TASS Athletes Taste Victory At Army Awards
TASS athletes are toasting success following a star-studded celebration of sporting talent.
The Army Sports Awards 2019 took place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst with special guests including Olympian Steph Twell and World Cup footballer Millie Bright.
And a trio of TASS athletes picked up three of the top prizes – underpinning a collaboration with the Army that continues to foster world class performance.
“It is great to see that our partnership with the Army goes from strength to strength,” said Guy Taylor, National Director for TASS.
“During the last five years we have built a system that is starting to produce some high-class athletes.
“That system helped to develop three major award winners this year.
“And next year could even be better with 12 Army athletes still in contention to be selected for Tokyo 2020.”
LSgt Natty Ngwenya, Cpl Danni Hodgkinson and Ocdt Kay Bryson all claimed top honours at The Army Sports Awards 2019.
English heavyweight boxing champion Ngwenya was crowned Sportsman of the Year following a series of high-profile wins in the ring.
“I want to thank the MOD for giving me this opportunity,” he said. “I’m going out there and the Army has made me who I am and given me a leg to stand on.”
Danni Hodgkinson was thrilled to be presented with the ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ Award
Track star Hodgkinson ran away with the Sportswoman of the Year award and admitted: “I am just so happy to win this award as the competition out there was very high.
“I’ve been running for a lot of years, so to win the award at the age of 35 is a really big achievement.”
Modern pentathlete Bryson lifted the Rising Star prize on a night when athletes, coaches, teams and leaders were recognised for their contribution to Army sport.
Kay Bryson was presented with the Rising Star Award
And there were several nods to the contribution TASS continues to make in shaping the Army stars of the future.
“The Army Elite Sport Programme has been engaged with TASS since 2016,” explained Lt Col (Retd) Tom Scarr, Army Elite Sport Programme Manager.
“The investment has delivered staggering results, made a huge difference in the lives of athlete and added maximum value to the development of elite sporting talent in the Army.
“TASS has created an environment in which the British Army’s Elite athletes have opportunities to maximise their sporting abilities.
“In addition, the Army Elite Sport Programme has benefited from the services provided by TASS.
“Army Elite Athletes are better physically prepared, have a greater understanding of nutrition for performance, are more psychologically attuned to competition events and overall results demonstrate improvements across all sports disciplines.”