Updated 18th May 2012

Sport Godalming is a Registered Charity
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Newsflash April 2012
HERE

Godalming College Netball Team
wins National Championship

Congratulations are due to Godalming College Netball team as they've just become British College Champions 2012. The team are enjoying their recent victory over Yale College, Wales to claim the BCS (British Colleges Sport) Netball Plate at Loughborough University's Netball Centre on Wednesday 2nd May.

Picture courtesy Godalming College

Team members Katy Lynch, Grace Sands, Laura Parker, Lara Davison, Louise Rose, Fran Edwards, Kathryn Sharp, Emma Ketteringham and Amy Fifield have worked hard to beat off strong competition, beating Havering College in the quarter finals and Coleg Gwent in the semis followed by a convincing win of 53 – 27 in the final. This finishes off a tremendous season in which the team also won the Surrey Sixth Form League and were runners up in the South East Colleges tournament. As well as paying tribute to their inspirational coach Rachael Reeves, the girls also thanked Sport Godalming and Godalming Lottery who sponsored kit for the team and contributed to their professional turnout in the competition.

Louise Rose said, "We were able to represent Godalming proudly and this is exactly what we wanted the kit for in the first place".

David Adelman, their College Principal said, "This is an incredible achievement by our netball team and we are obviously very proud of our Champions. We wish those moving on from the College every success for the future and hope that they continue to enjoy their sport".

Sport Godalming echoes this sentiment and congratulates the team on their achievement.

Paul Wycherley in best shape of his Sporting Career
as Countdown to Olympics begins

As the qualifiers have begun, to decide the athlete who will go forward to represent Great Britain at the Olympics at sprint kayaking, over the 1000m distance, Paul Wycherley has trained with the best in the world to ensure he is "in the best shape of his sporting career".

Paul Wycherley in action on YouTube at K1 Final

He has spent just 2.5 weeks in the UK since the beginning of the year, as he globe trots around the world; spending six weeks on the Gold Coast training with the formidable Australian, team; two weeks cross-country skiing at altitude in the Swiss alps; and three weeks in Florida with a group of kayaking legends from various countries that all meet in Orlando to train together. Paul says of this amazing experience that "it has been some of the hardest work that I have ever done".

The duel for the single qualifying place is between Paul and Tim Brabants, the reigning Olympic champion, so it is a tough task ahead. In the 1st of the 3 qualifying races, it was a photo finish which determined that Tim Brabants had won by a margin of 3/100ths of a second! See the race on YouTube here http://youtu.be/5kfI759asY8. Although disappointed with the outcome, Paul is upbeat about his chances in the next two races in the World Cup series in Poland and Germany where the next bout of the duel will occur. We wish him all the best. For more details and latest Blog see Paul's profile on our go for gold pages.

Bill Braid wins Mayor's Volunteers Award
19 April 2012

Sport Godalming's Bill Braid was honoured at the Godalming Annual Town Meeting last night, when he was presented a Mayor's Award for Volunteers 2012 by Godalming Mayor Councillor Steve Cosser.

He was one of six individuals who were presented an award for an outstanding contribution to the community through voluntary work. Bill was nominated by Tim Ostle for his contribution to Sport Godalming, Rotary Club of Godalming Woolsack, the Godalming Together CIC, the Surrey County Playing Fields Association (SCPFA), St John's Church in Milford and The Clockhouse, Milford.

Bill Braid (third from left)
at the Mayor's Volunteer Award

Bill's citation read that he has immersed himself in a wide variety of activities and voluntary organisations over many years and has a reputation as a "doer"; serving on many local and sport-associated committees. As an accountant his financial acumen and obvious organisation and management skills have placed him in high demand. He has taken on various roles within the organisations that he volunteers on e.g Trustee and Honorary Treasures for the SCPFA; Committee Member since 1997 to present, past Chairman and twice Secretary to Sport Godalming; Founder of the Sport Godalming Go for Gold initiative raising in excess of £35,000 to date to support local athletes in their bid for Olympic representation; Past President (1999) and holder of Paul Harris Fellowship (2005) for his "Service above Self" and voluntary work within the community and service organisation for the Rotary Club of Godalming and Woolsack and Director of the newly-formed Godalming Together Community Interest Company.

