On Thursday 6th November, the Hull Daily Mail Sporting Champions Awards took place, with sporting fans from across the city coming together to celebrate some of the best, most hard-working and most deserving athletes around.
Matt Clarkson with the Kingston Kestrels
As announced a couple of weeks ago, one of the three finalists for the Disabled Athlete of the Year was our own Matt Clarkson, who was competing against two players from the East Riding Electric Eels, a powerchair football team.
While we obviously agree that Kizzy Blue Wade and Kai Gill from the Eels are fantastic athletes, everyone involved with sledge hockey was rooting for Matt to win. The commitment and dedication he has shown to both the Kingston Kestrels and to the GB team made him our firm favourite. Sure enough, towards the end of the evening, it was Matt standing up on the stage receiving the award.
Disabled Athlete of the Year
But no matter how proud everyone from the BSHA and the Kestrels were, Matt was even more pleased with the result.
It’s an honour to have been awarded Disabled Athlete of the Year award from the Hull Daily Mail, sponsored by Spire Hull and East Yorkshire Hospital. Not only is great to be recognised for my personal sporting achievements but also to have sledge hockey recognised at a Hull and East Yorkshire wide event.
We’re sure that the new trophy will take pride of place with Matt, and will hopefully soon be accompanied by a medal from the IPC World Championships!
