JANETTE Cardy achieved one of her lifetime ambitions by returning to the Oxfordshire Sports Awards – and was stunned to walk away with the Sportswoman of the Year accolade.

The 43-year-old, from Witney, beat off competition from athlete Hannah England and motorbike racer Georgina Polden to lift the top honour at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium.

And a packed crowd at the glittering awards night, listened in silence as the personal trainer revealed her inspirational recovery from serious illness to win European Championship gold and World Championship silver in aquathlon this year.

The evening marks all that is good about sport in Oxfordshire, with a tremendous spread of people in the room, ranging from international athletes and gold medal winners, all the way through to young volunteers and up-and-coming stars.

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A glittering night, organised by the Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, saw the biggest-ever crowd in attendance.

And it was the story of Cardy that left the audience in awe of her recovery.

“I was here in 2010 and won the Go Active inspiration award for what I was doing in the community,” she explained.

“I thought the awards were just so inspiring and from that day I wanted to come back and be part of it again.

“Unfortunately, just after that I had a serious illness and had a stroke.

“I just hit rock bottom and didn’t know what was in store.

“But it was then I decided that I had to remember what my goal was and achieve it.

“With so much support from my family and friends, as well as Fusion Lifestyle, who have been a great help too with my training, I have managed to come back and it’s unbelievable to be here again.”

Aquathlon encompasses swimming and running, with Cardy explaining it seemed the obvious sport to get back into.

“I have always swum and so naturally to do swimming seemed sensible,” she said.

“And I found the running part fun, so it all made sense.

“My goal was to wear a GB vest, which I did in 2013 and finished fifth in the World Championships.

“Then this year I won the European Championships and managed to pick up silver in the World Championships.

“But to be here again and to win this is just incredible.”

As reported in Saturday’s paper, Sir Roger Bannister was given a Lifetime Achievement Award to mark the 60th anniversary of his sub-four-minute mile.

Although unable to attend on the night, a video message was played to the crowd from Sir Roger, who expressed it was “a very special honour” to be recognised.

ROLL OF HONOUR

Sportsman of year

Winner: Dan Rivers (shooting)

Runners-up: Jack Brooks (cricket) & Ben Watson (weightlifting)

Sportswoman of year

Winner: Janette Cardy (aquathlon)

Runners-up: Hannah England (athletics) & Georgina Polden (motorcycling)

Club of year

Winner: Zappi’s Cycling Club

Runners-up: City of Oxford Swimming Club & Wallingford Netball Club

Team of year

Winner: Henley Hawks Women (rugby)

Runners-up: Oxford City Stars (ice hockey) & Oxfordshire men’s county side (tennis)

Coach of year

Winner: Darren Elliott (Oxford City Stars Ice Hockey)

Runners-up: Paula Fontaine (Oxford City Netball) & Mark Howell (Henley Golf)

Junior sportsperson

Winner: Alexis Canter (tennis)

Runners-up: Dominic MacLachlan (rugby and hockey) & Jasmine Tranter (racketball/squash/badminton)

Junior sports team

Winner: Oxfordshire Under 17 cricket team

Runners-up: Bicester Blue Fins Swimming Club & Didcot Girls School under 14 football

Disability award

Winner: Beth Simmons (tennis)

Runners-up: Gabriel Miller (karate) & Witney Wolves (rugby)

Unsung hero

Winner: Lesley Killpack (netball)

Runners-up: Tony Betteridge (basketball) & Martyn Cross (cricket)

Young Volunteer

Winner: Holly Clack (football)

Runners-up: Lois MacDonald (netball) & Laura Scragg (hockey)

ACTIVE WORKPLACE OF THE YEAR

Winner: Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Runner-up: CoreFilling Limited

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Sir Roger Bannister

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