As Mayor Steve Cosser remarked, this was an overdue award and one that was very fitting in the London 2012 Olympic year. Congratulations to Bill for this very well deserved award.

Godalming Jubilee Run
4th June 2012

click on image to open PDF (3.3mb)

Sport Godalming is proud to be a key proponent of Godalming's Jubilee weekend celebrations. On Monday 4th June there will be a Godalming Jubilee Run as a fund raiser for our Go For Gold fund. This will be a 10Km and 5km closed road run organised by the Waverley Harriers, in association with Sport Godalming and Godalming Town Council and is sponsored by The Charterhouse Club. The run takes you through the historic town centre, surrounding roads and scenic paths. A Fun Run will also commence just before the two distance runs and is aimed at getting people of all ages and abilities involved. You will be able to raise funds for the Go for Gold charity or your own charity.

Fun run for free - 2:10pm free entry, open to all
under 9 years must be accompanied by an adult

10Km road run - 2:30pm entry fee £16 minimum age 15 years
5Km road run - 2:30pm entry fee £9 minimum age 11 years

To register for the race and see full details go to www.godalmingjubileerun.co.uk and don't forget our just giving page at www.justgiving.com/sportgodalminggoforgold

Go for Gold
Round & About Magazine Feature

Read Bill Braid's article featuring our Olympic hopefuls in the April 2012 Godalming edition of Round & About Magazine.

click on image to read the article (PDF 1mb)

Ryan Webb
to represent Great Britain

We are delighted see that 17 year old Ryan Webb, a previous Go for Gold award recipient, has been picked for the U18 Ice Hockey team which will represent Great Britain in the IIHF World U18 Championships in Heevereen, Holland from March 29 to April 6. The Go for Gold fund has helped over 20 athletes since its inception in 2007 and it is great to see some of our local athletes go from strength to strength challenging for international rankings. The very best of luck to Ryan!

Adelle Tracey
Olympic Library Card Honour

Go for Gold athlete Adelle Tracey, who runs for Guildford and Godalming Athletics club, is one of five Surrey athletes who will be featured on new themed library cards launched by Surrey County Council to celebrate the London Olympic games. There will also be a card depicting a cycle race to celebrate the Olympic time trial and road race events in Surrey this summer. Existing members can upgrade to the themed cards for £2 and anyone can purchase the whole set for £5 as a souvenir.

Godalming College
Netball Team Supported

Godalming College have a popular and nationally competitive netball team which won the South Colleges Cup in 2011. The team also made the semi-finals in the South East British Colleges Club and were runners-up in both the Surrey Schools Tournament and the South Fastnet Netball Tournament. Sport Godalming were delighted to provide funding towards the new netball kit for the squad along with GOLO and the Henry Smith Charity.

Louise Rose on behalf of the netball squad said "We are very appreciative of the contribution that Sport Godalming, GOLO and Henry Smith have all made towards the kit. It has also made us aware of the great work that all three do towards other organisations and schools.The kit has definitely made us feel smarter and has given our team an identity in the blue and orange strip! We hope to go on and win the Surrey 6th form tournament, which would be the perfect finish to a fantastic netball season."

Here are the girls sporting their new kit at the sponsor's award ceremony.

Photo courtesy Phil Kemp

Sport Godalming facilitates
Meaty Sponsorship Deal
for Chris Scott

Sport Godalming was pleased to introduce Chris Scott (one of our 2012 Go for Gold athletes) to Simon Thornton, of Andrew Charles Meatmaster in Godalming, at its recent Go for Gold Award ceremony. So impressed was Simon by Chris's achievements in discus and his dedication to his training regime, that he decided to offer him sponsorship. Now Chris's high calorie training diet has an official backer. Chris was presented with around 20 kilos of free range chicken breasts by Simon at Andrew Charles Meatmater in Godalming last weekend and the butcher has promised to cater as much as he needs from now until the London Games.

