We are thrilled to announce that the Grove has 4 finalists in the Bradford Sports Awards 2020:

Category: Young Female Sportsperson (under 18)

This award recognises and celebrates the accomplishments of young sportspersons in or from Bradford who have achieved significant success at county, regional, national or international level or in the context of their own achievements.

Finalist: Maisey Bellwood, Year 7

Maisey is an incredibly talented athlete with an amazing racing brain and a determined attitude.  She won the Year 6 National Primary Schools Cross-country Final (23^rd March 2019) and is currently reigning champion for the English Schools Cross-country Cup (7^th December 2019) and English Schools Fell Running Championships (23^rd September 2019) the latter two despite being a Year 7 (the younger of the two years) in the Under 13 age group.  Her tactical nous in the recent Cross-country Cup final saw her move through the top end of the field as the race progressed before kicking past the leader in the last 200m opening up a comfortable two second cushion over the final 150m.

Maisey is undefeated in the Leeds Schools League Cross-country this season and outside school in the earlier PECO League Cross-country races (January to March).  She has spearheaded the school’s first visit to the ESAA Cross-country Cup National Finals and because of her excellent results has enabled a team of girls to compete at the National Level, which they have not reached before.

Locally, in the West Yorkshire Cross-country League, Maisey won the overall title finishing first by 35 seconds, second by one second and first by 22 seconds in her three chosen races (missing the final race due to the English Schools XC Cup).  This sort of dominance is a regular occurrence for Maisey who won the Regional Round of the Cross-country Cup (for school) beating the next runner by 28 seconds.

With all this success Maisey has remained mature, quiet and personable with great humility.  She is one of the brightest running talents we have had.

Finalist: Hermione Roe, Year 10

Hermione is an athlete who has demonstrated an outstanding amount of dedication and determination in her sport. She had an unbelievable summer of racing in 2019, starting with a two week training camp in Stockport, followed by British camps in Glasgow for a week and then on to Sheffield for the Summer Nationals.

She won double Gold to be crowned British Champion at the 2019 British Swimming Championships in Tollcross, Glasgow. Hermione won the women’s category in the 50m breaststroke in a time of 33:75 and the 100m breaststroke in a time of 1:12:84.

She then travelled to Ponds Forge in Sheffield to compete in the 2019 Swim England Summer Meet, where she again won double Gold in the 200m freestyle (2:08:17) and 400m freestyle (4:28:55) to be crowned English National Champion in the Age 14 categories. She also received a silver medal in the 50m freestyle (27:64).

At the Senior Winter Nationals in December, Hermione was ranked the 49th Senior in the UK in the 200m breaststroke and the 39th Senior in the UK in the 100m breaststroke.

Hermione has been selected to be part of the England talent camps and also to represent the NE of England Schools in March. She has so far gained 3 senior Olympic qualification times for the 50, 100 and 200m breaststroke and will participate in the Olympic trials in the Olympic Park Pool, London in April. This is a swimmer with a very bright future ahead of her.

Category: Student Sport – Club/Team

This awards recognises and celebrates the accomplishments of student clubs/teams in or from Bradford. Nominees will have achieved significant success at county, regional, national or international level or in the context of their own achievements.

Finalist: WGS Junior Girls Cross-Country (Georgina Rayner (Captain) Y8, Maisey Bellwood Y7, Mabel Walker Y8, Eilidh Molloy Y8, Grace Ross Y8, Phoebe Turner Y8) 

The talented young ladies that make up the Junior Girls’ Cross Country team have seen their dedication awarded with a great deal of success this year. They were the top Northern school in their age category in the English Schools Athletics Association’s Cross Country Cup, coming in 7^th position. They came first by a very convincing margin in both the regional and West Yorkshire rounds of this competition. The team are also undefeated in the local schools’ cross country league races this year – and they were the local league winners for the 2018 – 2019 season.

Crucially, these girls have a superb attitude when it comes to training – they are supportive of one another, resilient in the face of injury, and committed and enthusiastic in tough race conditions. Despite their great success, they’re also modest. The girls make both training and racing fun – whilst they take the sport seriously, they strike the perfect balance by not taking themselves too seriously. It is no surprise, then, that they have played an active role in inspiring their peers to take part in the sport too.

In an age where women and girls still run shorter distances than boys and men in some of the major national cross country races, these girls have shown that – with determination and teamwork – they can subvert the persisting limitations of history. Whether faced with mud, rain, flooding rivers or even snow, this team prove that that ‘running like a girl’ is an aspiration, not a reproach.

Category: Outstanding Achievement – Teacher

This award recognises and celebrates the accomplishments of teachers in or from Bradford.

Finalist: Mr Ian Frost

A teacher at Woodhouse Grove for over 34 years, Ian’s role encompassed many sports and pupil age groups. Within PE, his depth of knowledge and excellence are typified by his approach to gymnastics where all abilities are encouraged to explore and develop a wide range of skills and experiences. For a number of years, Ian had responsibility for Boys PE.

Ian has been instrumental in the development of the U12 rugby teams. His enthusiasm and energy are exemplary, teams are developed successfully, and include county, regional and even international players (including James Whitcombe, Paul Sampson and Ellie Kildunne).

Cricket is where the greatest impact of Ian’s commitment has been felt. Solid foundations are laid with a thorough winter coaching programme and players are well prepared for a competitive fixtures programme, including domestic and international tours. The school annually features in the Cricketer Magazine’s Top 100 Schools. In 2013 the Grove became National T20 Champions. This and the achievements of Ajmal Shahzad, Dylan Budge and Andrew Bairstow are a testament to Ian’s skills.

From 1992 Ian has been a selector for and Team Manager of Yorkshire Senior Schools Cricket. Until recently he also did his utmost to sustain a Bradford Schools Cricket Association.

Ian has given immeasurable time and commitment, to Woodhouse Grove, Bradford Schools and Yorkshire Schools. Despite recent serious illness his dedication remains undiminished. Quite simply, no one could have done more.

A list of all finalists can be found here.

The Bradford Sports Awards 2020 will take place at the Utilita Stadium on Thursday 12th March.

Good luck to all our amazing finalists.

I am my unlocked potential.

I am Grovian.