Adam Biggs won the coveted Player of the Year Award at Old Orleans as the Coventry Jets ended their 2010 season with their annual awards night. It capped a memorable year for Biggs which has seen him take the reigns as Head Coach of the Jets Youth programme as well as scale Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, in aid of charity The Myasthenia Gravis Association.
The evening also included awards for the junior and youth kitted programmes as well as seeing two more people inducted into the Coventry American Football Hall of Fame.
Youth Academy Head David Cowen kicked off proceedings with the awards for the junior kitted team. Cowen's squad of 14-16 year olds completed a memorable second season that saw the Jets make the playoffs for the first time, losing to eventual victors, the London Warriors, at the quarter-final stage. Offensive MVP went to running back Denzel Harmitt-Alexander with Jordan Sinclair scooping the Defensive Award. Chris Hann took home Player of the Year for his contribution on both sides of the ball.
Biggs then stepped up to hand out the youth kitted prizes, Captain Sam Knight was named the outstanding player on Special Teams, whilst Matt Gough took Lineman of the Year. Sean Hanlon won the Offensive MVP award and rookie wide receiver Alex Preece took the main award with Coaches' Player of the Year. TJ Chieza was a double award winner, adding Defensive MVP to his Player's Player of the Year prize.
General Manager Gerry McManus was joined by Nathan Lumsden of sponsors, and hosts, Old Orleans to dish out the awards to the Britbowl finalists. Wide receiver Courtney Pope, who lead the league with 15 touchdown receptions was named Offensive MVP with David Saul taking the Defensive equivalent. Saul was also league leader with nine interceptions, he also equalled Jason Allen's post-season record for the club with three picks in the semi-final at Bristol.
Linemen of the year were centre Paul Rickhuss on offense and end Kevin Mills for the defensive unit. Mark Wade was named Rookie of the Year in a category that proved far more competitive than in previous seasons.
Player's Player went to retiring legend Mark Cohen. Affectionately known as "Bird", Cohen came out of retirement with the Jets 0-4 and helped spring a turn around in the second half of the season as Coventry went on to win five of their final six games.
Launched in 2009 with the inductions of McManus and James O'Grady, the Jets added a further pair to the Coventry American Football Hall of Fame. Cohen was a shoe in for the class of 2010 and was deservedly joined by Graham Huber who has dedicated over 25 years to the sport and helped breathe new life into the game in the City.
There was one final presentation as Cohen took a commemorative jug to mark his century of touchdown receptions for the club. His hundredth score for the club came in the semi-final victory over the Bristol Aztecs and punctuated an incredible spell with the club lasting six seasons.
As their 2010 campaign ends the Jets are already deep into preparations for their eighth season of American Football. They have recently announced plans for a series of rookie training sessions beginning on October the 24th at their Pinley RFC training base.
For more details on the Coventry Jets and to find out how you can be part of their 2011 campaign, please visit their website www.covjets.com or follow them on Twitter www.twitter.com/CoventryJets.