Last night, the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh and Sports Minister, Mims Davies, spoke at the Eastleigh Sports Awards, recognising the sporting talent across the Borough of Eastleigh in a wide-range of sports from football to sailing, boxing to cricket.
There were 15 awards sponsored by local organisations, included 2 awards sponsored Mims in her capacity as Eastleigh’s local MP, with the awards going to both individuals as well as groups from all age ranges and backgrounds.
Commenting, Eastleigh MP and Sports Minister Mims Davies said:
“It was a huge honour to speak at this key local sporting event last night and be surrounded by our amazing nominees, including local athletes, clubs, volunteers, coaches and schools – all of them absolute sporting heroes!
“Last night that included Susan Perrin of The Multi Sport Club who received the Service to Sport Award; Hamble based Olympic Gold winner Dani Rowe who was presented with a special recognition award for her huge contribution to sport; and Maisie Stocks, who won the award for Outstanding Personal Achievement for the part she played in BBC Children in Need’s Rickshaw Challenge.
“Congratulations should also go to David Smith MBE, who was awarded Senior Disability Sports of the Year, and Kelly Simm who I met recently at a National Lottery event in Parliament, and who won Senior Sports Person of the Year last night.
“I would also like to congratulate Hedge End’s Freeground Junior School who won School of the Year (Primary) and Toynbee School, who won School of the Year (Secondary). I was absolutely delighted to sponsor these two awards as Eastleigh’s MP, which were particularly appropriate given my focus on school sports within my UK Sport speech at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre today!
“My congratulations to ALL of the winners and nominees last night, and my sincere thanks to Kevan James of BBC Radio Solent, ex Southampton FC Player Franny Benali and Chair of Eastleigh’s Sport and Physical Activity Alliance, Lou Gittens, for their support and involvement in this local event. I’d particularly like to thank Lou for her leadership.”