THERE was a great atmosphere in Haslemere Hall last Wednesday as a gathering of 140 celebrated the great sporting talent and achievements in Haslemere and the surrounding area over the last 12 months.

Special guest Peter Alliss, the ‘voice of golf’, was amongst those impressed as Sport Haslemere and the Haslemere Sports Association announced first the Sports Awards winners for 2016 and then the ten youngsters with international potential who received Create a Star £500 bursaries to help develop their careers.

Peter Alliss, declining the use of a microphone and speaking without notes, set the tone of the evening with a typically pithy address.

“What a wonderful idea to encourage youngsters to get out and about – away from computer games and off their backsides,” he declared. “We don’t want to see them looking pale, pasty and tubby, so anything that gets them outside and doing sport has to be a good thing.

“I must say I’m impressed, and it’s delightful, to see how many of you have turned out tonight.”

The former Ryder Cup star was less impressed with the apparent lack of interest shown in the awards by local golf clubs and actually apologised on their behalf. “I’m involved with one or two of them, and I’ll be having a word,” he said ominously.

He then launched into a lovely story from his days in pro-celebrity golf, involving Eric Sykes and a ‘train to Calcutta.’

Peter Lawrence, chairman of Sport Haslemere, welcomed the guests and spoke about the need to promote sport in the area and help clubs find grant money to improve their facilities. The question always facing Sport Haslemere, he said, was how to improve the image of the many sports and activities available in the area and how to get people to be more active and in turn healthier’.

Peter Lawrence, Melanie Odell and Adrian Blyth read the nominations of the 12 Sports Award winners who were as follows:

Junior Sports Team – Grayshott Cricket Club U13 Foxes

Sports Team – Haslemere Hockey Club men’s 1st XI

Young Coach – Tom McIntosh from Excel Gymnastics

Sports Coach – Amanda Marden from Haslemere Border Athletic Club.

Young Volunteer – Alex Knight from Haslemere Flyerz Hockey

Sporting Impact in Schools – Lesley Moore & Helen Griffiths from Camelsdale Primary School

Disabled Award – Evie Read from Haslemere Flyerz Hockey

Sport Initiative – Damon Culley from Beacon Hill Football Club

Special Services – Bryony Chapman from Haslemere Sub-Aqua Club

Sports Club – Haslemere Border Athletic Club

Junior Sports Personality – Cerys McIntosh from Swallows Trampoline Club

Sports Personality – Alistair Wheble from Grayshott Cricket Club

Evie Read of the Haslemere Flyerz disabled hockey team, with her infectious smile, got the biggest cheer of the evening. Also of note were Haslemere Hockey Club men’s first team who won the national EHA Vase at the Olympic Stadium in May and also the teachers from Camelsdale Primary School who introduced the immensely popular lessons in the magical game of Quidditch, adding to the rich tapestry of sport in the area.

Thirteen-year-old Alistair Wheble became the youngest ever winner of the senior Sports Personality Award for his outstanding cricket achievements for both Grayshott CC and Hampshire.

Peter Lawrence thanked the 17 generous sponsors who supported the event and made it possible. “I would also like to thank Tony Bishop, Melanie Odell, Peter Williams, Chris Grimes, James Winkley, Cornberry Marketing and Adrian Blyth for making the evening happen so professionally.”

The Haslemere Sports Association’s Create a Star bursaries were announced by HSA chairman Chris Grimes who also interviewed the ten recipients. The confidence and ambition they showed when talking before a packed hall itself demonstrated how sport can develop young people.

Eight of them had received £500 bursaries in 2015, with two new talented athletes added to the list this year.

This was the seventh year that bursaries had been awarded. First established in 2010, HSA has underwritten the cost of these bursaries, although external sponsorship has been obtained each year to help finance the scheme.

“It’s a fantastic array of talent,” said Chris Grimes and he thanked Haslemere Town Council for agreeing to sponsor one of the athletes this year.

The bursaries were presented by the sponsors as follows:

Alistair Wheble – wicketkeeper/batsman for Grayshott CC and Hampshire Cricket Board U13s. Number 1 keeper in county U13 squad. He topped the Hampshire batting averages and achieved 13 stumpings and 21 catches. Represented Hampshire at the English Schools Festival at Taunton in July. 1000 runs and 51 dismissals in all cricket.

Jake Thompson (one of three brothers from Frensham Sailing Club to receive bursaries) – Jake, 12, is the youngest of the brothers and sails in the RS Tera class. Competed at the 2016 World Dinghy Championships in Santona in Spain.

Jodie Burrage – has received a bursary from the outset of the scheme. Her award is named after the late Nick Chilton, the first managing director of HSA. Jodie, 17, a member of Elstead Tennis Club, is currently ranked second in Great Britain at U18 level and 18th in the world. She played at both the French Open and Wimbledon juniors in 2016.

Johnny Thompson – the middle brother, aged 14, races in the 420 dinghy class and was the youngest member of the Great Britain youth team competing in the World Championships in Italy and the European Championships at Lake Balaton.

Luke van Outsthoorn – Luke’s third bursary and, at 14, he is involved in a variety of sports: English Schools 1500m champion for junior boys; national biatholon champion at U14 level; national modern triathlon champion at U15 and ranked first and third respectively in the U15 3000m and 1500m.

Oliver Nicholson – 16-year-old athlete with Aldershot, Farnham & District AC and lives in Haslemere. He specialises in sprinting and is ranked just outside the national top 100 in both 100m and 200m at U17 level – the age group in which he will compete again next year. Recently broke two records in the 100 and 200m at Bohunt School – records which had stood for over 20 years.

Rebecca Swift – a first bursary for Rebecca who is a member of Wey Kayak Club, specialising in kayak sprint and marathon. She became a double champion at the last national sprint events and came second and fourth respectively in the U14 marathon event.

Ross Thompson – at 16, the oldest brother. He also races in the 420 class and was selected for the GB youth team for the World Championships in San Remo in Italy and also went to the European Championships at Lake Balaton.

George Houghton – attached to the Kingsley Tennis Centre, he is ranked number one at U18 level in Hampshire and took part in the summer County Cup, winning all six of his matches. His ambition is to be in the UK men’s top 10 within the next five years. His first bursary.

Rosie Forster – Rosie is 17 and won a hockey scholarship to Cranleigh School. Formerly of Haslemere HC, she plays for Trojans Hockey Club in Southampton and is one of the top 24 goalkeepers in England at U18 level. Hopes to make her National League debut for Trojans this year.