KTH Awards Night 2017
The Kettering Town Harriers annual celebration & awards night, held at the Kettering General Hospital social club, was an outstanding success with circa 200 athletes, guests and officials celebrating a hugely successfully 2017 which saw 16 new club records set, and terrific success in all the main athletic disciplines especially sprints & Middle distance. There were also some outstanding successes in National and International championships, and three athletes ranked in the UK top 2!
The main of Athlete of the year award was won by Emily Williams & Tony James with the runner up’s in each category each receiving a framed certificate; Katie Gibson UK ranked No2, third on the UK all-time list & new Club Record for U13 hammer, & Erin Healy qualified for English schools & set a new 100m Club Record. Runner up positions for the boys were; Dylan Bowley who qualified for his first track English Schools at 800m, and broke all x3 MD Club Records 800m/ 1500m & 3,000m, and Fynn Batkin who also qualified for his first English Schools in the 3,000m and also broke the Club Record for this distance.
Emily, winning the athlete of the year award for the third consecutive year, secured the nomination with another outstanding season both on XC including her and 2nd England vest where she won an individual bronze & team gold, and in particular on Track where she was crowned English schools champion 800m, she then went on to win a schools International in Dublin to become the British & Irish 800m Champion, and break the existing club record marks for 800 & 1500m on no less than 11 occasions. Emily who has seen success in winning Town & County awards was again delighted to be recognised by her club.
Emily Williams (centre) athlete of the year with runners up Erin Healy (left) & katie Gibson (right)
Tony James a Vet 45 athlete has made tremendous improvements training with the younger Junior MD squad and he has shown incredible determination and terrific attitude. All of the younger squad members really look up to him as a fantastic role model, he set new Club Records for 400m & 800m, has represented the Harriers in Midland league/ vets league with distinction, and competed for GB at the European masters in Denmark & is UK ranked 11th & 17th at 400m/ 800m. Tony was delighted with his win “This has been an amazing year, beyond my wildest expectations. 18 months since returning to track athletics after 25 years away, feeling that buzz of competing again and sharing the hard work and comradeship of training and racing with such a great bunch of people, and talented committed athletes and volunteers”.
Male Athlete of the Year Tony James (right) receives his award from Coach of the Year Shane smith
Other significant awards were:
Most improved male, Tony James with runners up Fynn Batkin & Brandon Raulia
Most improved Female, Katie Gibson with runners up Erin Healy & Poppy Carmichael
Neveille Marshall Endurance award – Dylan Bowley
Coach of the Year – Shane Smith – Middle Distance Squad
Presidents merit award – Edward Cannel.
Dick Caplis sprint award – Cynthia Ike
Outstanding Track performance – Emily Williams
Best male XC – Joint winners Dylan Bowley & Fynn Batkin
Best female XC & Outstanding performance – Emily Williams.
KTH Club Record breakers
It was an inspirational night for many and this was enhanced further with a delightful talk from former GB High Jump Star Dianna Needs, double Olympian and holder of the British High jump record for an amazing 30 year period. Dianna gave a wonderful insight of her career which started as a cross country/ 800m runner, progressing to hurdles and high jump, and culminating in a GB career competing with some of the all-time greats, daily Thompson, Sebastian Coe to name a few.
As Kettering Town Harriers continues to expand, grow its membership and improve the quality of the coaches in all areas the need for more volunteers, who are the life blood of the club, was highlighted and Steve Sinnott who along with other members of his family won volunteers of the year award, spoke with the club members and family’s present on the joys of volunteering be it an hour or week or more.
It was a fantastic night for the Harriers, congratulations to all the awards winners and special thanks to everyone who helped set up the event.