Forces Sports Awards: Who Are The Winners?

Netball, boxing, karate and triathlon have all been honoured at the UK Armed Forces Sports Awards announced at the RAF Club in London.

Sportswoman of the Year is Army Boxing’s Corporal Steph Wroe, who, despite a serious eye injury which threatened her career, last year fought off the very best to claim the English National Welterweight title.

Her rivals for the title were the RAF’s Senior Aircraftman Sian Williams, an outstanding Welsh International and RAF rugby captain, and Air Engineering Technician Anthea Kaptein, the Royal Navy’s multi-talented netball, football and basketball player.

Sportsman of the Year was an equally difficult choice. The winner was Royal Marines Corporal Richard Ebbage, a Physical Training Instructor at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone, Devon.

He has turned his talent for endurance sports into real international potential in triathlon.

World Champion Army wakeboarder Sgt Dale Crossley and the RAF’s No 1 tennis player, director of tennis and Invictus Games director, Squadron Leader Chris Evans, were his main rivals.

Team of the Year is the multi-world title-winning Army Karate team.

They were chosen ahead of the RAF men’s skeleton team, who have just won their 11th successive inter-services title, and the Royal Navy women’s netball team who won their first inter-services title in 23 years.

But their coach and UKAF coach, Lieutenant Commander Linda Cairney, who masterminded their success, was chosen as Sports Official of the Year, ahead of Premier League football official, the Army’s Warrant Officer Class 2 Andy Halliday, and the RAF’s Sports Parachuting mastermind Sergeant Ady King.

There has been an amazing standard of entries again this year and former winners of the coveted titles on hand at the RAF Club in London’s Piccadilly included Rio Olympic Rowing Champions along with leading forces sports officials and guest of honour, Lt Gen Richard Nugee, Chief of Defence People, presenting the awards.