Kettering Town Harriers annual celebration & awards night, held at the Kettering Rugby Football Club, saw a number of the clubs rising stars from all age groups and disciplines recognised for their performances on Road, Cross Country & Track & Field.
It was a superb evening with some impressive winners on the night, with the Main athlete of the year awards going to U20 GB International Alice Bates & promising U15 Javelin thrower George Mills.
Alice Bates, winner of the 2023 North Northants active communities local sports performer, has enjoyed a phenomenal season in the 22/23 cross country season & on track and she won the athlete of the year award for the second year running, beating fellow International athlete Alice Bennett & rising U11 athlete Sophie Burnes to the big prize.
Female athlete of the year Alice Bates (Centre) with runners up Alice Bennett (right) & Sophie Burnes
Alice Bates secured 7 trophies on the night including three in the Cross County categories; the best U20, best overall Female & outstanding performance of the season for winning her first home Counties International representing England. Bates who won her first track National Title, winning senior girls English Schools 1500m, is UK ranked 07th U20 for the 1500m, she also won the International Shield, sharing it with squad training partner and namesake Alice Bennett.
Busy Night for GB International Alice Bates winning a total of 7 trophies
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Alice Bennett was runner up in the Athlete of the year award and also won 5 trophy’s including best U17 in cross country, a framed certificate for her new U20 800m Club Record and the outstanding female performance of the year on track for her performance in making the Commonwealth Youth Games 800m final in Trinidad & Tobago in the summer. Alice is also UK ranked 8th U20 for the 800m.
Commonwealth Youth 800m finalist Alice Bennett, 5 awards on the night and ran her training partner close for the main award
Rising star, U11 Sophie Burnes was also runner up in the athlete of the year after enjoying a superb season, twice breaking the U11 75m Club Record & winning the outstanding female sprint performance.
George Mills, the rising star in the Throws squad reined supreme in the Male Athlete of the year award, winning x6 awards including outstanding throws performance, Thrower of the year, and setting a new Club Record. Mills enjoyed a fine breakthrough season making the English Schools finals and the EA U15 championships, winning the County Championships & the prestigious Mason Trophy Inter-County championship.
U15 George Mills Male Athlete of the year winner, also winning a further 5 trophies
Runner in the Male Athlete of the year was Cole Sinnott who also enjoyed a great Night collecting 5 awards for his best season ever in athletics, securing the Best U20 sprints awards, outstanding male sprint performance, the Dick Caplis sprint award and a framed certificate for setting a new 400m Club Record, and UK ranking of 37th in the U23’s AG.
Ben Brooker was also a runner up in the Male Athlete of the year for his performances on track including best U20, a Bronze medal at the Midland Counties 800m, a Level 9 EA PB award in the 800m (Level 8 in the 400m), and his highest ever UK ranking of 60th in the U20’s AG.
Male Athlete of the year winner George Mills (centre) with runner up Cole Sinnott (left) & Ben Brooker
The evergreen Masters 45 athlete David Locker also secured six awards on the night, including the Best Senior or Masters track athlete, and no less than 5 club records for 400m, 800m, 1k, 1Mile, and 5000m showing his incredible range. Locker who earlier in the year entered the record books for being part of a quartet who smashed the World 4x 800m Masters 45 record, also won the Masters Athlete of the year award to cap a fine evening.
Kettering's world record holder M45 David Locker, breaking 5 Club Records & winner of Masters Athlete of the year
Promising High Jumper Tallulah Dring enjoyed a fine evening winning four awards including best U15, Best High Jumper of the year, & most improved female athlete by moving an incredible 5 stages in the EA PB awards to reach level 8.
Successful night for promissing high jumper Tallulah Dring who won four awards
Winning the most Improved Male Athlete awards was U15 Zachary Scott who also moved 5 stages on the EA PB awards in the 800m, with the prestigious Neville Marshall Endurance awards going to rising star Joshua Spavins who enjoyed a fine season on XC & Track competing as a bottom year U13.
The England Athletics PB awards, which grade all performances from Level 1 to Level 9 saw an impressive 7 athletes reach level 8 and 9, and 11 reach level 7, with 10 athletes also setting performances which broke long standing Club Records showing depth of talent within the club.
Former KTH athlete, sprinter Rhianna Paris-Smith, who has enjoyed huge success transferring sports into the British Cycling Team as a track sprint cyclist, helped give out the awards and took part in a fascinating Q&A session during the break which will hopefully inspire athletes and demonstrate what it takes to reach the top level in any sport.
Former KTH athlete Rhianna Paris-Smith now part of the British Cycling team during her insightful Q&A
There was an emotional finale with the volunteers awards seeing the clubs oldest volunteer Walter Burbridge who is in his late 80’s winning the Amanda Marlow Shield for Volunteers who go the extra mile. Walter has single headedly organised the athletics equipment in the garages to an impeccable standard repairing broken equipment along the way. Walter can also be seen most track nights tidying the track & surrounding areas, all weathers, so it was apt that the club also presented Walter with a high quality all weather coat to match the Coaches!
Walter Burbridge sporting his new KTH jacket, winner of the main Volunteer award, the Amanda Marlow Sheild
The buoyant Road Running section saw seven awards handed out including the outstanding male performance, Mark Weathersby for his performance in the Leicestershire Half Marathon, with the outstanding female performance Kerry Munn who was 9th in her age category for the London Marathon. Josh Cannell was awarded the best male athlete for commitment to Road and Cross Country.
Josh Cannell outstanding committment to Road Running and Cross Country
A big thank you to everyone who worked hard to make this a fabulous evening where over 115 awards were handed out to celebrate the club’s ongoing success as one of the leading athletics club in the Midlands.
Congratulations to all our winners, and to all the athletes, parents, and supporters who make the club such a success!