Athlete of the month

Athlete of the Month December 2010

Badminton player Mark Middleton has been named Athlete of the Month for December.  Mark has enjoyed stellar success in recent weeks including Gold medals for the men's and mixed doubles at the BUCS Individuals, a Bronze medal at the Scottish & Welsh Internationals in the mixed doubles as well as a silver in the men's doubles at the Welsh International.

Speaking about his success Badminton coach James Vincent said: "Mark Middleton to summarise him in a nutshell is simply Yorkshire born and bred! No need for any messing around with Mark, he is straight to the point. He has worked very hard, particularly over the pre season training and into the season, and all his recent successes are thoroughly deserved. I have helped Mark progress through badminton for several years, but over the last year whilst studying I have seen him mature and develop into a stronger person on and off the court. He must now take confidence from his results, and step his level up in training to push harder for his next target.... to win his first senior international title."

Athlete of the Month
Each month we'll be highlighting an athlete or participant from Leeds Met Carnegie who has performed exceptionally well in their chosen sport or activity.

The Athlete of the Month award is made in association with Trio who will provide each winner with a £20 gift voucher for the restaurant.

To make a nomination for the award, please email Emma Beith

Athlete of the Month November 2010

Sport and Exercise Science student  Lois Rosindale has been named Athlete of the Month for November.

Lois continued her fine recent form with victory at the BUCS Cycle Hill Climb finishing ahead of Jess Coulson of Manchester to take the gold for the second consecutive year, whilst the Leeds Met women picked up silver in the team event behind Loughborough.

Athlete of the Month October 2010

Sports Performance student Johanna Jackson has been named Athlete of the Month for October. Jo made history in winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi with victory in the women's 20k walk as she became the first British women to win a major race walk championship clocking a time of one hour, 34 minutes, 22 seconds in picking up England's 20th gold at the championships.

Athlete of the Month September 2010

Sport & Exercise student Sarah Barrow has been named Athlete of the Month for September.  Sarah will be part as part of England's diving squad for the Commonwealth Games which run from October 3-14 in Delhi, India.  National champion Sarah will compete in the individual 10-metre platform event as well as teaming up with Tonia Couch for the 10-metre platform synchro event. 

Mentor Sarah Humphreys expressed her delight at the announcement: "Sarah is a dedicated athlete who has been working extremely hard this past year in balancing her education with her elite diving. She will soon be competing in the Commonwealth Games whilst starting her third year and a dreaded dissertation! She fully deserves the accolade of athlete of the month."

Athlete of the Month August 2010

Sports Performance student and member of the highly successful GB European Athletics Championship squad Johanna Jackson has been named Athlete of the Month for August. Jo finished 10th in the 20km walk at the European Championships in Barcelona, the best ever placing by a British female athlete in this event. 

Speaking about her Championship success Jo said: "I was pleased to get the top-10 target, that's what I set out to do.  The best thing was to get round with no cards, that's down to a lot of hard technical work in the winter. It made up for last year."

Carnegie Director of Race Walking Dr Andi Drake spoke of Jo's continued development: "On current form I'd add only two Chinese and one Japanese to the 2011 World Championships line up so 10th at the Europeans is truly World Class. It is the best ever placing by a British female athlete in this event and the best performance by a British race walker at a major championships in a generation."
 
"Johanna is talented, has a great work ethic and made tough personal choices about moving to join the training group at Carnegie - her performance in Barcelona and what it promises set an example to all who aspire to compete at the highest level."

Athlete of the Month July 2010
Sports Performance student and international race walker Alex Wright has been named Athlete of the Month for July.

This month Alex has made a major breakthrough as a senior athlete at the age of just 19. He won the Inter Counties 3km title in Bedford in a new personal best of 11.38 (9th on the UK All Time List).

