Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards celebrate sporting heroes
Bedford Borough Council is thrilled to announce the resounding success of the 30th annual Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards. Held on Monday, 8 December 2025, at the Bedford Corn Exchange, the ceremony celebrated the outstanding achievements of individuals, teams, and organisations across the borough.
With 125 nominations and more than 500 guests in attendance, the evening showcased the incredible depth and breadth of sporting talent within Bedford Borough. The awards recognised a diverse range of accomplishments, from elite athletes to dedicated volunteers and inspiring community initiatives.
Winner of the 2025 Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards
Club of the Year
(Sponsored by Be Active)
Star Rowing Club
This year Star Rowing Club qualified a men’s eight and a junior quad into Henley Royal Regatta (the world’s most prestigious and famous rowing event) and a single and a four into Henley Women’s Regatta. The junior squad also won a bronze medal at National Schools regatta in the championship single (the largest junior regatta in Great Britain). Alongside this Bedford Star Club achieved four wins at Henley Masters Regatta and delivered an outstanding performance at the World Masters Regatta in Banyoles, Spain, earning 55 individual medals.
Community Club / Group Award
(Sponsored by Better, Bedford Leisure Facilities)
Bedford MS Therapy Centre – Neuro-Physical Exercise
The MS Therapy Centre for Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire delivers over 1,000 sessions each year to help people with Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s stay active, strong, and independent. With more than 2,200 people locally affected, the Centre’s tailored strength, cardio, and group classes, from Pilates to Boxercise, which help delay symptoms and support people to remain in work and live independently for longer. Every move is guided by neuro-physiotherapy experts, helping individuals build strength, confidence, and hope through movement. Accessibility underpins every session, with adapted equipment and expert instructors ensuring all can participate at their own pace.
Primary School of the Year
(Sponsored by Times Tables Rock Stars)
Livingstone Primary School
Every pupil at Livingstone enjoys at least 30 minutes of daily activity through clubs, forest school, SSCO/SEND events and Sports Leader-led sessions. Active breaks re-engaging less active pupils, while participation is tracked to ensure full inclusion and offers opportunities for all. A mix of staff, visiting coaches and sixth form students keeps provision exciting and diverse throughout the year and continues to expand in both lessons and at break times. Pupils develop skills, confidence and a love of movement that lasts well beyond the school day, helping to develop a healthy lifestyle.
Secondary School of the Year
(Sponsored by YouthTV)
Bedford Academy
Bedford Academy offers an extensive PE curriculum that encourages every student to participate in a wide range of sports, including basketball, football, racket sports, netball, athletics, and dance. Pupils benefit from high-quality facilities and enrichment clubs before and after school. The Sixth Form Sports Academies in basketball, football, and dance provide elite-level training alongside academic study, ensuring students experience the balance of performance and education. The school’s inclusive ethos ensures opportunities for all abilities, promoting physical literacy, teamwork, and personal growth through regular participation in district and national competitions.
Young Volunteer of the Year
(Sponsored by Bedford Physical Education Old Students Association)
Bodie Christison – Multi Sports
Bodie has spent many of his school holidays (including full weeks) volunteering for Edusports in addition to regular Friday nights throughout the past couple of years. He has helped to lead and progress in a number of different sports from paddlesport, where he is a qualified instructor, to climbing, shooting and archery amongst many others. Bodie has been committed to building his own standard within the sessions he helps to lead and is constantly asking questions to help himself progress further, as well as looking for opportunities to help him get out and lead.
Young Volunteer of the Year – Special Commendation
Jasamine Bailey – Multi Sports
Jasamine has volunteered with Fun 4 Young People (F4YP) for over 12 months, initially as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award and continuing beyond her required hours. She has supported three terms of Multi Arts sessions and a five-day Multi Sports session in the summer holiday club, contributing consistently to a wide range of activities, from sports, dance and art to general youth support. Jasamine has developed leadership, communication, and teamwork skills through hands-on experience in youth work. She has grown in her ability to engage participants independently and respond to their needs.
Young Volunteer of the Year – Special Commendation
Jessica Leach – Hockey
Starting in September 2024 Jessica undertook the role of Junior Coach coaching the Under 8s on Sunday morning at Bedford Hockey Club. Having nearly 30 children attend, Jessica took a small group of 10 children and taught them advance skills and how to play in a team. Jessica took her group to two tournaments of which they won one and came 2nd in the other, a great achievement for the group, many of which had been total beginners at the start of the year. Jessica having played senior hockey for Bedford Ladies 6 team and has a desire to continue coaching and to gain her coaching qualifications.
