Olympic star of the future Isabella Dixon wins Sefton Sportsperson Of The Year 2023 Award

An England kickboxing international and British Taekwondo champion celebrated her 10th birthday at the Pride Of Sefton Awards by winning the Sefton Young Sportsperson Of The Year Award, sponsored by DT Hughes Contractors. 

Isabella Dixon, from Netherton, is an England International in Kickboxing and is described in her nomination as “one of the most outstanding young sportspeople I have ever met”. 

The Scarisbrick Hall schoolgirl who trains out of Maghull has also been described as “an Olympic star in the making” and is seeking sponsors to  help her to fulfil her dreams. 

Any businesses who would like to be involved can email her father, Simon Dixon, at sidixon1980@gmail.com while the family also has a Go Fund Me page as well. 

Isabella was presented with her award by DT Hughes Contractors owner David Hughes. 

As a swimmer, she was featured on TV swimming two miles non stop at just five years old. 

She went on to compete in triathlons, winning two. 

England kickboxing international and British Taekwondo champion Isabella Dixon celebrated her 10th birthday at the Pride Of Sefton Awards by winning the Sefton Young Sportsperson Of The Year Award, sponsored by DT Hughes Contractors. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography

She has been British Champion the last two years in a row in Taekwondo. 

Isabella has fought older and heavier children and continues to dominate her sport. 

Titles she has won in the last year include:
5 x WKU World kickboxing champion
1 x WAKO European Open Champion
2 x WKU British kickboxing Champion

Isabella’s Dad, Simon Dixon, said: “Isabella – Bella to everyone – has been dreaming about the Olympics ever since she was a little girl. 

“She avidly watches all sports on TV including athletics, triathlons alongside the martial arts and boxing and was always quizzing us about how to get there. 

“We had discussed the Olympics repeatedly but she was only four for Rio and whilst cheering on Team GB she didn’t really understand it until the delayed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo took place and she watched every second of it she could, specifically the Taekwondo and triathlon events.

England kickboxing international and British Taekwondo champion Isabella Dixon celebrated her 10th birthday at the Pride Of Sefton Awards by winning the Sefton Young Sportsperson Of The Year Award, sponsored by DT Hughes Contractors. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography

“Watching her hero Bianca Walkden (now Cook) on TV winning an Olympic medal inspired her further and has fuelled her determination to train hard.

“As parents we have never had to force her to push herself as she has a natural drive to become better each day. 

“She trains very hard with both Paradigm Martial Arts in Maghull and WLM Taekwondo, also in Maghull, five days a week and we generally do two tournaments a month alongside this.

“Being called up to the England Team last year was an amazing boost and to then go on to win five Golds at the WKU World Championships in Cardiff has given her a confidence that she can achieve if she continues to work hard. 

“We didn’t tell Bella we had entered her for the Pride of Sefton Awards until she was confirmed as shortlisted. 

Isabella Dixon

“She was ecstatic and very proud to have been recognised, yet despite us telling her that just being shortlisted was a huge achievement, her natural desire to win was there and made her very nervous to hear the results. 

“She had researched the others shortlisted and understood that their superb achievements of their own would make it incredibly difficult. 

“When the results were announced and her name was called, the look of happiness was priceless and she was so proud to win this award. 

“She is a naturally humble and respectful child so she had not told anyone in school or any of her friends that she was nominated and even over the weekend she has not spoken of it to anyone but us. 

“She has said to us that she will work even harder going forward to continue her journey, and despite it being very far away, she has inched closer to her dream of the Olympics.

England kickboxing international and British Taekwondo champion Isabella Dixon celebrated her 10th birthday at the Pride Of Sefton Awards by winning the Sefton Young Sportsperson Of The Year Award, sponsored by DT Hughes Contractors. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography

“Bella has once again qualified for the World Championships this year and is now training hard to represent her country once more. 

“The finals are this year being held in Calgary Canada between the 15th and 21st October and the week after 22nd October to 27th in Orlando, Florida. 

“Deposits have already been paid to secure her place and we are now trying to raise funds for the various flights and the balance of the hotel room, England Kit and also her entry fees which at present estimates are around £6,000. 

“We are looking for any local businesses to assist in this and in return we can place logos on her England kits during the tournaments and have photo shoots with her existing world title and if successful later this year, again with any medals she wins.”

Any businesses who would like to be involved can email her father, Simon Dixon, at sidixon1980@gmail.com while the family also has a Go Fund Me page as well. 

England kickboxing international and British Taekwondo champion Isabella Dixon celebrated her 10th birthday at the Pride Of Sefton Awards by winning the Sefton Young Sportsperson Of The Year Award, sponsored by DT Hughes Contractors. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography

A Finalist for Sefton Young Sportsperson Of The Year was Emily Blackhurst, a 16 year old aerobic gymnast who last year competed for Great Britain in the World Championships in Portugal. 

Emily has been a gymnast since the age of five years old and is a fantastic role model for everyone at her club, the LK Aerobic Gymnastics Club in Southport, always finding the time to help and coach the next generations.

She has been part of the Great Britain Aerobic Gymnastic team for many years and has attended a number of international competitions.
Also a Finalist was Luis Wright, aged 16, who entered the World Kickboxing Association World Championships in Wales last October and won three Gold Medals for Team GB.  

He also won two Gold Medals in Muay Thai at different weights and one Gold Medal in Kickboxing  and a Silver Medal in Glory Rules.  

Luis trains almost every day, is dedicated to the sport and one day wishes to become a professional fighter.

The Pride Of Sefton Awards were organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and by Stand Up For Southport, with support from In Demand Radio. 

VIP guests included Mayor of Sefton Cllr Clare Carragher and Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside Julie Lawson, while the night was hosted by In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo and TV presenter Fraser Dainton. 

Entertainment was provided by Kelly Bond and Soul Jam. 

Money was raised for the Steve Prescott Foundation and the ICU Steps charity, a cause close to Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group Chairman Andrew Mikhail after his long battle in intensive care in hospital against Covid-19 during the pandemic. 

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