Kent’s sporting stars have been awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List with Charlotte Edwards now a CBE, with both Lizzy Yarnold and Charlotte Evans awarded MBE’s.
The trio have been awarded after a remarkable past twelve months with both Lizzy Yarnold and Charlotte Evans honoured for Winter Olympics gold medals.
For Kent captain Charlotte Edwards, the CBE is the highlight of a remarkable year, having led England to back-to-back Women’s Ashes successes, as well as being instrumental in her team making the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 final in Bangladesh in March.
At the start of April Edwards also became only the second women’s player to ever be named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. This accolade was followed earlier this week (Monday June 9) when ECB named her as the England Women’s Cricketer of the Year – the fourth time she has won this award during her 18 year international career.
In 2008 Edwards was named as the ICC’s Women’s Player of the Year, and in 2009 led England to a double triumph in the ICC Women’s World Cup and ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournament.
ECB Chief Executive, David Collier, said: “On behalf of everyone at the ECB, I would like to pass on our sincere congratulations to Charlotte Edwards and Jenny Gunn on their CBE and MBE awards. This is fitting recognition for both players after leading the England women’s side during an exceptionally successful 12 months for the team.
“Charlotte, Jenny and their England teammates are all wonderful ambassadors for the wider women’s game, and through their work with Chance to Shine they act as inspirational role models for young players in schools across the country.”
Commenting on her award, Charlotte Edwards said: “I am absolutely delighted. This is a huge honour and rounds-off an extraordinary year for me and the England women’s side. I am so proud of everything that the team has achieved over the last 12 months – to win back-to-back Women’s Ashes Series and reach an ICC World Twenty20 final is pretty special.”
Lizzy Yarnold had the most remarkable past twelve months, securing skeleton gold in the Winter Olympics.
The 25 year old from West Kingsdown near Brands Hatch was crowned overall World Cup champion before blitzing her rivals by almost a second to win Olympic women’s skeleton gold in Sochi.
‘My hands started shaking as soon as I saw the envelope was from the Palace,’ said Yarnold.
‘Getting an MBE feels so different to the awards you achieve as an athlete because those are the ones you have been working towards day after day in training.
‘My gold medal has helped give winter sports in Britain more exposure and hopefully this will continue with this latest honour.’
Meanwhile, Charlotte Evans has been awarded an MBE for helping guide Kelly Gallagher to Paralympics gold in Sochi.
The 23 year old from Chatham picked up gold in the Women’s Super-G to help secure Team GB one of their best ever medal hauls in a Winter Paralympics.
On hearing the news, Evans tweeted:
“So Friday 13th isn’t so unlucky after all. I feel so honoured and happy, thanks everyone for all your kind messages.”