Top award for Mr Gillett – Active Waveney Sports Awards 2015

clint

Active Waveney Sports Awards 2015

Long Service Award – Clinton Gillett (martial arts)

Eight trophies were presented at the 18th annual Active Waveney Sports Awards held at Rookery Park Golf Club, in Carlton Colville and Clinton Gillett was delighted to be amongst those receiving an award.

Leading sportsmen and sportswomen, clubs and volunteers were all singled out at the event, organised by Waveney District Council and supported by Sentinel Leisure Trust, the Active Waveney Sports Partnership, Waveney Sportsability and The Journal.

Giving the opening speech, Lowestoft mayor Stephen Ardley said: “Once again this was another difficult year for the judging panel, with a number of very worthy entries.  “Congratulations to all of our winners this evening. It’s important not to forget the huge numbers of coaches, teachers and parents who make successes like these possible.”

The presentation of awards was made by Lowestoft Rising change manager Phil Aves, with the trophies handed out by Mr Ardley and fellow judges Michael Ladd, Waveney district councillor, John Pawsey, from the Active Waveney Sports Partnership, and Waveney Sportsability chairman Rachel Baylis.

The winners will all be automatically entered into the Suffolk Sport Awards later this year.  Mr Aves said: “I just think when we hear about the talent we have got here in Waveney, and the success that these winners are having, it is amazing.  “The awards have shown appreciation for these successes, highlighting how they have done a great job in these sports.

clint2

Long Service Award – Clinton Gillett (martial arts)

Clinton’s passion for sporting activity started as a result of his Perthes Disease, which meant that from the age of four until he was about eight he could not walk and was in callipers, plaster casts and a wheelchair.

Despite this start, he achieved his first black belt in Karate aged 16 and won several national trophies, also representing his school in rugby, football, badminton and cricket. 

He won a silver medal in the 2000 World Taekwondo Championships held in Italy and continues to participate as a veteran recently winning Gold and Bronze at the UITF British Open.  

He has just gained his 5th Degree and to date has brought up 31 black belts, 2 of which now run Beccles Taekwondo Club. 

Clinton has been training and competing for 31 years alongside running a hugely successful community club at Bungay High School for the last 12 years.

Clinton took along Liam and Christian Everett to do a demonstration at the presentation which organisers and spectators said was the best they have had in the 18 years of the awards, it was great to see that press coverage in all the local papers focused on photos of the display which included; patterns, destruction, sparring and self-defence.