Thame’s ‘Young Achievers’ recognised

THE talents and achievements of young people from all over South Oxfordshire have been recognised at a special Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday (Feb 22), including three swimmers, and a squash player – all from Thame clubs, and an athlete from near-by Great Haseley.

Ex Mayor of Thame, Jeanette Matelot Green, who is the current Vice Chair of South Oxfordshire District Council, handed out the awards on the stage at Didcot Civic Hall.

Ben Williams from Thame received a Sport award for his achievements in Swimming. For the last three years, Ben has been Boys Captain for Thame Swimming Club. In this capacity he has encouraged and helped the younger swimmers at the galas attended by the swimming club. Ben’s achievements this year have included Oxford & North Bucks County Championships reaching several finals, South East Regional Youth Championships, Welsh Nationals reaching three finals and South East Winter Open Regional Championships.

Ben was described as a well motivated and hard working young man who is an incredible example to others.

Elliot Riley-Brown from Thame receives a Sport award also for his achievements in Swimming. In 2016 Elliot competed in the ONB County Championships and qualified for the South East Regional Championships.

The third Thame swimmer to receive an award was Marcus Birmingham who also swims for Thame swimming club and is the Boys Vice Captain. In 2016 Marcus swam in the Oxford and North Bucks County Swimming Championships making it his fifth consecutive year of competing. He recently qualified as a Level 1 Swim Coach and Swim Teacher.

Ben Hedger from Chinnor received a Sport award for his achievements in Squash. Ben has been playing squash since he was very young and has won every county age group, each year, since he was 11 years-old. This year Ben won the Under 19s category in the Oxfordshire Junior County Championships and the Under 19s South Regional Championships. He is now coaching the juniors and adults at his club, Racquets in Thame, as well as representing the Oxfordshire Senior Men’s teams.

Ben’s coach, Sue Martin Downhill, reported that she is expecting great things of Ben in 2017.

Jack Spencer from Great Haseley, near Thame, received a sport award for his achievements in Athletics. Jack competed in the Oxfordshire Track & Field County Championships in the maximum six events, winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and long jump, plus a silver in shot and a fourth place in Javelin. Those performances meant he was selected to represent Oxfordshire in the Southern Counties Track & Field championships reaching finals where he faced mostly older boys.

Jack also represented his club at the Southern Inter-counties combined events Championship, where he won a silver medal. Jack’s coach reported that he is a great ambassador for his club, polite, friendly and out-going; he is popular amongst his peers, supportive of his rivals, and always appreciative of volunteers.

As well as their awards, each of the 46 young people recognised received £250.