Chris Scott receiving his first pack
of Olympic chicken from Simon Thornton
Photo courtesy Phil Kemp

We are delighted that a local Godalming business has got behind a promising athlete in such a practical way and many thanks goes to Andrew Charles Meatmaster for this support. For the full article which was the front page headline in the Surrey Advertiser this week click the image below.

Click on image to read article

Rachelle Rogers U18 Slalom Victory
at English Alpine Ski Champs

Sport Godalming's Youth Personality of the Year 2011 has gone from strength to strength in her ski season this year. Fresh from the Winter Youth Olympics in Austria, Rachelle has now achieved further success in the English Alpine Championships held in Bormio Italy from 15th-16th February. In the Slalom, Rogers skied very well finishing in 4th place overall. She was the 2nd fastest British athlete competing in this race and came 1st in her age group (Under 18) by 3.17 seconds, making her the Junior 1 English Slalom Champion 2012, a great result. For the complete report on the event and a video of Rachelle skiing the Slalom at these championships use links below.

WATCH RACHELLE'S YOUTUBE VIDEO

READ THE SKI CHAMP REPORT

Guildford Rugby Club Dinner

Guildford Rugby Club is pleased to announce a Club Dinner for Spring 2012. It will be held in their new club house, recently opened by Jeremy Hunt MP, in December 2011. The Club Dinner and fund raising auction will be on Friday March 16th, at a cost of £40 per person for a three course dinner and coffee

Ian Robertson is the guest speaker - BBC Rugby Commentator, Former Scotland International who played rugby for London Scottish, the Barbarians and won 8 international caps for Scotland between 1968 and 1970. For more details and how to book your tickets please click on the following links.

SPORTING DINNER POSTER

SPORTING DINNER TICKET APPLICATION FORM

Godalming’s Olympic Hopefuls Strike Gold

Four Olympic hopefuls from Godalming have been given a final push ahead of this summer’s London Games  from Sport Godalming’s Go for Gold Champions Fund.

Fencer Liz Ng, kayaker Paul Wycherley, discus thrower Chris Scott and para dressage rider Nicky Thompson all of whom are highly ranked current internationals were presented with cheques of £1500 each by the Mayor of Godalming, Cllr Steve Cosser.

With just less than 200 days to go to the start of the Olympics the extra money will be a confidence boost for the athletes coming from funds raised from the local community.

The four contenders were chosen because of their realistic chances of being selected for the Games and the presentation by the Mayor in a council chamber filled with supporters and well wishers and was followed by a reception hosted by Godalming Town Council.

Launched in 2007 Sport Godalming’s Champions Fund aims to support local athletes’ dreams of competing in 2012 - a once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in the Olympics in their home country.

The Fund has raised £35000 all from local sources with many local organizations giving generously. Over the five years Go for Gold has supported over 20 athletes many of whom will be challenging for top international ranking in a few years time.

The late Danny Denningberg who sat on the Sport Godalming committee appreciated what the Olympics in London would mean to an athlete and was frequently heard to say ‘thanks to Go for Gold no young athlete from Godalming will miss the opportunity to compete due to a lack of money’

Go for Gold remains the only community funded project to specifically help its Olympic hopefuls and is another first for Godalming. David Anderson, Chairman of Sport Godalming, said ‘ it was a  great tribute to the people of the Town and the local organizations that they had supported the Fund and given the athletes the opportunity to achieve their outstanding results’.

