Boxer lifts North's own trophy after Beijing
Dec 9 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal
WEARSIDE boxer Tony Jeffries was declared Sports Personality of the Year at the North East Sports Awards.
Tony ended an outstanding year by scooping the top gong after winning Olympic bronze in the summer’s Beijing Games.
Previous winners include Jonny Wilkinson, Paul Collingwood and Jonathan Edwards.
But Tony won the prize after a career in which he has won five European medals, nine multi-nation medals and after he became Sunderland’s first Olympic medallist.
The Disabled Sports Person of the Year award went to the North East medallists of ParalympicGB – Terry Bywater, Stephen Miller, Hazel Simpson and Fran Williamson.
Paralympic club thrower Stephen Miller also went away with the Performance of the Year award, and Durham County Cricket Club coach Geoff Cook was crowned Coach of the Year.
Meanwhile, Roger Tames was commended with the Ralph Hindle Memorial, Support to Sport award.
The winner of the BBC North East Sports Unsung Hero Award, Guy Fawkes, head coach at Billingham Amateur Swimming Club, was also announced at the ceremony. Judith Rasmussen, regional director for Sport England North East, said: “Once again it’s been a fantastic sporting year in the North East.
“It was a privilege to celebrate the tremendous achievements of some amazing people, from those behind the scenes of grass root sports to world champions.”
