Pictures and video: Shropshire Energize Awards 2015

The cream of Shropshire's sporting crop were honoured for their achievements and dedication to physical activity in their communities at the awards ceremony held at Shrewsbury Town Football Club's Greenhous Meadow.

Former England and British Lions rugby star Neil Back presented the awards after speaking of his own successful career.

And two winners at different ends of the age spectrum stole the show.

• Coach of the Year: Louise Pugh - Louise was nominated for her commitment in developing cricket for female players of all ages in Shropshire. Formerly a high level cricket player herself, Louise is the only female ECB tutor currently qualified to deliver courses in Shropshire. She coached the Shropshire Cricket Board’s U11 girls team to win Shropshire’s first inter-county T20 competition.

• Volunteer of the Year: Christopher Hinks - Christopher is chairman of Tennis Shropshire and known for the energy he has devoted to the promotion of tennis in Shropshire over the years. As part of Tennis Shropshire he has set up numerous initiatives and some of these have now been rolled out nationally.

• Young Volunteer of the Year: Shannon Noon - Shannon, 15, has played a major role in the Dawley Re-active over-50s Connecting Communities programme. She has inspired young people to get more involved in their communities and has given them the skills to take control of the project and deliver more than 40 sessions to the over-50s community. Shannon has also recently been honoured at the House of Lords for her work.

• Sports Performance of the Year: Ashley Chesters - Ashley, who plays at Hawkstone Park Golf Club, hit the headlines this year when he finished 12th at the Open. Chesters, 26, was making his second consecutive appearance at the prestigious major. He then finished undefeated as Great Britain and Ireland secured a record-breaking victory over the United States in the Walker Cup last month. The two-time former European champion also impressed on England duty in the Home Internationals scoring a hat-trick of wins in August and represented the nation at the European Men’s Team Championship earlier this year.

• Junior Sports Performance of the Year: Emily Price - Golfer Emily, 15, has this year reduced her handicap to +1. She retained her crown as Shropshire School Girls U19s champion and retained the Midlands U19s Championships. Emily qualified for the National U19 Championships but was unable to take her place due to an international call up to represent England in the 29th Vagliano Trophy. She has played for England nine times in the past 12 months, winning eight of her nine matches.

• Community Club of the Year: Bridgnorth RFC - Established in 1962, Bridgnorth RFC has 20 teams spanning ages four to 60, including men and women. In competition the club has seen huge successes this year, winning the Midlands 2 West (North League), reaching the RFU Intermediate Cup Final playing at Twickenham and the women’s team completing their first season undefeated. The club are working hard to make Bridgnorth a rugby town.

• Community Project of the Year: Tackle Your Health - Working in partnership with AFC Telford United, Tackle Your Health is aimed at men aged 30 to 74 living in Telford who are inactive and in poor health.

• Employer of the Year: Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust - SaTH offers a wide range of health benefits to staff and are currently in the process of extending these services. The trust also has a Sustainable Travel Plan which encourages staff to be more engaged in sustainable travel, particularly cycling and walking.

• Newcomer of the Year: Jack Dirkin - Six-year-old Jack is involved in golf at Horsehay Village Golf Club. He trains every weekend and midweek in their golf academy and also for Shropshire U14 development squad. In 2014 he became the Shropshire U8 Golf Champion and came fourth in the UK U6 boys finals at St Andrews and was the highest placed five-year-old in the UK. He this year competed in the European U7s boys’ finals in Scotland.

• Active School Award winners: Lilleshall Primary School; Worfield Primary School; Shortwood Primary School; Julie Dean, sports co-ordinator at Longden CofE School; Stotteston Primary School; Alison Coles, key worker at Prees Primary School.

• William Penny Brooks Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to Sport and Physical Activity: Ken Jones - Ken has played for and been part of Dudleston Heath Football Club since the 1950s. The club changed to a Sunday league team in 1983 and Ken was the main driving force in getting the club going again. Known as ‘Mr Dudleston Heath’, Ken does an exceptional amount for the club. Even at the age of 76, Ken is still running the line.[/breakout]

Six-year-old Jack Dirkin was named Newcomer of the Year for his golfing achievements over the past year, which have led to predictions among those in the sport that he is a future Open champion.

His father Chris said: "We're so proud of Jack and all that he's achieved. It's beyond words really what he's achieved, and he only practices twice a week and depending on the weather and what he feels like. He enjoys other sports including cricket and rugby too but golf is his favourite."

