We're excited to present the winners of the annual Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2025, proudly supported by headline sponsor Better.

On Thursday 6 November we celebrated some of Lincolnshire’s outstanding champions of sport and physical activity at a glittering awards ceremony held at The Engine Shed, Lincoln. The event recognised the remarkable achievements and dedication of those helping to make Lincolnshire a more active, healthier, and happier place to live.

In front of an audience of nearly 250 guests, we celebrated the exceptional contributions of 27 finalists from across Lincolnshire, making a positive difference through sport and physical activity.

The evening was co-hosted by BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter and sports journalist Rob Makepeace alongside writer and storyteller for systems change, Tanya Akrofi. Together, they shared the powerful and inspiring stories behind each finalist before revealing this year’s ten category winners.

The finalists and winners were selected across nine categories by an independent panel of judges. These included the Active Club Award, recognising clubs going above and beyond for existing and new members, the Active Change Award, celebrating those using sport and physical activity to transform their own health, and the Inclusion & Diversity award recognising individuals and groups opening up opportunities to be active for underserved groups.

A new addition for 2025 was the People’s Choice Award, which invited the public to vote for their favourite finalists. Over 1,500 votes were cast, in the run up to the awards evening, with the finalist receiving the most votes crowned the overall People’s Choice Award winner on the night.

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere were captivating performances from talented local groups, making the evening a true celebration of community spirit and achievement.

Take a look at the winners of the Awards below!

Our 2025 Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Award Winners

Active Achievement Award

sponsored by the Engine Shed

Winner: Danielle Booth

Danelle has been recognised for her achievements as a player with Lincoln’s Down Syndrome Active team and as a Special Olympics athlete; She has also completed the GB Athlete Leader course. Alongside team sports, Danielle sets herself personal challenges each year, completing 10Ks, half-marathons and a full marathon with her dad, Steve. She has also organised and taken part in long-distance charity walks.

Active Change Award

supported by Let's Move Lincolnshire

Winner: Karen Hills

Karen has improved her health through physical activity, progressing from attending Aquacise classes to preparing for powerlifting qualifiers, and supporting others by qualifying as a Gentle Aquacise instructor.

Active Club Award

Winner: Slea Paddlers Canoe and Kayak Club

Slea Paddlers is an inclusive, community-led canoe, kayak, and paddleboard club, offering people of all ages and abilities the chance to access water sports. The club provides a supportive space where members can build confidence and develop paddling skills at their own pace. Members also support their local environment through initiatives such as river clean-ups.

Active Youth Champion Award

sponsored by Branston

Winner: Juan Diaz

Juan Diaz is the driving force behind Burgh Town FC’s U11s team, dedicating countless volunteer hours alongside his full-time job as a secondary school teacher. Juan creates a positive, supportive environment where every child is valued, regardless of ability.

Impact on Health Award

Winner: Apricity Yoga

Apricity Yoga transforms lives through inclusive, adaptive yoga and breathwork that supports health and wellbeing at every stage of life. In local care homes, their Armchair Yoga programme has reduced depression, isolation, and physical decline - restoring joy, mobility, and connection for older adults. Clients have come off long-term medication, regained mobility after injury, and seen real improvements in their quality of life and independence.

Inclusion & Diversity Award

sponsored by England Golf

Winner: Boston Tennis Club

Passionate about making tennis inclusive for all ages and abilities, over the past year, Boston Tennis Club has expanded their programme to welcome more members of the community with disabilities and additional needs. Highlights include hosting a Disability Tennis Festival and growing weekly visually impaired tennis sessions.

Outstanding Service to Sport & Physical Activity Award

sponsored by The Fitness Group

Winner: Bailey Greetham-Clark

Bailey founded Be Great Fitness as a teenager during the pandemic. Be Great Fitness offers free movement sessions in care homes, schools, and communities, and an online platform making exercise accessible to care homes.

Positive Experiences for Children & Young People Award

sponsored by Chestnut Homes

Winner: Lincolnshire Cricket

Lincolnshire Cricket been recognised for this award for their inclusive approach to making cricket accessible to, and enjoyable for, child and young people across the county, regardless of ability or background.

Unsung Hero Award

sponsored by Skegness Gateway and Breheny Civil Engineering

Winner: Ben Ambrose

Ben Ambrose has volunteered for nearly a decade with Gainsborough Dolphins Swimming Club - currently taking on the role of coach and club leader - and creating a positive environment where swimmers of all abilities can thrive.

People's Choice Award

sponsored by Better

Winner: Girls That Hike

Girls that Hike is an inspiring grassroots initiative that since its inception in February 2025 has made a remarkable difference to women’s mental and physical health. The group creates a safe and inclusive walking community for women of all ages, improving the mental and physical health of participants.

Celebrating the Power of Physical Activity

Celebrating the life-changing power of being active, this year’s awards brought to life the incredible range of projects and achievements across Lincolnshire, sharing the inspiring journeys and heartfelt stories of our winners and finalists from every category.

Emma Tatlow, CEO of Active Lincolnshire, commented:

“Huge congratulations to the winners and finalists of the Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2025.

“The Awards evening celebrates the outstanding individuals, clubs, groups, and organisations whose passion and commitment are providing life changing experiences to people across Lincolnshire through physical activity. This year’s finalists and winners have once again shown how sport and physical activity matter and how being active transforms people’s lives, benefiting social, mental and physical health. The inspiring stories shared throughout the night highlighted the exceptional efforts of those who give their time to help others get active and create more inclusive opportunities, as well as individuals positively changing their own lives through sport and physical activity.

"We are proud to celebrate their achievements and recognise the positive impact they have across the county.”

Shaun Fisher, Better Health Intervention Manager for the Central Region, said:

“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of the Lincolnshire Sport & Physical Activity Awards.

“As headline sponsor, we’re proud to celebrate the remarkable individuals and organisations transforming lives through sport and physical activity. Whatever someone’s current level of fitness, taking small steps to be more active, more often, can bring lasting benefits to their health and wellbeing. This year’s winners and finalists are a powerful reminder of how sport and physical activity enrich lives and strengthen communities.

"We’re honoured to have played a part in recognising their achievements.”

You can view all the finalists for our 2025 Awards and find out more about them here.