
SportsAid is a registered charity, number 1111612. SportsAid is
the lead organisation in helping talented young athletes, providing
a much needed boost, both financial and in recognition, at a key
time in their development. SportsAid has been supporting emerging
talent since 1976, distributing over £35 million in this time.
There is a track record of success for the charity ‑ athletes
involved in securing 18 of the 19 Gold Medals won by Team GB in
Beijing had been helped by SportsAid. At the 2008 Paralympic Games
over a third of GB's 42 Gold Medals involved athletes supported by
SportsAid. Further information on SportsAid can be found at www.sportsaid.org.uk
Jaguar Academy of Sport Patrons and Ambassadors
Patrons
David Beckham OBE
Sir Ian Botham
Gareth Edwards CBE
Dame Kelly Holmes DBE
Denise Lewis OBE
Sir Steve Redgrave
Ambassadors
Jamie Baulch
Dave Brailsford CBE
Martin Brundle
Tasha Danvers
Jessica Ennis
Mark Foster
Rio Ferdinand
Steven Gerrard MBE
Sir Chris Hoy
Colin Jackson CBE
David Roberts CBE
Michael Vaughn OBE
Lee Westwood
Shane Williams
Barry McGuigan