Junior Disability Sports Personality of the Year
(Sponsored by Gales Family Charity Trust)
Tammy Harrison – Wheelchair Racing
Tammy has cerebral palsy, since a baby she has dealt with permanent movement disorders, including poor coordination and strength. Tammy joined Bedford Wheelchair Racing Club and has been an active and valuable member promoting not just wheelchair racing but disability sport up and down the country. Tammy is an integral part of the Paralympics Equal Play campaign which calls for no child to be left on the sideline. Involved in the Channel 4 documentary Tammy discovered the transformative power of sport, and fight against exclusion from sport and physical education at school because of disability. Invited to the Paralympics, taking part in the National Lottery Big Bash show and several media interviews with the BBC and Sky TV Tammy has always promoted her sport and how positive it is on health and wellbeing.
Junior Personality of the Year
(Sponsored by Rotary Club of Bedford Park)
Rory Luddington – Sailing
Rory, aged 12, represented Team GBR sailing an Optimist Dinghy (GBR 6677) in Brest, France during the summer. He has also competed in numerous international regattas in both the UK and overseas, including Italy and the Netherlands. In May he represented the East of England Sailing Optimists in the National Team racing in Oxford. In July his school honoured him with the Outstanding Performance Award which is awarded each year to just one pupil across the whole school, which has more than 1,000 students. Sailing whilst living in Bedford requires a high degree of commitment, however, Rory is still competing in a variety of top level international regattas against some of the best young sailors in the world.
Junior Personality of the Year – Special Commendation
Lois Fordham – Pole Vault
Over the past year, Lois Fordham has delivered an exceptional season in pole vault, cementing her status as one of the UK’s top young athletes. Starting the year with a personal best of 3.01m, Lois went on to achieve a new lifetime best of 3.20m at the English Schools Championships, where she won the bronze medal competing for the Bedfordshire Schools team. This result placed her 3rd in the UK rankings for U15 girls in 2025. Lois now boasts the titles of, Eastern Indoor Champion (U15), Eastern Outdoor Champion (U15, U17 and Senior Women) and County Champion. She also retained her club record at the Bedford and County Athletics Club.
Team of the Year
(Sponsored by the University of Bedfordshire)
Bedford Ladies Tug of War Team
In June, Bedford Ladies Tug of War Team competed at the National Championships in Tonbridge where they won 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal across four weight classes and won the AAA Championships held in Cumbria. In July they attended the British and Irish Championships in Armagh, Northern Ireland, bringing home five gold medals (three as Bedford Ladies and two as England Ladies). Finally in August Bedford Ladies Tug of War Team were the National League Champions across all four weight classes (500kg, 520kg, 540kg, 560kg). Their season climaxed with the team competing at the World Championships in Nottingham, the ladies went on to win a silver medal in the open competition and bronze medal as England Ladies in the closed competition.
Coach of the Year
(Sponsored by the Bedford College Group)
Darren Kerr – Hammer
Darren’s areas of coaching expertise are throwing events and specialist movement, educating athletes and others in efficient movement. He has helped and coaches members of the Bedford and County Athletics Club to achieve their goals; in Hammer and Weight throwing , he has coached many athletes to a very high standard including Glen Kerr ranked 7th in World Men’s 50–55 rankings, receiving a bronze medal in the European M50 Championships, unbeaten in UK in his age group. He not only coaches his own group of seven-eight athletes, but also supports other coaches and athletes with advice and technical support. In his professional life, as a “wonkiologist”, he works with people from grass roots to elite athletes teaching them efficient movement patterns and injury prevention and rehabilitation using movement analysis and education.
Coach of the Year – Special Commendation
Simon Eastwood – Pole Vault
Simon is a volunteer Level 4 Performance Coach in Pole Vault, part of the National Coach Mentoring Scheme and a coach at Bedford and County Athletics Club. In 2025 he coached a squad of twelve athletes all Nationally Ranked in their age groups including some World and European Champions: Simon coaches for six-eight hours per week throughout the year as a volunteer coach. He travels to competitions across the UK summer and winter and Mentors three coaches at other clubs. At competitions Simon is often asked for advice by other coaches and asked to advise athletes whose coaches are not present. Simon is already a Level 4 Performance Coach (the top level) in Pole Vault, but to ensure he is up to date with the latest developments and current thinking he uses the internet and has group discussions with other elite coaches.
