BBC East Midlands Sports Awards 2011

My blog from last weeks BBC East Midlands Sports Awards 2011:

What a fantastic night. I'm still buzzing from it. The BBC Look East team put on a brilliant awards ceremony as did the host venue, Bedford University.

The East Midlands is bursting with sporting talent and tonight I was fortunate to meet some of those gifted athletes.

Upon arrival at Bedford University I was greeted with a glass of champagne and a welcoming buffet. I found a spot to stand and settled in to some tasty morsels from the buffet when I was approached and asked; ‘Are you on your own, has someone blown you out?’

The man behind this rather forward question was none other than Olympic gold medallist Martin Cross. He was stood with another Olympic gold medallist rower and fellow MBE, Tim Foster. I’ll admit now that I didn’t know who Martin was but I did recognise Tim from the ‘Gold Fever’ TV show about the coxless four crew [Steve Redgrave, James Cracknell, Matthew Pinsent & Tim Foster] preparing for the Olympics in 2000. Martin’s accomplishments were only revealed to me when I was introduced to his business partner Ian Rowe. Between them they have built up a new way of encouraging and motivating children through the power of self-belief, something that all athletes’ have to have in abundance to become ‘super human’ - they've called it Gold Fever - check out the website www.gold-fever.net

We chatted for a while about the sort of people that we look up to, the ones we regard as ‘super human’ the ones who have done amazing things and realise that they all started out as what we would call ‘ordinary people’ – another miss-used term. Then with some persuasion I get Ian to talk about the ‘super human’ feat he will be attempting – to row across the Atlantic in record time [that’s under a month in time]. He’ll soon be more than qualified as a Gold Fever motivator and inspiration to the children he works with.

Then we we’re all ushered to our seats in one of Bedford Universities theatres.

It’s already been a great night but it’s about to get even better when the audience and I are witness to a celebration of some of the counties best athletes & sporting volunteers from past, present and ones to watch for the future. They include; Charly Hull [golf], Sam Robinson [volunteer & basket ball player], Jody Cundy MBE [cycling], Gail Emms [badminton], Simon Clegg [football], Chrissie Wellington [Ironman] and many more.

Then I realise I have been chatting with two of the stars of the night when Martin Cross is welcomed on to the stage to present Tim Foster MBE with his award.

It was a delight to attend such a well put together awards ceremony and I’ll be avidly following all the names I have now been introduced to, especially as some of them will be competing at the 2012 Olympics.

Thanks to BBC Look East for the invitation and a fantastic night!