29 Apr Nash and Waters top the polls at awards night
The judging panel for the South Devon Athletic Club awards night had a tough job choosing their athletes of the year after a highly competitive 2023 season in which a host of club members clocked up outstanding performances.
In the end it was James Nash and Dani Waters who were chosen as the senior winners of the title, with Mark Holman and Heather Coverdale winning the awards in the veteran categories.
James Nash and Dani Waters were also named the most improved athletes of the year.
The award for coach of the year went to Steph Bartlett, while John Drennan and Rachel Irish were named clubman and clubwoman of the year.
Top spot in the men’s Grand Prix series went to Kevin Ashworth from Shaun Kirk and Rob Foster, with James Nash, Neil Jordain, Mark Holman and Roger Webb winning the age categories. Dani Waters was the women’s Grand Prix champion from Kerry Bell and Laura Ashworth. Shaun Kirk and Dani Waters recorded the most points across the GP races.
The club’s road race champion was Kevin Ashworth, with Rob Foster second and Marc Walpot third. James Nash, Roger Webb and Brian Marjoram won the men’s age categories.
Minnie Dabinett won the women’s road race title from Laura Ashworth.
Kevin Ashworth also won the Darren Turner Trophy for the off-road club championships from Rob Foster and Shaun Kirk. Age categories were won by James Nash, Mark Holman and Roger Webb.
Laura Ashworth won the ladies’ off-road championships.
Kevin Ashworth and Kerry Bell won off-road distance awards for their efforts in the Dawlish Coastal Dash, while Shaun Kirk also picked up a trophy for his run in the City to Sea Marathon.
The ultra distance off-road awards went to Jeremy Goddard for the Butcombe Ultra and Dani Waters for the Giant’s Head Ultra.
Age-graded road race awards were presented to Keith Belt for the Exmouth Express 5 Mile; Shaun Kirk for the Tavy 7; Jeremy Goddard for the Dartmoor Discovery; Dani Waters for the Exmouth Express 5 Mile; Kerry Bell for the Bideford Half and Dani Waters for the Berlin Marathon.
Picture by Steve Carr