Maddie claims top honour at DSSA’s awards night

The event is organised by the Derbyshire Schools’ Sports Association (DSSA), and recognises pupils who have achieved county, regional, national or international success in school sport, with a number of individual and team awards presented in front of an audience of more than 200 guests.

The event was held at The County Ground in Derby on Tuesday night, and also saw several young promising sport stars presented with John Bainbridge Award Grants of £50 each.

Eighteen-year-old Maddie collected her award after competing at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London as one of the youngest players on the women’s wheelchair basketball team.

Maddie was part of the team which secured the best finish since the 1996 Paralympic Games, finishing in seventh place. She was also recently part of the Great Britain team which won a silver medal at the Women’s U25 European Championships.

The event also saw Abigail Akehurst, from Highfields School in Matlock named Secondary School Young Leader of the Year in recognition of her voluntary work in sport.

Abigail, 18, has completed more than 300 voluntary hours and has gained her Level Three Higher Sports Leaders Award for Sports Leaders UK.

As part of her volunteering work she has led numerous clubs including the Sky Living for Sport special needs club. She gave the closing speech at the 2012 School Games and represented Sports Leaders UK in the House of Commons, helping to launch the Government-backed children’s healthier lifestyle initiative ‘Energy Club’.

Meanwhile, Michaela Dick from Monyash CE Primary School, was highly commended in the Primary School Sportsperson of the Year category.

Ten-year-old Michaela won the North West of England Junior Series Aquathlon event, and finished in sixth place in her first open water triathlon.

Katy Colebourne from Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth was highly commended in the Individual Achievement – Non-School Sport category.

The 17-year-old is an Olympic wrestling competitor who competes regularly for Great Britain. She is the current British champion and is a member of the National Talent Squad for 14 to 19-year-olds.

Sue Thompson, from Longstone Primary School in Bakewell, was highly commended in the Adult Volunteer of the Year.

Sue has been a regular volunteer at the school for the past five years, helping at cluster events, SSP events and county competitions and events.

Sue has helped at more than 30 events each year in a vast range of roles.