Hetherington and Pickles honoured at Leeds Sports Awards

James Simpson MBE the coach of Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair Rugby League and previous Rhinos and England player, has been awarded the Sporting Pride of Leeds Award at the 22^ND Leeds Sports Awards ceremony.

The award is presented to an individual, club or organisation that has raised the profile of the city as a centre of sporting excellence. James, a World Cup winner in 2022, follows some illustrious previous recipients including the Brownlee Brothers MBE’s, Josh Warrington and Rob Burrow CBE.

Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to Gary Hetherington, the Leeds Rhinos CEO, and who has recently announced he is leaving the Rhinos, and a posthumous award to former Rhinos scout Bob Pickles who discovered some of the best players to play for the club.

Also receiving a Special Contribution Award was Joan Young who has done so much to support netball across the city.

The unsung heroes, the sports volunteers, were celebrated with Fiona Croft and Becky Simmonds as winners for their voluntary fundraising work for City of Leeds Diving, and Dr Ian Richards who has volunteered for over 35 years locally, nationally and internationally, supporting athletics, and in particular race walking.

The Community Club winner was Crossgates Harriers with a highly commended to Methley Athletic AFC, both clubs doing so much to support sport in their communities.

Leeds City Councillor Salma Arif, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Active Lifestyles and Culture commented

One of the highlights of the sporting calendar. It’s a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of the sporting community from across the city, from Leeds United and Olympians and Paralympians to the community heroes, all celebrated on the same stage.

The awards organised by Sport Leeds and Leeds City Council were held for the first time at the Carriageworks Theatre.

The full list of award winners are:

Athletes of the City 

Young Sportsperson (sponsored by Technogym)

Winner 

Yaried Alem

Highly Commended

Matilda Potter            

Amy Wright                 

Young Disability Sportsperson (Sponsored by Technogym)

Winner

Oliver Porter      

Highly Commended

Lucas Town                       

Sportsperson (Sponsored by Technogym)

Winner 

Tom Pidcock OBE

Katy Marchant MBE

Georgie Brayshaw MBE

Disability Sportsperson (Sponsored by Technogym) 

Winner                

Hannah Cockroft CBE DL

Kadeena Cox OBE

Beacons of the City

School Achievement (Sponsored by YPO Sports)

Winner

St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School

Highly Commended

Dave Curtis        

Community Coach (Sponsored by Evans Homes)

Winner

Charlotte Williams

Highly Commended

Elaine Brown & Pete Makowski

Community Club (Sponsored by Evans Homes)

Winner

Crossgate Harriers

Highly Commended

Methley United AFC

Student Sport Champion (Sponsored by Leeds Trintiy University)

Winner                

Max Burgin

Highly Commended

Luke Whitehouse

Outstanding Sports Volunteer (Sponsored by Rosterfly)

Winner

Dr Ian Richards

Fiona Croft and Becky Simmonds

Champions of the City

Inspirational Community Champion (Sponsored by University of Leeds)

Winner

Come Outside – Jovanni Sterling and Rob Lattibeaudiere

Highly Commended

Anthony Hall

Performance Coach (Sponsored by Yorkshire Sport Foundation)

Winner

Dave Murray

Highly Commended

Adam Smallwood

Rhys Davey

Paul Moseley

Performance Club (Sponsored by Weetwood Hall Hotel)

Winner

City of Leeds Diving Club

Highly Commended

Leeds Gymnastics Club

Sustainability Champion (Sponsored by Zoggs)

Winner

K.E.E.P

Highly Commended

Yorkshire Cricket Foundation

Sporting Pride of Leeds (sponsored by First Direct Bank Arena)

Winner

James Simpson MBE

Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Leeds City Council)

Winner

Gary Hetherington

Posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsored by Leeds City Council)

Winner

Bob Pickles

Special Contribution (Sponsored by Leeds City Council)

Winner

Joan Young