Great sports

GREG JONES — one of the Oldham representatives at the GM Awards on Friday

OLDHAM’S sporting heroes are preparing for a night with the stars.

Gregory Jones, Ian Dunkerley, Dorothy Shirley-Emerson, Alice Travis, Pete Wild and Chadderton Park FC are among the many hopefuls who will attend the Greater Manchester Sports Awards on Friday.

The Point, at Lancashire County Cricket Club, is the venue for an evening at which sporting prowess as a coach, volunteer or achiever is recognised.

Double gold medallist from the Beijing Olympics, swimmer Rebecca Adlington, is the guest of honour.

Oldham’s contingent picked up gongs at the Oldham Sports Awards in July when 400 guests, including national and international superstars, gathered to celebrate what is best about sport in the borough.



Now they are hoping to be lauded on the Greater Manchester stage, in front of 600 people.

No-one who was present at the Queen Elizabeth Hall will forget the picture of sheer joy on Greg Jones’ face when he received the disabled sports achiever award for his tremendous feat of securing a black belt.

Ian Dunkerley has gone forward as Volunteer of the Year.

Chairman of Santos AFC since 2006, he is also the main fund-raiser, secretary, manager and coach, and plays as well.

While Ian was in “shock”, Dorothy Shirley-Emerson was “gobsmacked” after she received the unsung hero/special recognition award.

The Olympic high jump silver medallist from the 1960 Games in Rome has spent 30 years teaching PE, organising athletics meetings after school and weekends away for outdoor pursuits.

Alice Travis, a pupil at Hulme Grammar, is one of the brightest netball prospects in the country.

She broke into the Manchester Thunder Superleague team last season after making her mark for Oldham.

Alice was in Jamaica, representing England under-21s, leaving her mum to pick up the Oldham sports achiever of the year award on her behalf.

Great Britain amputee football team manager Pete Wild is setting his sights on becoming coach of the year.

Peter is preparing his side for the World Cup in Mexico next year and to be handed the Greater Manchester prize would be a great fillip in the build-up to the tournament.

Chadderton Park FC are expected to be out in force as they look to net Club of the Year honours.

With 50 football teams, as well as a netball section and adult rounders team, they have helped to provide sport for all in the community.

One definite winner on the night is Janet Thomas.

As the physical activity recognition winner for Oldham, she has been lauded alongside her fellow recipients from the other boroughs.

Janet overcame a serious illness and cycling, in particular, helped her back to fitness and improve her quality of life.

Let us hope Oldham are celebrating more than once during the evening.