With the prestigious Regional Volunteer and WCAM Youth, Junior and Mini awards scheduled for next Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium the league have released the shortlist for the Mini and Junior Awards, with the London Skolars Junior Section nominated for the prestigious Club of the Year award. A full list of nominations can be found below.
Match Official of the Year:
Leo Butler
Mini League: Shortlist – winner to be announced on the night
Team of the Year:
Medway Dragons U11s: The Dragons made at least the semi-finals at the three main festivals.
Brentwood Elvers U9s: Unbeaten in all games (including group stages) with 3 championship wins.
Elmbridge Eagles U11s: Winners at two festivals during the year looking to feed into a strong U’12’s in 2012.
Coach of the Year:
Dan Stocks: Hemel Stags first experience of RL at u’7s was facilitated by Dan Stocks who also Captained Germany to European Shield glory in 2011.
Gary Tetlow: Drove St. Albans minis section forward running their own successful festival.
Carl Horsman: Led minis coaches throughout the season, and his first year in charge.
Minis Club of the Year:
Brentwood Elvers: The club from Essex were the highest scoring club based on points score table.
Medway Dragons: Set an outstanding example to all clubs, best numbers of players and highest number of teams entered into competitions.
St Albans: The Cents ran their own festival in addition to attending others, all in their first season.
Youth and Junior League: Shortlist – winner to be announced on the night
Club of the year:
Croydon Hurricanes: Increasing their registration figures by 45% to 101 players, the South London side didn’t miss a fixture at any age group for the entirety of the season. The 12’s, 14’s and 16’s all progressing to the Play Off Stages. On the 13th of September the club signed off Clubmark, ensuring a continued commitment to the development of Rugby League in Thornton Heath.
Medway Dragons: Setting a Youth, Junior and Mini League record of 180 registered players (including their fledgling U’12 girls team), the club continues to go from strength to strength. Minor Premiers at U’12 & U’18, Challenge Shield Victors at U’12 along with a successful minis section, the future looks bright for Kent RL. 100% fixture completion, the opportunities for players to compete are ever increasing.
Brixton Bulls: 83 players registered including the biggest U’12 section in the league, driven by national volunteer of the year Philippa Robson and Bulls stalwarts Allison and Wilf Smith who have seen both sons progress through minis and juniors, the club looks to be self sustaining in 2012, with Clubmark in it’s final stages. Another club with 100% completion, two players nominated for players of the year, born out of Rob Powell’s development days, the Lambeth club look set to stay and for a very long time.
London Skolars: A mere shadow of their 2010 inclusion in the league, with over 25 players at each age group and a developing under 12’s team, the Skolars secured Professional Clubmark
accreditation highlighting their desire for excellence in all aspects of the game. Playing 30% more fixtures than last year, no games were missed in 2011, receiving some of the highest praise for their hosting ability. The U’18’s successfully secured the Youth League Shield whilst progressing to the Championship Semi Final.
Elmbridge Eagles: With 160 players embedded in an area dominated by other sports, the Eagles have seen some fantastic success in 2011 securing several minis championships, Challenge Shields and Cups. About to be accredited with Clubmark, their hosting ability has been recognised at the likes of Origin, the Challenge Shield and Minis Festivals. Their RLC regional side were recently crowned national champions, a team who’s core was made up of former juniors with hope of an u’18’s squad in 2012.
