David Moorcroft Presents Team West Midlands with the Wilkinson Sword

The former Great Britain middle and long distance runner, David Moorcroft, presented the West Midlands region with the Wilkinson Sword at the recent West Midlands Community Sports Awards at Aston Villa Football Club. The inaugural event, which took place on Wednesday 4^th December, recognised the quality, commitment and dedication of grassroots sport in the region of which the Association of Colleges (AoC) West Midlands was a principal supporter.
 

From left to right: David Moorcroft, students Beth Wragg, Will Richardson and BCS Regional Co-ordinator, Liz Fletcher.

(Image courtesy of the Black County BeActive Partnership)

The evening also saw Team GB Gymnast and Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth Medalist, Kristian Thomas, present Alex Giles from Dudley College with the AoC West Midlands Further Education Sport – Student Role Model of the Year Award. Runners up Beth Wragg (Newcastle – under – Lyme College) and Matthew Arnold (Hereward College) also received Highly Commended Awards as all three students were recognised for being a positive role model by going that extra mile to help out in the college community.

The Wilkinson Sword is currently touring around the colleges within the West Midlands region in recognition of Team West Midlands success by winning the 2013 National Championships back in April. Since the Championships the sword has been to Birmingham Met, King Edward VI Stourbridge, Worcester Sixth Form, Worcester College of Technology, North Warwickshire and Hinckley, North East Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire and Hereford Sixth Form Colleges before its stop off at Aston Villa.

 

Cross country runner for Team West Mids, Joe Donkin and the catering students of Worcester College of Technology with the Wilkinson Sword. 

(Images courtesy of Worcester College of Technology)

On the evening Beth Wragg was joined by Will Richardson, Vice-Captain of the National Championship winning Men’s Volleyball Team from Newcastle-under-Lyme College to collect the Wilkinson Sword.  Beth and Will collected the sword on behalf of the 2013 Team West Midlands captains Jordan Adelburgh (Newcastle-under-Lyme College) and Sophie Masterson (Hartpury College) who were unable to make the awards.

The Wilkinson Sword will be carrying on its journey around the West Midlands colleges before arriving at the University of Bath for the 36^th BCS National Championships on the 4 – 6^th April 2014 with the region hoping to retain the title.