Three weeks later at Bedford he was 3rd in the European Athletics Permit Meeting over 20km, taking 5 minutes from his personal best in recording 85.46. This was the fastest time by a British Athlete since 2002 and puts him 14th on the All Time list and is the fastest ever time by a British teenager.

This was also well inside the England qualifying time of 90.00 for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and he is now ranked 4th in the Commonwealth in 2010. He followed this up by taking his first National Senior Title over 5km in Birmingham at the Aviva European Trial and UK Championships in a personal best of 20.11.

Athlete of the Month June 2010
First year BA (Hons) Physical Education student Hannah Evenden has been named Athlete of the Month for June.

Hannah has been an integral part of the Athletics squad and won three medals at the recent BUCS Outdoor Championships making her Leeds Met's leading points scorer.

Speaking of her success coach Mick Hill said: "Fresher Hannah Evenden is a deserving winner of athlete of the month having won 3 medals at the BUCS Outdoor Championships in early May. She was leading points scorer for Leeds Met and was therefore instrumental in our magnificent overall team position of second. Her early season shot performances earned her International recognition as she was selected to represent GB Juniors (Under 20) at the Loughborough International event on 23rd May."

Athlete of the Month May 2010
Leeds Met and England Women's rugby union centre Emily Scarratt has been named Athlete of the Month for May. 

Emily was instrumental in England's Grand Slam winning performance in the RBS 6 Nations Championships and helped Leeds Met reach the final of the BUCS Championship at Twickenham.

Emily a Sport & Exercise Science student has also recently been named as part of the Women's Rugby World Cup squad which will look to win the trophy on home soil later this summer.

Keith Morris Deputy Director of Sport at Leeds Met said: "Emily has been a key player for us throughout her study at Leeds Met and her performances on the pitch have been both impressive and inspiring. Identifying an athlete of the month is always a difficult task however, Emily's successes have been extensive and fully justify this award."

Athlete of the Month April 2010
Squash star Vanessa Atkinson has been named as Athlete of the Month for April.  As well as storming to the BUCS Individual Squash Championships, Vanessa also led the University to team success at the recent BUCS Championships.

Vanessa who currently studies English Literature took the individual title without dropping a set beating fellow Leeds Met athlete Kirsty McPhee in the quarter finals.  In the Championship event in Sheffield, Vanessa helped Leeds Met to secure the title on points count back 92-91 over Birmingham after the final finished all square at 2-2.

Keith Morris Deputy Director of Sport at Leeds Met said: "Squash has not necessarily enjoyed the profile of some of the other sports in which we have enjoyed success in recent years. The efforts of Vanessa and her team mates have helped change that and her successes at the BUCS championships where she won so comprehensively deserve recognised and it is fitting that we can do so through the athlete of the month award for April."

Athlete of the Month March 2010
Volleyball player Dori Kun is the winner of the March Athlete of the Month award, following her outstanding performances for the Leeds Met volleyball team throughout the current seaon.

Her contribution as court captain has led the team to an impressive 35-0 win record, including the defence of the Volleyball England Student Cup where Dori picked up the Most Valuable Player Award. Dori also leads the National League standings for the Most Valuable Player for Division 3.

Last weekend Dori led Leeds Carnegie to the National Cup Final, in the side's first season in the League, with a flawless performance against Swiss Cottage. The cup run has seen the team beat three Division 1 teams.

Dori  has experience of competing at a very high level having played for a top Hungarian national league team and for a German club side. As a Carnegie Scholar her attitude and desire to work for the team are an example to everyone in sport.

Athlete of the Month February 2010
Badminton scholar Lim Kenn is the inaugural winner of the Athlete of the month accolade, having been instrumental in the squad's success so far this season.  In November Lim was part of the record-breaking Leeds Met badminton squad which brought home five gold medals from the BUCS Individual Championships.  Lim has taken his fine form into the new year, securing victory at the Wimbledon National Elite Badminton Tournament, overcoming England player Ben Beckman 15-21 21-19 21-19 in a gripping final.