Active Achievement Award Finalists
Proudly sponsored by Skegness Gateway
The Active Achievement Award celebrates an individual or small group of people for a personal physical or sporting achievement that was a significant accomplishment for them. The award recognises a wide variety of accomplishments, no matter how big or small, as long as they are personally significant.
Our Finalists
Nellie Ball, Josephine Brookes Cairney and Lexie McDonnald ( Witham Hill Gymanastics club)
Nellie, Josephine and Lexie have made history in Lincolnshire by qualifying for the prestigious British Gymnastics Championships in 2023. Lexie became the first gymnast from Lincolnshire to qualify, followed by Jojo and Nellie, with Nellie being the youngest ever to qualify at the minimum age.
All three girls train at Witham Hill Gymnastics club. Despite losing months of training due to Covid, they remained dedicated and focused while training at home. Once they returned to training at the club, they worked tirelessly to acquire the skills needed for competition. Each faced their own challenges but never gave up, remaining humble throughout their journeys.
Training 20 hours a week alongside full-time school, all three achieved significant personal goals at both the British and English Championships. They continue to represent Lincolnshire in the East Midlands Regional Squad, remaining modest and supportive of one another.
Ruby Fox
Ruby began volunteering at Magna Vitae Gymnastics Club at age 12, quickly showing her passion for coaching. She soon became a key member of the Community Team, significantly contributing to the growth of gymnastics in Louth and helping establish and develop Pre-School Gymnastics sessions. Ruby expanded her volunteer work by teaching children to swim in Magna Vitae’s ‘Waterwise’ programme. At 16, she began working as a casual coach, leading 'School's Out,' Gymnastics, G.A.M.E, and HAF programmes.
Beyond Magna Vitae, Ruby has volunteered at her dance school, local youth clubs, and various sports clubs, and has led after-school sports clubs for younger students at her secondary school. She has achieved all this while excelling academically, maintaining her own training, and competing in multiple sports.
Ruby also teaches golf to young children at Kenwick Park Golf Club and recently became the youngest qualified golf instructor in the country after completing the England Golf Community Instructor Training Award. She holds multiple NGB qualifications, including British Gymnastics Core Proficiency, England Netball Level 1, and England Golf Activator. Ruby is driven to inspire children to embrace sports, regardless of age, race, gender, or ability.
Harry Wood
Harry Wood started attending Skegness Grammar School (year 7) in September 2023. At the school he has been provided with lots of sporting opportunities which he has grabbed with enthusiasm and dedication to achieve fantastic success in a variety of sports.
Some of his biggest achievements this year include the Cross country where he won 1st year 7 boy in Lincolnshire, and was placed 18th at the Nationals in Leicestershire, and competing in the National Indoor Junior Rowing Championships at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stadium, London where he won the gold medal! He is currently ranked number two year 7 boy rower in UK.
Alongside this he has played for his school football and rubgy Team, and his local football club Skegness Town, where he was awarded Manager's 'Player of the season' and the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals this season. Harry has also excelled in a variety of district and countywide athletics events as well as breaking two records at Skegness Grammar School sports day for year 7 boys 300m race & long jump.
View all our finalists