Brighton ladies crowned winners at Sussex Sports Awards

Hogg scooped the Sport England outstanding contribution to sport award while Beth was named the Juice 107.2 young volunteer of the year.

Now in its 15th year, the 2017 Sussex Sports Awards welcomed special guest and Invictus Games champion Mike Goody, along with regular host BBC Sussex presenter Danny Pike. Both were on hand to offer their congratulations to all winners on what has been another highly successful year for the county both at elite and grassroots levels.

Winner of the outstanding contribution to sport award, Hogg has been recognised for her commitment to higher education sport in Sussex. She recently stood down as an Active Sussex trustee where she served on the original executive management board since 1999 - her input on the Human Resources committee was particularly valuable and influential.

Her team continues to grow through successful sports funding bids from Sport England. She has secured vast amounts of money from the upper academic tiers of the institution and has overall management of the University sites at Falmer, Eastbourne and Moulescoomb. She also represents the University at various conferences, delivering guest lectures and spreading the good news about her departments’ success.

Garner, winner of the young volunteer of the year award, is as an ambassador for young people across the county, alongside her chief of communication role with the Sussex County FA Youth Council.

Since September 2016, she has been instrumental in her passion for delivery of the Youth Council’s mental health focus work. Garner has successfully qualified as a mental health in sport tutor, via the organisation Student Minds and has readily championed the workshops.

In addition to this, she was invaluable in the formation of a partnership with the mental health charity, Mind. The partnership resulted in the delivery of a new nationally recognised qualification, the Mental Health in Sport and Physical Activity Workshop, which has been utilised to educate over 50 Licensed Coaches Club members. Garner’s work has not gone unnoticed on a national scale. In March, along with her fellow Youth Council members, she was invited to the Houses of Parliament, to present their vision as part of a National Mental Health in Sport Committee.

Sadie Mason MBE, Active Sussex chief executive said: “This is girl power at its finest, with these two very influential women having their hard work and dedication recognised for very diverse reasons.

"I applaud Beth who has been instrumental in her delivery of a pioneering mental health programme in sport management whilst Sarah’s career spans back decades and is fully deserving of this award for helping make sport happen across the county.”