Local sports star nominated for Sporting Champions Awards

Local Paralympian Claire Cashmore MBE has been nominated for a prestigious award.

The triathlete - who has medalled in four Paralympic Games - has been shortlisted in two categories at Everyone Active's Sporting Champions Awards, which are due to be held at Porchester Hall in Bayswater, London on Wednesday, 30 October.

The award categories are Regional Champion of the Year and National Champion of the Year.

The event will be hosted by Great Britain's double world 110m hurdles champion and former world record holder Colin Jackson.

Everyone Active runs more than 230 leisure and cultural centres across the country, including Stratford Leisure Centre, Southam Leisure Centre, Shipston Leisure Centre, Studley Leisure Centre and The Greig Leisure Centre in Stratford-on-Avon District, in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

The company's Sporting Champions scheme is a sports talent development programme which supports 1,400 athletes.

Now in its eighth year, the initiative has helped thousands of athletes to achieve their sporting potential by providing free access to Everyone Active's leisure facilities nationwide.

Sporting Champions athletes won an incredible 23 medals at this year's Olympics and Paralympics - nine gold, six silver and eight bronze - while 14 athletes competed at their first Olympics or Paralympics in Paris.

Claire Cashmore MBE trains at Shipston Leisure Centre and recently won silver in the PTS5 category at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

Award winners will include those who have had career successes or who have engaged with the Sporting Champions scheme and their local Everyone Active centre. Everyone Active will also celebrate those who have helped to inspire other up-and-coming sportsmen and women.

The awards ceremony will be preceded by a mentoring workshop, led by the scheme's team of Elite athletes. Richard Kilty, Maisie Summers-Newton and Lauren Steadman starred on the Paris 2024 stage, and they will be joined by Olympians Lutalo Muhammad and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey to share their insights and experiences and help guide the Sporting Champions athletes in their own careers.

Richard Bell, Everyone Active's contract manager, said: "We are really looking forward to celebrating the fantastic achievements of all the Sporting Champions athletes at Porchester Hall, including Claire Cashmore MBE.

"The scheme has been very successful in providing exceptional support to emerging talent and we are delighted to be showcasing this.

"It's fantastic to see how the scheme has expanded over the years, now providing more than 1,400 athletes nationwide with access to top-quality training facilities and support. 

"As a leisure provider working in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon District Council, we feel it is important to cater for all sections of the community, and we hope to continue making a real difference to our athletes' success."

Cllr Lorraine Grocott, Environmental and Neighbourhood Services Portfolio said: "As a District Council we are committed to supporting health and wellbeing in our community and celebrate the development of sporting talent in our District.

"These awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise the dedication and achievements of local sporting champions and we're incredibly proud of Claire's nomination in two categories."

To find out more about the Everyone Active's Sporting Champions scheme, visit www.easportingchampions.com or follow @easportingchamps on Instagram. For further information on Everyone Active, visit www.everyoneactive.com