Pensioner Ken Jones' long-standing involvement with Dudleston Heath Football Club landed him the William Penny Brookes Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to Sport and Physical Activity.

The 76-year-old has undertaken most jobs possible at the club - from playing for the club to washing the kits and cooking the sausage and chips after the games - and said he has no plans to give up anytime soon.

He said: "The club has more or less been my life, I love it. I've supported the side since I was a toddler.

"It keeps me 76 years young not old!"

Winner of Coach of the Year Louise Pugh, who was nominated for her commitment towards developing cricket or female players of all ages in Shropshire, said she was "shocked" to have been honoured.

She said: "It's something I've always done and enjoyed, I love cricket and I love working with the ladies and children. This is a fantastic honour and I'd like to thank everyone I work with and coach for this."

Christopher Hinks was named Volunteer of the Year. Mr Hinks is chairman of Tennis Shropshire and known for the energy he has devoted to the promotion of tennis in Shropshire over the years.

He said: "I'm absolutely thrilled to have been recognised. I'd like to thank my great team above all."

Shannon Noon, who has played a major role in the Dawley Re-active over 50s Connecting Communities programme and was recently honoured at the House of Lords for her hard work and dedication to the programme.

The 15-year-old said the programme was "extremely important" in the community and was pleased that had been recognised.

The winners of Sports Performance of the Year and Junior Sports Performance of the Year were won by Ashley Chesters and Emily Price, respectively. Both golfers were unable to attend the ceremony but their awards were accepted on their behalves.

Bridgnorth RFC, who were named Community Club of the Year, have 20 teams spanning ages four to 60 years old, including men and women.

Nerys Arch, women's chair, under 8s coach and club membership secretary, said: "We're delighted to have won this award as we were in a category with such fabulous entries. We're very much a community club with ages spanning from four to 60, both men and women, which is just fantastic."

Tackle Your Health, who won the Community Project of the Year award, is aimed at men aged 30 to 74 living in Telford who are inactive and in poor health.

Sid Harris, who works as one of the project's health trainers, said: "I'm accepting this on behalf of all the men who take part to improve their health and wellbeing because without them choosing to get involved this wouldn't be happening.

"We've seen some brilliant and fantastic changes, including weight loss and changes to their fitness and overall health.

"We work with men with cancer, men with MS, men undergoing rehabilitation from drug dependency, mental health issues, you name it."

Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust were named as Employer of the Year for enabling their workforce to be more physically active and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Charlotte Banks, staff involvement lead, said: "We're delighted and it's a privilege to have been named as Employer of the Year.

"It's been a bit of a journey for us and in the last couple of years it's been great to see what we do really blossoming. Really the thinking behind we what we is if you have happy staff, you have happy patients, it's a case of you get what you give."

Alexander Ford, sustainable travel plan co-ordinator, said: "A big part of what we do is the sustainable travel and the cycle awareness, it's influencing our staff to become more engaged with sustainable ways of travel, such as cycling.

"As Charlotte said, if you have happy staff, you have happy patients.We have a fantastic team at the hospitals and it's great to have been recognised in such a way.

"Thanks must also go to Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council for their support."

During the evening, schools were also recognised for their sporting achievements, winning Active School Awards. The recipients included Lilleshall Primary School, Worfield CE Primary School, Short Wood Primary School, Stottesdon CE Primary School, as well as individuals Julie Dean, sports co-ordinator at Longden CE Primary School and Alison Coles, key worker at Prees CE Primary School.

Back, a member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup winning squad, spoke of his sporting success story and how that would not have been possible without grass-roots volunteers, committed school teachers and his parents. He said: "I did not achieve this on my own. Nobody can achieve it on their own. That's why we must always remember to be thankful to them. I would not be here without them."

Next year will be the award's 10th anniversary which promises to be an even bigger year for Energize.

Chris Child, chief executive of Energize said, said: "This year is the ninth event which means next year's will be a big and extra special event which we're already looking ahead to."

David Sherratt, chair of Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin board, said: "I'm delighted with the success of this year's Energize Awards, it was a fantastic night where we celebrated the brilliant work which our nominees and winners carry out. I'd like to once again congratulate all of the people who won an Energize award as well as those who were nominated.

"It is a pleasure to be able to recognise the people, clubs and organisations that are doing such good work in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

"Although we can only acknowledge a small percentage of the people working or volunteering in sport and physical activity at the Energize Awards, we know that there are many people out there doing fantastic work.

"Without people like them, and our nominees, there would be fewer opportunities for people to find the activity that makes their heart beat faster."