GM trophies up for grabs

OLDHAM’S sporting heroes will go for glory at the Greater Manchester Sports Awards on Friday.

Stuart Marshall, Jason Wallace, John Mellor, Jessica Fullalove, Michael Weston and Cobra Kan Martials Arts Club are flying the flag for the borough.

Lancashire County Cricket Club is the venue for the glittering evening. Former Great Britain 400 metres Olympian Iwan Thomas is guest speaker.

Oldham dominated the 2013 awards, scooping four trophies thanks to double-winner Pete Wild, Ian Dunkerley and Dorothy Shirley-Emerson.

The class of 2014 picked up prizes at the Oldham Sports Awards in July, when 400 guests, including national and international superstars, gathered at the Queen Elizabeth Hall 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.

Oldham is represented by:



Coach: Stuart Marshall - head coach at Marshall Fencing Club in Oldham, who has introduced 1,000 children to the sport.



Volunteer: Jason Wallace - who has built Chadderton Boxing Club from the ground up and is head coach, club administrator, cleaner, family liaison officer... and caretaker.



Unsung hero: John Mellor - “Mr Higginshaw Rugby”, who has developed a vision for the club that puts it at the heart of his local community.



Sports achiever: Jessica Fullalove - Swimmer Jess has enjoyed an exceptional year, medalling twice at the FINA World Junior Championships, representing England in the Commonwealth Games and winning three silver medals at the Youth Olympic Games in China.



Disabled sports achiever: Michael Weston - this year selected for the national amputee football team and the Great Britain Development squad. He has travelled to Russia, Poland and Dubai to represent England against other amputee squads.



Club: Cobra Kan Martial Arts Club, which provides a range of martial arts training and fitness programmes and boasts an impressive list of current champions at local, National, International, European and World Championship level.



One certain winner is Anna Kennedy. As the physical activity recognition winner for Oldham, she has been hailed alongside her fellow recipients from the other boroughs.