Lancashire Constabulary Sports & Social Club - Sports Personality 2009

Gary’s earliest sporting achievement of note was to represent Lancashire as a junior tennis player, upon reaching the age of 16 Gary had to make a choice in his sporting life and followed his ambition of playing professional sport by concentrating on his cricket career.

Prior to joining the Police Gary was a professional cricketer spending 8 years on the staff at Lancashire County Cricket Club, playing several seasons of Lancashire 2^nd XI cricket as well as playing very successfully as club professional in the highly competitive Northern based cricket leagues, notably for Padiham CC and Thornham CC.

Chief Constable, Steve Finnigan with

DC Gary Bolton - Sports Personality 2009

During all of his years in the Police service, Gary has represented the Constabulary cricket team with great distinction scoring hundreds of runs and taking dozens of wickets during many match winning performances, the pinnacle of Gary’s Lancashire Constabulary career being to represent the County side in the PAA Cup Final in 1993.

Gary’s prowess was also recognised by the British Police selectors and he represented British police on 5 occasions, touring with them once.

Gary has continued to serve local cricket through his involvement at Cherry Tree CC where he is a junior coach and holds the position of club vice-chairman.

Along with the cricketing achievements Gary has also represented the Constabulary Golf team on many occasions, including when the Lancashire Constabulary team triumphed in the Police Sport National tournament in 2008 and is this years Constabulary Golf Club captain.

Gary also plays a very active role in the Central division Golf society, a role which for a number of years has involved the booking of the seasonal fixtures/venues.

Gary has also represented the Constabulary on many occasions in the Rugby teams of both Union and League codes, performing as a fearless Flanker and certainly making his presence felt.

Last but not least I feel that this year is a most appropriate year to nominate Gary for this award, not only because his ‘playing days’ are winding down but also due to the magnificent effort and commitment he displayed last summer when, as a representative of Lancashire Constabulary, he completed a charity cycle ride from ‘Tower to Tower’, this being Paris to Blackpool, covering a total of 520 Miles in just 6 days and in the process helping raise in excess of £50,000 for the ‘Help a Local Child’ charity. Not only did Gary complete the gruelling task but he was also one of the people to conceive (in conjunction with cricket contacts) and drive the idea to the level of Rock FM radio becoming the main sponsor and 50 people actually taking part in the ride.

Chief Constable, Steve Finnigan with

DC Gary Bolton - Sports Personality 2009

Nominated by DC Paul Turley (left) and DCI Neil Gregson (right)

This is obviously only a brief summary of Gary’s many sporting achievements, anyone that knows him will appreciate Gary is a great competitor who will always be committed and play to win but will do this with a big smile on his face.