Inspector 762 Peter Zsigmond - Blackburn - Eastern Division

Nominated by: County Club Management Committee

Main Sporting Discipline: Basketball

Police Sport UK Activities

The Club Management committee voted unanimously that Inspector 762 Peter Zsigmond should receive the 2008 award.

Peter has been an active sportsman and member of the Sports and Social Club since he joined the force in 1977.

His main sport is Basketball which he has played to a high standard for the County Club for many years. He was involved in the management and coaching of both the male and female County teams.  The male team have been successful in reaching the Police Sport UK/PAA finals in 24 of the last thirty years, reaching the semi finals on one occasion and the quarter finals on four occasions in the past.  The female team has qualified for every national championships held since they started ten years ago.

Peter Zsigmond receives the award from DCC Mike Cunningham

He has also been the Police Sport UK Basketball Section secretary for a number of years coordinating annual leagues and Police Sport UK events on behalf of himself and colleagues, and subsequently also managed the Police Sport UK Women’s Team for two years.

In addition, he coordinated the hosting of the annual National Police Sport UK Basketball Championships in Blackpool in 1995 and 2005 involving a large number of competitors attending from 12 UK police forces. He has also been involved in organising and hosting many regional qualifying events.

Further to this, Peter has sat on the Force Club management committee for many years acting as a consultant in the decision making processes of County sport funding and general management.

More recently, Peter was elected as secretary of the Police Sport UK NW Regional Committee, sits on the Council and Management Committee of Police Sport UK, as well as being elected onto the USPE technical committee for basketball and table tennis in 2004.  During this time Peter has been instrumental in getting recognition for female athletes, particularly in team sports, and this year is involved in organising the inaugural USPE Women’s Basketball Championships in Sheffield.

One can definitely say that Peter is a true sportsman and without question, has been totally dedicated to police sport. He has not just played to a high standard but has been equally involved in the facilitation and coordination of Basketball along with many other sports for countless years.

Peter retired from the Constabulary on 3 January 2009 but will continue to be engaged in Police Sport UK activities for some years to come.

Nomination by: SC Steven Broadbent

Seconded by: Mr Neil Braithwaite