Sport Godalming Secretary, Bill Braid, commented ’ it’s amazing that a Town the size of Godalming is able to boast about four international athletes of this calibre and Go for Gold has unearthed another group for the future’

Elstead based kayaker Paul Wycherley summed up his immediate challenge ‘The battle is now well and truly on to be the fastest man come the early season races in April and May and so secure a place at the Olympics’ and went on to say ‘through all the peaks and troughs its friends and family that keep me going and Go for Gold is a key member of my support team. The financial input is extremely welcome and allows me to devote myself to my training but it’s more than that--it is the knowledge that a team of people, a community, believes in me and has the faith in my ability to do my utmost to deliver the best possible result. That’s what I am aiming to do in 2012’

The grant money has been used to pay for training, transport, competition costs and equipment so that the athletes have been able to focus on honing their skills instead of worrying about sponsorship.

Fencer Liz Ng added that ‘the grants from Go for Gold have helped me to gain a GB place at major championships across the globe without having the worry of wondering if I would be able to go’

That really says it all about the terrific success of Gold for Gold which has given tangible support to the local sports stars of Godalming over 5 years  to assist them with their training and competition costs often involving overseas travel without which they might not be challenging for 2012. Godalming should be proud of itself and its athletes (more details of their current achievements are on the go for gold pages).

Godalming Angling Society
Best Club Award

The Godalming Angling Society has been awarded Best Club 2011 in the London and South East region by the Angler's Mail publication. The entry below is reprinted with their kind permission. 

The London and South East region is home to some of the best rivers, fisheries, tackle shops and clubs in the country. In the South East we are spoilt for top clubs. In first place is Godalming AS of Surrey (www.godalminganglingsociety.co.uk), contact Malcolm Richardson on 01483422791), because I believe Johnson's Lake could produce a record crucian carp plus specimens of other species. Their Marsh Farm is another legendary home of big crudans whilst Broadwater is a noted carp home. These locations along with extensive fishing on the River Wey, with most species present, are included in the Membership price of  £70 for adults plus a one-off £65 joining fee (plus various concessions).

Sports Awards
25 November 2011

Sport Godalming held their annual awards presentation on Friday 25th November 2011 at the Charterhouse sports centre in Godalming. The evening was sponsored by Downs solicitors and notaries. Special guests included the Mayor of Waverley, Cllr Richard Gates and Mrs Evelyn Gates and the Mayor of Godalming, Cllr Steve Cosser and Mrs Sheila Cosser.

The Commonwealth rifle man Jon Underwood, lifted the Charterhouse Club Shield after being named Sports personality of the year, holding off strong claims for the top award from the Commonwealth Games discus thrower, Chris Scott who was named runner up for the second year running, with Savate French kickboxing champion Rachel Shore taking third.

Jon Underwood receiving the Charterhouse Club Shield
for Sports Personality of the year
from Tim Ostle of the Charterhouse club
Photo courtesy Len Deeley

The Spectrum Savate team put on a dynamic demonstration with the Sport's fascinating history and competition rules described by Savate head coach and the Chris and Jenny Slyfield Trophy winner, Martin Ross.

Spectrum Savate Club demonstration
Photo courtesy Len Deeley

Para equestrian Nicky Thompson winner of the Godalming Angling Society shield gave a very illuminating talk and Q and A session on her sport of blind dressage. She won all 10 para equestrian qualifiers this year and is also winning medals internationally. She is a para Olympic hopeful for 2012 and one of Sport Godalming Go for Gold Athletes.

16 year old slalom and giant slalom specialist Rachelle Rogers picked up the Denningberg Shield youth prize for the 2nd year in succession in recognition of her sweeping successes on the pistes around Europe. Since the Sports Awards Rachelle has been selected for the youth winter Olympic games in Innsbruck, which is an outstanding achievement. Maddy Austin was runner up after a very impressive year running the 800m at Guildford and Godalming Athletic club. Michael Grove, bronze medallist in the Savate Youth World Championships, came third in this category.

Michael (Mick) Coleman President of Hambledon football club and Hambledon Cricket club won the Downs award for his outstanding service and contribution to sport.

Guildford Rugby clubs under 12 National Braemar Cup winning side were the Go Godalming Shield youth team winners, retaining the shield after a truly remarkable year. They played 29 competitive matches winning 28 of them, drawing the other and not conceding a single try in any of them!

