IT’S OFFICIAL! Northern’s Josie Barker is a star in the making.
The club’s youngest ever women’s champion has received a highly prestigious award from Sport Newcastle as one of the city’s Rising Stars of Sport.
Josie was one of a select group of sixteen young sportsmen and women whose outstanding progress was recognised at the grassroots sports charity’s annual awards.
The swanky, black tie dinner at Newcastle’s Civic Centre saw the Gosforth Academy student receive her award from the city’s Lord Mayor Cllr Ian Graham. Nearly fifty youngsters were nominated for the Rising Star awards which were first introduced in 1979. Past winners include Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendleton, World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson and Newcastle United legend Paul Gascoigne.
Josie shared the evening spotlight with fellow winners who included national champions from judo, karate and swimming plus internationals at basketball, rowing and rugby.
Northumbria’s top junior had soared up the national Under 17 rankings to the dizzy heights of fourth in the country.
That rise earned the judges’ accolade together with her previous contribution to Gosforth Academy’s triumph as National Schools Champions.
Sport Newcastle is a charity that supports grass roots sport in the city and has already provided funds for Northern’s junior coaching and Junior Open tournament.
In his support for Josie’s nomination, Head Coach Richard Vitty said: “Josie is a quiet, unassuming girl who doesn't seek the limelight. Her calm exterior, however, masks a steely determination that lies beneath and really comes to the fore when she competes on a squash court.”
