A ’Super Woman’ teacher who has built up the most successful school gymnastics team in the UK has won top prize at the Devon Sports Awards.

Ivybridge Community College’s head of performing arts Helen Reddy won Devon Sports Coach of the Year at the awards ceremony, before taking the evening’s top honour, the Outstanding Contribution to Sport in Devon award.

Helen built up and runs the Ivybridge Gymnastics Academy at ICC. As such she oversees the team that won more national titles than any other UK school at the past two years’ British Schools Gymnastics Association floor and vault and acrobatic gymnastics championships.

The awards were held at Sandy Park, home of Exeter Chiefs rugby club, and featured Olympic gold medal rower James Cracknell as the guest speaker. They aim to celebrate the best of community sport in Devon.

Helen, who alongside her ICC commitments is also a high performance coach at Honiton Gymnastics Club, said the awards came as a complete shock.

She said: "I honestly didn’t think I was in with a chance, so I was stunned when they read out my name. It’s a real honour to be welcomed to collect an award in front of so many of your peers, so when they announced the second award I was even more astounded.

"This is about much more than me though; I’m surrounded by a team of dedicated coaches, helpers and supporters who make it possible for me to put successful procedures in place. I couldn’t do any of this without their continued support.”

Helen, a former national gymnast herself, is a British Gymnastics Level 5 coach and has been involved in the sport for more than 30 years.

The Outstanding Contribution award was chosen by judges from people shortlisted in all categories. It is designed to recognise an individual or organisation that has gone above and beyond to develop sport in the county.

Liz Slater, leisure partnership manager at Plymouth City Council and parent, who nominated Helen for the awards, said: “Helen is an inspiration to thousands of athletes and students, setting them on a path to sporting excellence, while teaching them tremendous life skills in the process.

"In my 25 years of involvement in Devon sport rarely have I witnessed a teacher and coach who has such a high level of passion, enthusiasm and a will to make a difference to young people. When Helen’s name was announced at the awards ceremony they referred to her as Super Woman – a moniker she truly deserves.”

Helen started teaching PE at ICC in 2002, since holding roles including head of year, director of sport and Head of Performing Arts. Starting with a small boys’ gymnastics team, she gradually built up provision before founding the Gymnastics Academy.

She now oversees the development of more than 300 students at primary and secondary level, and creates and directs the college’s Performing Arts Show, featuring performances by more than 500 pupils.

Helen added: “National titles are never my primary goal – mass participation is – and our success is less about pushing elite performers and more about encouraging mass participation in gymnastics. I believe strongly in the benefits that gymnastics delivers to students of all ages and abilities, so I encourage as many students – whatever their level of ability – to come along and have a go in our extracurricular clubs, even if it’s only for 40 minutes per week.

"This broad base and focus on everyone performing fundamental skills correctly enables me to identify those that have a stronger natural ability for gymnastics and give them the opportunity to train more hours a week in our academy.”

Helen has created a sustainable coaching structure which sees students taking their first steps as young gymnastic leaders. The programme has been endorsed by British Gymnastics, which has selected Ivybridge Community College as one of only a handful of apprentice hubs in the UK.

Helen also organises the UK’s biggest annual acrobatic development competition in Honiton each year. Recent successes have also included coaching and choreographing routines for British champion teams at junior and senior levels.

The Devon Sports Awards are organised by Active Devon in Association with The Exeter Foundation and Exeter College. This year was the awards’ 20th anniversary.