SPORTING achievements from around the county were celebrated as the winners of the Active Essex sports awards were announced.

The inspiring ceremony saw double Olympic gymnastics champion, Max Whitlock, present the awards to those who have made an outstanding contribution to sport over the past 12 months.

Freya Levy, 22, from Rochford, won disabled sports personality of year, having won medals in three different sports internationally, the talented sportswoman is a member of the UK and England Rugby Sevens team and part of this year’s para ice hockey world cup in Czech Republic.

 

She has also competed several times in the U-25 European women’s wheelchair basketball championship, winning silver and gold medals.

Freya said: “It’s an amazing feeling to be crowned disabled sports personality of the Year, particularly as it was based on a public vote.

“It means the world to me to be recognised by my local community for the sports that I love and I hope it inspired more people to get involved with inclusive sport.”

 

Sport for Confidence, in partnership with Basildon Sporting Village, scooped up to award for services to inclusive sport, for working with individuals with a range of special abilities from autism to dementia.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince William and Kate, even paid a visit to Basildon Sporting Village recently, and got stuck in playing sports with the youngsters using Sport for Confidence services.

Its engagement has grown by a staggering 167 per cent in the last year and is now delivering more than 1,000 interventions every month at four mainstream leisure venues across the country.

 

Lyndsey Barrett, co-founder of Sport for Confidence, said: “We are very proud to have been awarded services to inclusive sport and to be up against organisations such as Motivated Minds who are also doing incredible work in Essex.

“We believe that sport and physical activity can be for all, regardless of what barriers someone may face, there is an opportunity for everybody to get active.”

Max Whitlock, who has picked up several Active Essex awards over the years, said: “It was great to be part of another fantastic night of deserved recognition for Essex’s favourite sporting stars.

 

“I know first-hand just how much it means to receive such fantastic acknowledgement for all your hard work and effort at events like these.

“It is very important to celebrate all aspects of sport and physical activity across our county, and I’d like to congratulate all the winners and finalists. Here’s to another 12 months of well-deserved success, at both a grassroots and professional stage.”

Sports Personality of the Year went to England netball captain, Jo Harten, from Harlow.