Hilary sails away with prestigious award
Hilary sails away with prestigious award
Hilary Lister scoops award for inspiration at London ceremony
News release - Thursday 17th November 2005
Hilary Lister, who showed amazing courage to become the first quadriplegic to sail solo, across the English Channel in August, was last night awarded the ‘Helen Rollason Award for Inspiration’ at the 2005 Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards.
Hilary, whose story captured the hearts of the nation since her cross channel trip, received a standing ovation as she collected her award. Having learnt to sail just two years earlier, Lister, 33, from Faversham, who is able to move only her head, eyes and mouth, overcame severe physical pain to navigate her boat unaided through one of the busiest and most treacherous shipping lanes in the world. Using a sip-puff mechanism to control her boat, sipping and puffing down two straws to adjust the sails and to steer her boat, ‘Malin’ she crossed from Dover to Calais in just over six hours. The remarkable feat also saw Hilary enter the record books for completing the world's longest solo sail by a quadriplegic.
The prestigious awards, now in their 18th year, honour outstanding achievement at every level of women's sport in ten different categories, nine of which are adjudicated by a panel of Sunday Times judges, in addition to a public vote for the overall ‘Sportswoman of the Year’.
Hilary commented: “I was really surprised to even be nominated for this award, so to go up on stage and receive it, was quite overwhelming. Part of the reason I dared to realise my dream of sailing across the Channel was to raise people’s awareness of disability, and to show that disabled people can live challenging and exciting lives. If this affects just one person’s life, to get them out on the water, or even just out of the house, that will be amazing. I am so proud of the team I have had behind me, both Pindar and my other sponsors, but also everyone else who has helped me along the way – I can’t thank them enough and am already planning my next challenge.”
Other award winners included the England women cricket team for regaining the Ashes this summer, and Zara Phillips, this year's individual gold medalist at the European three-day Eventing Championships at Blenheim Palace, who was crowned overall Sportswoman of the Year. Anna Hemmings, also sponsored by Pindar, was awarded the ‘Champions Award’ for her fantastic achievements in competitive canoeing this year.
The Awards evening took place at Old Billingsgate Market in London where guests included James Cracknell, Mike Tindall, Kirsty Gallacher, Gabby Logan and Lord Sebastian Coe. Highlights of the Awards will be televised on Sky Sports 2 this evening at 18.30.
Chairman of the Pindar Group, Andrew Pindar commented:
“To hear the applause and see the standing ovation Hilary received when she collected her award last night was a magical moment. She is a remarkable young woman whose positive outlook, dogged determination and tremendous courage has touched the lives of so many. We are immensely proud to have been part of her Channel challenge and will continue to support her in her resolve to inspire others and change attitudes towards disability."
For further information please contact:
Kate Fairclough – Pitch PR
T: 0207 494 1616
M: 07789 268814
E: kate@pitchpr.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Hilary Lister
For more information visit www.hilarylister.co.uk
About the Pindar Group
Pindar focuses on the development and provision of integrated services to information rich publishers, from concept to delivery.
Parent company G A Pindar & Son Ltd, is the holding company of its three main subsidiaries, AlphaGraphics Inc, Pindar Set and Pindar plc.
AlphaGraphics, the rapid response franchise operations, represented in 14 countries and more than 280 stores worldwide, has maintained and strengthened its leadership position by remaining committed to technical innovation, quality leadership and high levels of service.
Pindar Set, the directories operations, has developed a suite of advert management software on behalf of its customer Yell, and has now extended this dedicated service to its USA team Yellow Book.
Pindar plc continues to help its customers publish high-quality business communications in print and electronic media at six UK and one US location. As a specialist in catalogue production the range of services includes: design, digital photography, page make-up, revolutionary content management, internet technology, mailing, fulfilment, storage and distribution. Print capabilities span digital, sheet-fed and web offset. The family-owned company was founded in 1836 in Scarborough, UK, where its head office remains today.
For more information please visit www.pindar.com
Page last updated on 24 March 2008 at 12:38