Shields and Trophies were presented by the Mayor of Waverley, Cllr Richard Gates, the Mayor of Godalming, Cllr Steve Cosser, Tim Ostle from the Charterhouse Club, Joy Poulter from Go Godalming, Chris Slyfield and Chris Millar from Downs solicitors.

Thanks to Chris Dyke to from the Surrey Advertiser for the significant support and coverage in the Surrey Advertiser throughout the year. And a very big thank you to Len Deeley, vice Chairman of the Godalming photographic club, for all the photographs taken on the night and reprinted here.

Godalming Rotary Club
boosts the Go for Gold Champions Fund
November 7th 2011

In a very generous gesture of support, Tony Luscombe, President of the Rotary Club of Godalming Woolsack, presented a cheque for £500 to David Anderson of Sport Godalming for the Go for Gold Champions fund. It was the culmination of an evening organised by the Rotary Club of Godalming Woolsack to honour our local Olympic hopefuls and give them further financial support for their training. Olympic hopefuls Chris Scott and Liz Ng attended the event and gave a fascinating description of their training regime and answered questions from the audience. Members of the Godalming Lions also attended the dinner and met the aspiring Olympic athletes. Many thanks go to the Rotary Club for their generous support in our campaign.

Sport Godalming's 1st Sporting Dinner a huge success
November 3rd 2011

The first Sporting Dinner held at Charterhouse Great Hall was a great evening, raising funds of around £5500 for Go for Gold and the Surrey Cricket Foundation. The very entertaining guest speakers were Richard Stilgoe, Mickey Stewart and Neil Snowball from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG). Many thanks to Michael O’Sullivan and David Kingsmill who worked very hard to organise this successful event.

Paul Wycherley beats Olympic canoeing champion
for right to compete in World Championships in Hungary.

Paul Wycherley lost the first of the race-off contests against Tim Brabants at Eton's Dorney Lake (July 2011) but forced a decider by winning the second. The third and final race took place, with Wycherley winning it by a margin of well under half a second.

Paul Wycherley

"That was one of the toughest races I've done," Wycherley told BBC Sport's Ollie Williams. "Tim is the Olympic champion and an enormously brilliant paddler. The last half of the race was a war of attrition. I had to dig very deep - and then dig some more." bbc.co.uk 21st July 2011

Sport Godalming & Surrey Cricket Foundation
Sporting Dinner
Thursday 3rd November 2011

Sport Godalming are delighted to co-host with the Surrey Cricket Foundation a Sporting Dinner at Charterhouse School. Our guest speakers at the 3rd November event in the impressive setting of The Great Hall are Richard Stilgoe and Mickey Stewart.

Contact Michael O'Sullivan for more information and bookings at mosullivan03@gmail.com or phone 07768 950801.

Click to enlarge

Another Great Turnout for Sport Godalming "Sports for All" day

This year's Sports for All day on 7th May 2011 was held in the heart of Godalming on The Burys field. This easy to reach location proved a great success factor with hundreds of residents in and around Godalming trying their hand at a great range of sports offered by local clubs.

Fifteen local clubs were represented offering taster sessions of the activities in their clubs to interest people to join up. Sports as diverse as kick boxing to baseball and bowling were represented. The all day event was attended by long standing Sport Godalming supporter, the Mayor of Waverley, Councillor Carole Cockburn.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

picture courtesy of Surrey Advertiser

2011 London Marathon Fundraising Bid

Richard Braid

As part of our fundraising push during 2011 Richard Braid ran the London Marathon in April for the Sport Godalming Go for Gold Champions Fund. You may follow his training programme and make donations through the Just Giving website. Please donate to pledge your support for Richard and Go for Gold, however small…. it all helps.

