A netball coach from Park Gate has been nominated for a regional sports award.
Victoria Froud has been shortlisted for the Participation Coach award in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sports Awards to be held tomorrow.
Netball coach Vicky Froud
She has made the final listing out of almost 200 athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, teams and clubs that were put forward for an award across 17 categories – and is among seven Olympians and Paralympians also up for a prize.
“I’m a little bit taken aback by it,” said Vicky, of Park Glen. “I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s all happening so fast. I was really chuffed when it got announced. I think winning it would be crazy!”
She began playing the game at St John’s Primary School in Titchfield Common, then continued when she went to Brookfield School, Barton Peveril Sixth Form College and onto study Sports Development at the University of Portsmouth.
There she undertook her level one coaching course and has since continued through to her level three qualifications and spends her evenings coaching the university team, adults at a Back to Netball scheme in Totton and the Fareham Fireflys club, which trains at Brookfield and Henry Cort secondary schools.
The 25-year-old, who works at Fareham College as a college sport maker, a new role introduced by Sport England to encourage sporting activity, added: “I quite enjoy coaching locally and being able to give something back.
“I’ve loved netball ever since I was s child for social reasons and sporting reasons. Now I can give back.”
William Vennis-Ozanne from Hill Head and who sails with Hill Head Sailing club is up for the Junior Sportsman award. While Olympic cycling gold medallist Dani King from Hamble, equestrian gold medallist Peter Charles, Paralympic boccia silver and bronze medallist David Smith from Eastleigh and Hampshire Cricket Captain Jimmy Adams are some of the top names from 2012 who have been nominated for the county awards.
The Hampshire & IOW Sports Awards is the only county-wide event to publicly reward commitment, performance and excellence across all sports. Winners will be announced at the ceremony on March 20 at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton.
To view the shortlist visit www.sporthampshireiow.co.uk/sports-awards.