Talent and tenacity is celebrated at 2025 Leeds Sports Awards

Famous names and unsung heroes took centre stage at the 22^nd annual Leeds Sports Awards ceremony.

Organised by Sport Leeds and Leeds City Council, the ceremony is held each year to celebrate the achievements of athletes – of all ages and levels – as well as coaches, administrators and volunteers.

And the 2025 edition of the event – hosted at Leeds’s Carriageworks Theatre – did exactly that, with close to 20 different awards being presented to some extremely deserving recipients.

The evening’s winners included Leeds Rhinos Wheelchair Rugby League coach and former player James Simpson, who took home the coveted Sporting Pride of Leeds title.

Previous recipients of the award – which recognises work done by an individual, club or organisation to raise the profile of the city as a centre of sporting excellence – include Rob Burrow, Eddie Gray and Josh Warrington.

A Lifetime Achievement Award, meanwhile, went to Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington. The same award was presented posthumously to former Rhinos chief scout Bob Pickles.

Joan Young’s tireless work supporting netball across the city was recognised with a Special Contribution Award.

Local, national and international athletics stalwart Dr Ian Richards and City of Leeds Diving Club fundraisers Fiona Croft and Becky Simmonds were all winners in the Outstanding Sports Volunteer category.

There were awards, too, for local stars of the Olympics and Paralympics, including Georgie Brayshaw, Katy Marchant, Tom Pidcock, Hannah Cockroft and Kadeena Cox.

Crossgates Harriers took first place in the Community Club category, with a highly-commended mention going to Methley Athletic AFC.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said:

“The Leeds Sports Awards is one of the highlights of our city’s sporting calendar and an event that means a huge amount to many people.

“It’s an opportunity to salute the sporting community as a whole, with the important contribution made by grassroots organisations – as well as volunteers and other unsung heroes – being rightfully celebrated alongside the high-profile achievements of Leeds Rhinos, Leeds United and our Olympians and Paralympians.

“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at this year’s awards, you have done yourself and the city proud.”

Read the full list of winners.