Swimming: Cook makes a big splash

Mar 11 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

CITY of Newcastle swimmer Chris Cook was named Newcastle Sports Personality of the Year at Sport Newcastle’s annual awards dinner last night.

The three-times gold medal winner at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne will be one of Great Britain’s medal hopes at the Beijing Olympics in September, where he will compete in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke.

The 28-year-old, who began swimming competitively at South Tyneside Swimming Club when he was still at primary school, succeeds Paralympic champion Stephen Miller – who shared the award with his mum and coach Ros – as the city’s sports personality of the year.

Sport Newcastle also gave rising star awards to exciting sporting prospects Niall Flannery, Emma Lonsdale, Will Welch, Devon Anderson, Richard Lawson, Ira Banerjee, Ashleigh Holland, Grace Dixon, Bethanie Gardner, Ruth Davison, Holly Laws, Aaron Swales, Valentin Kokorin and Kazenga LuaLua.

Cook’s coach Ian Oliver also picked up the Wilkinson Sword award for services to North East Sport.

Durham County Cricket Club were the obvious choices for the Frank Brennan Trophy following their Friends Provident Trophy final victory over Hampshire at Lord’s last August. It was the county’s first trophy since their elevation to the County Championship.

Geoff Cook’s side also finished second in the County Championship and won promotion to the First Division of the Pro40 League.

The Stan Calvert award for coaching went to Newcastle Vipers’ head coach Rob Wilson.

The Young Sports Star North East award was given to exciting Newcastle Eagles basketball prospect Aaron Neilsen following his displays for the first-team squad this season.