Runner Park retains Cumbria sports award
Last updated 19:27, Thursday, 04 December 2008
TEENAGE running star Laura Park has again been named Cumbria Junior Sports Personality of the Year.
The Dearham 16-year-old, who won the title last year, beat off strong opposition including Papcastle golfer Seb Crookall-Nixon, the England boys’ U16 golf champion.
The award, sponsored by the Times & Star’s parent company, Cumbrian Newspapers, capped another stunning year for Park – though she couldn’t be there to receive it as she was competing the next day in Liverpool in the UK trials for the European cross country championships (see adjacent story for how she got on).
During 2008 she has won the World Junior Mountain Running Championships representing England in Switzerland.
She has also won the UK Schools Games 3,000m title in a personal best time.
She has become the English AAA U17 3,000m champion, beating the Scottish and Irish champions.
Park, a member of Ellenborough Athletic Club, also won the English Schools intermediate girls’ 3,000m championships which were held at the Gateshead International Stadium.
During the cross country season she became the UK U20 Inter Counties champion, as well as the U17 English champion.
Park hopes to run for Great Britain in the 2012 London Olympics.
Nearly 300 guests turned up to the 25th Cumbria Sports Awards, including former first-class cricketer and guest speaker Andy Hayhurst, at the event at the Low Wood Hotel, Windermere.
There were also Rising Star awards for three other West Cumbrian youngsters.
Bassenthwaite Sailing Club member Sam Hall, of Eaglesfield, who has sailed for England junior teams, was named a Rising Star.
A similar award went to teenage tennis player Daneika Borthwick, of Scales, near Aspatria, but she missed the presentation night as she was competing in a tournament in the Philippines.
And Ellenborough Athletic Club runner Hannah Bethwaite, the England U14 cross country champion, also got a Rising Star award.
Guest speaker Hayhurst said: “It was an honour to attend the Cumbria Sports Awards and celebrate the great achievements in sport throughout Cumbria.
“I am really impressed with the standard of talent in Cumbria and would especially like to praise this year’s Rising Stars who I am sure will go on to achieve great things in their chosen sport.”
o The main prize of Cumbria Sports Personality of the Year went to Formula 3 racing driver Oliver Turvey, from Langwathby, near Penrith.