Richard ran a fantastic 3 hours 15 minutes that placed him 2275 overall and 470 in his age group. The heat made it a hard run and he suffered some cramp in the very last stages but that did not stop him going better than his target, great effort and to date he has raise £1425 , excluding gift aid, that much exceeds our hopes. A big thank you Richard from us all.
The site is still open if there are any last donations to come or go to his just giving page to see how he found the run'

Liz Ng and Rachelle Rogers
Godalming's Sports Personalities of the Year

Liz Ng with Tim Ostle

Godalming Sports Stars Shine
at Commonwealths

Liz Ng and Nikki Barlow strike gold at Commonwealths

Amazing results for our local sports champions at the Commonwealths:

• Jon Underwood bronze in the shooting pairs
• Chris Scott 7th in the discus
• Liz Ng and Nikki Barlow gold in the foils team event
• Liz Ng 5th in the foils individuals
• Nikki Barlow 11th in the foils individuals

Jon Underwood celebrates bronze at Commonwealths

Earlier in the summer Adelle Tracey became the English Schools Champion at 800 metres and Paul Wycherley was 12th in the K4 kayak world championships and 6th in the individuals in the World Cup. Plenty more great results but these are the highlights.

All this makes the prospects for 2012 look good. We are proud of them. Come and meet them on the 27 November at the Charterhouse Club stand at the Godalming Christmas Festival.

2010 Bowls Championships Results

Elizabeth Ng
Fencing Successes

Picture courtesy of Jasmine Ng

Having won gold whilst fencing for England at the Senior 5 Nations in June, 19 year old Elizabeth Ng in her last year as a Junior, went one better for a double podium position at the annual British Senior National Championships 2010 held in Sheffield on the weekend of 24th/25th July, where she won the individual women's foil silver on Saturday in a field of 67 women, winning all her fights, bar one in the final against GB's 26-year-old Natalia Sheppard.

Her next major competition will be fencing for England at the Senior Commonwealth Fencing Championships in Melbourne in early October 2010.

‘Sports for All’ Day 23 May 2010
at the Rugby Club
featured in Surrey Advertiser

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Sport Godalming
working hard to promote
our members' activities at local shows

Godalming Town Show June 2010
Picture courtesy of Phil Kemp

Cash Boost Such GR-EIGHT News

Olympic yachtsman George Skuodas (back centre)
with Adelle Tracey, Chris Scott, Robyn Bignell, Nikki Barlow,
Matt Welch, Elizabeth Ng and Nicky Thompson

A further four very talented athletes with 2016 as their targets, Matthew Shorrock and Mary Fenton-Jones both sailors, Ryan Webb ice hockey player and Alek Makucewicz a fencer each received £100.

Matthew Shorrock, Mary Fenton-Jones and Alek Makucewicz

Article by kind permission of The Surrey Advertiser. Pictures courtesy of Phil Kemp.

GOLO donates to Go for Gold

GOLO's Joy Poulter with chairman David Anderson and
Go For Gold athletes (from left) Adelle Tracey, Matt Welch and Robyn Bignell

Joy Poulter presented a cheque for £500 to David Anderson Chairman of Sport Godalming from GOLO, The Godalming Lottery. This is their second donation and the athletes were able to thank GOLO on behalf of Sport Godalming for their generosity.

Picture courtesy of Phil Kemp.

Go For Gold Featured in Round & About Magazine
April 2010
Read article HERE

European Success
for Godalming's Savate Club

James Antill (left) and Rachel Shore with GB coach Martin Ross

Two members of the Spectrum Savate Club based at Broadwater School Gym were selected to represent the UK at the European Championships held in Spain for 'assaut' style Savate with Martin Ross who runs the local club as the GB National Coach. The event attracted fighters from all over Europe including Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal Slovenia, Serbia, Belgium, Finland and Croatia

Both fighters, James Antill and Rachel Shore, reached the finals and came away with very worthy silvers and some fancy titles:

James Antill

James Antill is now officially titled as the Vice European Champion and was awarded the Silver medal in the men's 70kg - 75kg category.

Rachel Shore

Rachel Shore is now officially titled as the Vice European Championne and was awarded the Silver medal in the women's 60kg - 65kg category.

Congratulations to them and to Martin Ross as their coach here in Godalming.

Pictures courtesy of Martin Ross