Celebrating Excellence: Inaugural 2025 ICE Awards Night Shines Spotlight on Britain’s Ice Skating Community

britishiceskating
2 hours ago
4 min read

On 29 November 2025, the ice skating community came together for the first ever ICE Awards — a landmark ceremony celebrating the outstanding contributions of coaches, volunteers, officials and clubs across the country. The inaugural event brought together the award finalists, their friends and family, BIS Board members and other key stakeholders, for an inspiring evening hosted by Mark Hanretty.

The ICE Awards were created to honour and recognise the pivotal work carried out behind the scenes, from dedicated coaches nurturing talent, to volunteers and officials ensuring the smooth running of clubs and events, and entire clubs whose passion and community spirit help keep skating alive from grassroots to elite levels.

A Night of Celebration and Community

Mark Hanretty brought his characteristic charm and charisma to the evening!

The evening was a powerful reminder of how much goes on behind the scenes to support skating across the UK. The room was filled with finalists, their families and friends, senior figures from British Ice Skating and many other key members of the skating community — all gathered to recognise and applaud those who dedicate their time, energy, and passion to the sport.

By honouring coaches, volunteers, officials and clubs, the ICE Awards - planned to now be an annual celebration - emphasise that skating is more than competition and performance. It is underpinned by dedication, community spirit, mentorship and a shared love for the ice. The Awards celebrated those who make it possible — those who teach, support, organise, include and inspire.

Meet The Winners

A huge congratulations to the winners on this well-deserved recognition of all their hard work:

Young Coach of the Year: Lily Bakhtiari

Inspirational Volunteer: Penelope Currall

Club Champion: Malcolm Robinson

Community Champion: Becky Smith

Inclusive Coach of the Year: Adrian Jack

Club of the Year: Deeside Synchronized Skating Club

Competition Champion: Tina Noble

High Performance Coach of the Year: Simon Briggs

Inclusion Champion: Annie Hodgson

Coach of the Year: Chris Boyadji

Volunteer of the Year: Sue Tweddell

Coaches' Coach of the Year: Kevin Marshall

Officials' Official of the Year: Mary Anderson

Special Recognition

In addition to the expected awards announced on the night, a number of additional recognition awards for exceptional service and contribution to British ice skating were announced:

Special Recognition for Exceptional Service: Jane Brown

Sadie Donnelly

Hilary Selby Honorary Recognition for Exceptional Voluntary Service:

Wendy Cherry

Felicity Kitching

Sally Sherard-Bornshin

Special Award for Contributions to British Ice Skating:

The Currall family

Looking to the Future

British Ice Skating looks forward to making the awards and the celebration event an annual occasion. By shining a light on those who give so much the Awards help ensure their work is valued, appreciated and supported. We hope that this first iteration of the ICE Awards will be remembered not only for trophies and applause, but for a renewed sense of belonging, commitment and collaboration amongst the skating community.

We congratulate all winners, finalists and nominees — and extend heartfelt thanks to every coach, volunteer, official and club who plays a part in making British Ice Skating the thriving, inclusive community it is. ------------------