AN Olympic gymnast has helped to inspire elite young athletes at a ceremony to recognise their outstanding sporting achievements.
Commonwealth gold medallist and Olympic finalist Craig Heap was guest of honour at the 29th Hambleton and Richmondshire Schools’ Sports Awards, held at Risedale Sports and Community College, Hipswell, Catterick.
The awards, part of the North Yorkshire and York Schools Sports Association, celebrated the success of sport at county level of students from 12 schools across the region.
These included Risedale Sports and Community College, Northallerton School and Sixth Form College, Richmond School and Sixth Form College, Aysgarth School, Bedale High School, Cundall Manor School, Thirsk School and Sixth Form College, Stokesley School, Easingwold School, Wensleydale School and Sixth Form College, Queen Mary’s School and St Francis Xavier.
Speaking to the young sports stars, Mr Heap explained how his mother’s disappointment at not being able to play tennis professionally had spurred him on.
“The best bit of advice I ever got was from my mum,” he said.
“Her parents hadn’t allowed her to pursue her dream of playing tennis so when I was 21 and selected to train with the Great British Gymnastic Team, she told me ‘If you want to do something just do it – don’t have any regrets’.
“That was something that stuck with me always, even when there were times that I felt like giving up. It spurred me on to captain England to team gold at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and it was that advice which helped make my Olympic dream come true with a personal best in 2000.”
Mr Heap, who has fronted a Sky Sports Living campaign as a mentor for young people and appeared as a judge on BBC’s Tumble, also shared his story on how discovering gymnastics led him to an international sporting career.
Certificates were presented to all students who had represented North Yorkshire at county level over the past 12 months in football, athletics, cricket, cross-country, hockey and rugby.
Chairman of the Hambleton and Richmondshire Schools’ Sports Association and associate principal of Risedale Sports and Community College John Kelly said: “It is a privilege to be able to host this event which celebrates the sporting success and talent of a significant number of young people in this part of North Yorkshire.
“It is a great achievement to be selected from such a wide range of schools to represent an area that has so much talent and I would like to congratulate all our young athletes and hope that this is a step towards a lifetime of participation and striving for personal bests.”
