Maddie and Abbie scoop gongs at awards

18-year-old wheelchair basketball star Maddie won the disabled sportsperson of the year whilst Abbie, 14, received an award in the Individual achievement - non-school sport category.

Maddie’s award comes after she competed at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London as one of the youngest players on the women’s wheelchair basketball team.

She was also part of the team which secured the best finish since the 1996 Paralympic Games, finishing in seventh place.

This year Maddie, of Lady Manners school in Bakewell, was part of the Great Britain team which won a silver medal at the Women’s U25 European Championships back in August.

Abbie, of Buxton Community School, scooped the award which recognises young people who have achieved sporting success whilst at school but outside of the school sport system.

Abbie won a gold medal for England in the 200m breaststroke at the Sainsbury’s 2012 School Games.

In July 2012 she won the 200m breaststroke at the National Age Group Championships for the 3rd consecutive year, and in February this year she broke the British and English Age Group record for the 200m breaststroke.

Abbie also won two gold medals and two silver for Team GB at the European Youth Olympic Festival and was selected as the Team GB flag bearer for the closing ceremony.

Another local winner on the night was Michaela Dick from Monyash CE Primary School, who was highly commended in the Primary School Sportsperson of the Year category.

10-year-old Michaela won the North West of England Junior Series Aquathlon event.

More than 200 guests turned out for the event, which was held at The County Ground in Derby earlier this month.