Two winners from the Suffolk Sports Awards are shortlisted for the BBC East Sports Awards

All relevant winners from the Suffolk Sports Awards 2009 were nominated for the BBC East Sports Awards, which are taking place early next month in Newmarket.

Connor Carter, winner of Young Suffolk’s Young Community Volunteer of the Year Award at the Suffolk Sports Awards 2009, has been short listed in the East Region for the same Award Category. The fifteen-year-old has given countless voluntary hours to Volleyball in Suffolk, the vast majority of time Connor has been officiating in the National League for Stowmarket Volleyball Club, after becoming a qualified referee. Connor’s ability and confidence is often complimented on by experienced Referees from Volleyball England and the Suffolk Volleyball Association, after going a step further to organise a successful grant bid for the area and assist with the ‘Get Back Into…Volleyball’ Programme in Stowmarket.

Winner of the Larking Gowen Young Sports Personality of the Year Award at the Suffolk Sports Awards, Tom Barber has also been shortlisted for the BBC East Awards. Initially winning Young Sports Personality at the Active Waveney Sports Awards, Tom really hit the spotlight in 2008 after winning the UK Senior Indoor National Championships and going on to finish 13th in the European Indoor Champions.

Representing Great Britain, Tom went on to prove himself to the World, achieving 24th place in the Senior World Cup in France. Following Tom’s victorious season, he was selected as a reserve for the GB Olympic Archery Team and attended Beijing as part of the British Olympic 2012 Ambition Programme…and consequently being invited to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the year show.

Tom’s achievements didn’t stop there, earlier this year he was awarded the British Olympic Association 2008 Athlete of the Year, for Archery and went on to finish 9th at the Indoor World junior Championships in Poland.

Unfortunately we had a couple more candidates narrowly miss out on being shortlisted for the BBC East Sports Awards but Suffolk Sport wishes Connor and Tom the best of luck for the Awards Ceremony!

Following the Awards Ceremonies next month, please check the website to see how Nick Drane, Connor Carter and Tom Barber get on representing Suffolk.