Community Person Award
(Sponsored by Bedford Sports Foundation)
John Paul Smith – Boxing
John Paul, known as JP, founded Boxing Saves Lives after witnessing first-hand how many boys and young men were struggling with mental health, confidence, and vulnerability to exploitation. He built a safe, trauma-informed environment where those who once felt overlooked now have a voice and a place to belong. JP’s resilience, compassion, and lived experience help young people overcome barriers that previously held them back. His personal commitment to supporting those most at risk has transformed countless lives. JP delivers structured, high-quality boxing and wellbeing sessions in more than twenty schools every week. His dedication extends far beyond sport — he mentors, checks in on mental health, supports families, and works closely with teachers and safeguarding teams to ensure every young person receives the care and stability they need.
Community Person Award – Special Commendation
Shapna Khanam – Multi Sports
Shapna has made a remarkable impact in Bedford by breaking down barriers to participation in sport and physical activity, particularly among underrepresented and culturally diverse groups. She leads female-only walks, hikes, squash, badminton, and running sessions, engaging hundreds of women — including over 350 in badminton and 50 in squash. As a Badminton England No Strings Coordinator, she runs sessions with Bedford Borough Council and GLL Better, and introduced the 10 Million Step Challenge, motivating participants to walk 7,000 steps a day for 60 days. Her Ready Steady Ride initiative and the Bedford Health Fair have involved more than 300 young people in inclusive sports activities that inspire active, healthier lifestyles.
Unsung Hero
(Sponsored by the Harpur Trust)
Mike Canning – Running
Mike Canning is a dedicated volunteer who supports a wide range of Bedford sporting events. His roles include course marshalling, participant support, start and finish line duties, registration, safety guidance, and general event operations. Since moving to Bedford in 2012, he has been a constant presence at events such as the Bedford Run Festival, Bedford Triathlon, parkrun, Bedford River Festival Regatta, Bedford Harriers races, Big Cow Sports events, and Race for Life. He also volunteers at major national events, including the London Marathon and the Royal Parks Half, supporting charities such as Macmillan and the MND Association.
Adult Disability Sports Personality of the Year
(Sponsored by the Manor Hospital, part of the Circle Health Group)
Christopher Bradley – Dressage
Chris has a very rare chromosome disorder, along with an associated learning disability and autism. He was non-verbal until the age of seven, and verbal communication remains challenging. His first words were spoken to a pony, and from that moment horses have been his main focus in life. Despite undergoing surgery for a life-threatening bowel tumour at age 19 and facing a long recovery, Chris insisted on caring for his horse as much as he possibly could. In 2025, the GB team won the inaugural Virtus Para Dressage World Championships — and Chris achieved two individual gold medals with his horse, Harley.
Adult Personality of the Year
(Sponsored by Jewson Partnership Solutions)
Margaret Cotter – Swimming
Margaret began swimming after undergoing two transplants, and she has since become an outstanding competitor and advocate for organ donation. This year, she won the 50m Backstroke and 100m Backstroke at the East Region Masters in the 60–69 age category. At the 2025 British Transplant Games, she claimed Gold in the 50m Backstroke and earned Bronze medals in the 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, and 200m Freestyle in the Women’s 60–69 category. Her success continued on the world stage: at the 2025 World Transplant Games, Margaret won Silver in the 100m Backstroke and Bronze in the 50m Backstroke. Margaret uses her swimming achievements as a platform to raise awareness of organ donation and highlight the life-changing impact it can have on others.
Adult Personality of the Year – Special Commendation
Ben Howard – Rowing
Ben broke into the top thirty at the first GB Early ID Trials, and by April he had climbed to 9th overall at the National Trials, an exceptional achievement that reflects his relentless work ethic and trust in the process. In the weeks that followed, Ben continued to excel, winning at Bedford Regatta in the quad and securing further victories at Star Rowing Club in both the quad and the single. He capped off this remarkable run with a bronze medal in the Championship Single Sculls at the National Schools’ Regatta; the first Championship medal for Star Rowing Club in many years. This historic result highlights Ben’s outstanding talent, resilience, and determination.
Service to Sport
(Sponsored by Bedford Borough Council)
Howard Darbon – Multi Sports
Howard has devoted his entire life to sport. At school, he represented his teams in five different sports, showing early versatility and passion. He went on to represent the AFA League in football on several occasions and competed in cross country for the Territorial Army. As a member of Shaftesbury Harriers, he earned numerous medals. Moving to Bedford in 1977, Howard competed for Bedford and County Athletic Club veterans and was selected to run for the England cross country team. He competed in three World Track championships, gaining a bronze medal in Melbourne. In 2017, Howard founded Bedford Wheelchair Racing, a dedicated section within Bedford and County Athletic Club. His leadership has since attracted more than £40,000 in funding, helping to transform opportunities for wheelchair athletes and making a profound and lasting difference in people’s lives.
Last year's nominees
Please download the 2025 Bedford Sports and Physical Activity Awards programme (PDF) for the full list of 2025 nominees.