Active Wandsworth Sports Awards: You are the next generation of sporting heroes...

The 29-year-old was the special guest at the Active Wandsworth Sports Awards 2014 on a night where the great, committed and good were honoured for their achievements.

Guest presenter David Garrido, of Sky Sports fame, added to Joyce’s sentiment by telling the audience that the sporting stars of tomorrow could be in the room.

Garrido has interviewed legends including Lewis Hamilton and Rory McIlroy, both of whom, he told the room, started out at a small club and attending award nights such as this.

He said: “Nights like this are absolutely huge, people need to be recognised and rewarded and to be shown that all the effort they put in is worth it.

“This may only be a small step, but it might lead to much greater things.”

He added: “It’s clear to see that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the sporting talent in this borough.

Happy? Kace Bartley chats with Sky Sports David Garrido after picking up her Sports person of the year award            

“Just look at the London Youth Games, Wandsworth absolutely bossed it and to win it with a record margin of victory and points tally - that just goes to show there is such a massive pool of talent here, and we have to make the most of it.”

Nikki Strachan, who was named London Youth Games coach of the year for her work with the victorious volleyball team, said: “It’s great that the local talent and the young people to get recognised for their achievements and the hard work they put in.

“There is a lot of talent in sporting or coaching, and sometimes it goes under the radar – so it’s great to see people getting the acknowledgement for the hard work they put in.”

Winner: Nikki Strachan was named London Youth Games coach of the year

She added: “Sport has been huge part of my life, you get good press and you get bad press, but coaching a minority sport sometimes means you don’t any press – so it’s good to put it out there and say there are opportunities to do a lot of different things.

“It’s a positive thing for young people. It gives them discipline, a sense of work, team ethics and communication. There are a lot of skills in sport that are transferable to the real world.”

Earlsfield ABC boxers show off their skills

The London Cheerleaders show off their moves

Motivational: David Garrido and Joe Joyce share a chat

Joyce was in attendance with his fellow Earlsfield ABC boxers, who put on a show alongside the London Cheerleaders as part of the night’s entertainment.

He said: “Nights like this are a great motivation for the kids because they can see that if they work hard enough they can get the awards. They see me and hopefully they think they can do the same.”

He added: “The volunteers have such dedication – without them the clubs don’t exist. Especially at Earslfield - they aren’t paid and they give their time so freely.”

The night’s winners

Winners from Herne Hill Harriers U13 girls cross-country squad (from left to right): Eloise O'Shauhnesy, Lucy Olson, Kayah Wilkes and Lily Newton

Community sports team of the year: Herne Hill Harriers girls U13 cross-country team
Nominated: FC Porto of London Dragons U14s

Winners from Graveney Girls volleyball team (from left to right): Rebecca Young, Zoe Forrester and Izabel Wocial

School sports team of the year: Graveney Girls volleyball team
Nominated: Belleville Primary School cricket team; Belleville Primary gymnastics team

Winners from Dolphins Swimming Club (left to right): Pam Hall, Sally Goodyere, Andrea Lavelle and Michael Sporik, with mayor Stuart Thom

The mayor’s award: Dolphins swimming club
Nominated: Samuel Ovakimian, Rafal Radosz

Winner: Alain Jason with Joe Joyce

Coach/instructor of the year: Alain Jason (Spencer cricket club)
Nominated: Mark Coyle (Mass FC & Training Resource Centre), Les Johnson (Herne Hill Harriers)

Winners from the Wandsworth Youth Support Team (left to right): Natalie Green, Mojisola Oderinwale, Jayne Gates and Rishelle Barrett

Physical activity project of the year: Wandsworth youth support team
Nominated: FC Porto of London work experience programme, Premier League Kicks

Winners from Bedhead Football Club (left to right): Lawrence Batty and Adam Hines, with Joe Joyce

Sports club of the year: Bedhead FC
Nominated: Earlsfield ABC, FC Porto of London

Voluntary services to sport and physical activity (above): Zoe Appleton, Anthony Burnham-Marshalleck, Yasin Chanawala, Derek Fordham, Dave Hall, Cindy Hanegraaf, Tony Pretty, Morag Rea, Patrick Walker, Sheila White

Sonny Storrie young volunteer of the year award (above): Michael Dornelly 
Nominated: Jamilio Ali, Hannah Gleed, Yusuf Lagden, Chris Murray, Nathan Yearwood

Young volunteers runners-up (from left to right): Yusef Lagden, Chris Murray, Jamilio Ali and Hannah Gleed

Outstanding contribution to sport and physical activity award (above): Pete Mulholland (Hercules Wimbledon AC)
Nominated (below): James McDonald (Herne Hill Harriers), Jane Walters (Westside FC)

London Youth Games coach of the year: Nikki Strachan
Nominated: Allan Jobling/Tarek Abdulla, Kito Jason

London Youth Games Para Games athlete of the year (above): Matthew Gamble
Nominated: Demi Jayne Berberade, Lucia Rogers

David Burns award (above): Reiss Ormonde Cunningham
Nominated: Katy Ann McDonald, Oscar Millard

John WE Davis London Youth Games team of the year award (above): Girls’ cricket team
Nominated: Boys’ hockey team, girls’ hockey team, boys’ judo team, boys’ volleyball team, girls’ volleyball team

Junior sports person of the year award (above): Tian Isidore
Nominated: Ore Adamson, Leah Gonzales Edwards, Katy-Ann McDonald, Rechmial Miller, Alexandra Snowdon

Runner up: Katy-Ann McDonald

Runner up: Leah Gonzales Edwards

Sports person of the year: Kace Bartley is flanked by runners up Cameron Carrington and Julia Scardone

Sports person of the year award (above): Kace Bartley
Nominated: Cameron Carrington, Eddie Luchford, Marvin Popoola, Julia Scardone