Jessica Ennis recognised in front of home crowd at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2009
News item: Mon 14 Dec 2009
Sheffield’s world champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis was narrowly pipped at the post for the title of BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2009 by Jenson Button and Ryan Giggs. She was presented with the award for third place at the prestigious awards ceremony that took place at the Sheffield Arena on Sunday, 13th December.
Jessica was nominated for BBC Sports Personality Award after winning gold for Britain in the heptathlon at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin last August. She achieved a lifetime best performance in the track and field events held over two days.
GB Volleyball gives upward spike for Sheffield's sports economy
News item: Dec 2009
Sheffield’s sports economy has received a significant boost with news that the British Volleyball programme is remaining in the city in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The agreement between Sheffield City Council, members of the Sheffield Lighting the Flame partnership, Sheffield International Venues (SIV) and the British Volleyball Federation also ensures that several international matches and tournaments will be hosted in the city over the coming years.
Since 2007, when GB Volleyball based itself at the English Institute of Sport, more than 17 international volleyball teams have visited the city and a total of 23 European League, European Championship and World Championship matches have been played.
Financially the Sheffield economy has benefited from over £1 million of the programme’s budget being directly spent in Sheffield on accommodation, events, travel and equipment.
In May 2010, Sheffield will host a European Volleyball Championships fixture, which will see the GB men’s team play Azerbaijan on Saturday 15th May at the EIS Sheffield.
Sheffield will also host the European Women's Volleyball Championships 2nd round pool games featuring Great Britain, Israel, Slovakia and Ukraine over the weekend of 28-30 May 2010 at Pond Forge ISC.
The announcement has received support from another of Sheffield’s London 2012 hopefuls, world champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis. Ennis, who trains alongside many of the British Volleyball players at the EIS Sheffield Strength and Conditioning Gym, said
“The volleyball athletes are in the gym most days. They have an incredible work ethic and go through some very tough schedules, so it is great to see the progress they are making, I think my coach, Tony Minichiello has his eye on a few of the players who have the strength, willpower and natural athletic ability to be top performers."
Tony Minichiello agreed, saying: "Volleyball has some really special athletes who are working hard to develop their skills. There are a couple of the players who are posting incredible scores which would make any coach sit up and take notice.
Award for Resolve IT!
News item: Mon 07 Dec 2009
Ruby Slippers has been working with Resolve IT since summer 2009 and we're really pleased with the latest honour awarded to the comapny.
This time it's the turn of Managing Director and founder of Resolve IT, Andrew Seaton - he has been given the prestigious award of Young Business Person of the Year 2009. He was presented with the award at the high profile Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Business Awards dinner, which took place at Ponds Forge ISC at the beginning of December.
In the 5 years that Resolve IT have been running, Andrew has worked hard to establish a loyal customer base from across Yorkshire and nationwide. He's built up a reputation for providing succinct, quality, IT solutions and has surrounded himself with a team of highly skilled, friendly IT professionals.
Andrew commented:
“It is great to be recognised by the business community in Sheffield for the work that I do and am so passionate about. It is not often that you get the chance to go and do something that you love every day, and even fewer chances to be acknowledged and awarded for it!”
Well done Andrew and Resolve IT - we're really pleased for you!
Sheffield Successful in FIFA World CupTM Bid
News item: Weds 16 Dec 2009
England 2018 has today announced that Sheffield has been selected as a Candidate Host City as part of their bid to stage the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World CupTM.
Sheffield is one of 12 cities to be chosen following an intense bid process throughout 2009 where 16 cities battled it out to be part of the England bid. Staging games would see the city benefit from a number of social and economic benefits in the period leading up to and during the event. Sheffield along with other Applicant Host Cities were assessed on a number of criteria including the facilities at the football grounds, locations for FIFA fan fests, public viewing areas, training sites, accommodation and event infrastructure etc.
Sheffield’s bid included both grounds at Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United However in announcing Sheffield, England 2018 have also selected the Sheffield Wednesday Football Stadium as their preferred venue to host games in the city.
Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “I’m delighted that Sheffield has been chosen as a Candidate Host City but this is tinged with some sadness that only one of our grounds has been selected. There was always a possibility that this would happen and we were well aware that England 2018 might only chose one. We believe that the strength of our bid was our team work and working as a unified force, after all, our bid was a city bid.
“Nevertheless whether you’re a Blade or an Owl, the fact that Sheffield has been chosen is great for the city and we should all now be proud of Sheffield’s achievement and get behind the bid. If England is successful in bringing the World Cup to the nation, Sheffield stands to gain so much and be recognised, yet again, as a city of sport.”
England 2018 / 2022 will deliver their final bid to FIFA in May 2010. FIFA hope to announce the winning destinations in December 2010.