Brendan Ingle Sporting Award. Winner Charlie Chance, aged seven, of Abbey Lane, Sheffield

THE Power Rangers were young Charlie Chance's inspiration for taking up martial arts.

Sheffield schoolboy Charlie, aged seven, joined the Black Belt Academy to build his confidence and learn to defend himself and he is now the youngest ever student at the club to gain black belt status.

His success is down to hard work, focus and a supportive family.

The black belt status achieved at the academy is unique as artists have to know punches, kicks and other strikes plus a complete self defence system against any form of attack.

Most other academies only teach punches and kicks for the Black Belt award.

"The Black Belt Academy has taught Charlie life skills aside for the martial arts - such as respect for others, courtesy, a can-do attitude, self-discipline, self control and confidence," said James Sheehan from the academy.

"Charlie is a fantastic young lad and fully deserves all the praise he gets."

The Environment Award, sponsored by Crystal Peaks. Winner Mitchell Redfearn, aged 10, from Woodhouse, Sheffield

AT just 10 years old little Mitchell Redfearn already knows what he wants to be when he grows up - a scientist.

Excited by anything to do with science and nature, the youngster, from Woodhouse, Sheffield, keeps caterpillars in his classroom at Aston Infant and Primary school.

He is fascinated by the creatures and has researched them extensively.

Mitchell loves to share his passion with his fellow pupils and has given a number of speeches about them to the younger school children.

He also takes part in question and answer sessions about his favourite mini-beasts.

Mitchell, or Mitch, is a lively little boy who has even written a paper on environmental warming and the deadly effect of pollution - which he read out at the Superkids awards ceremony.

Mitch loves the planet and just wants everyone on it to do their bit to preserve it.

Music and Performing Arts Award sponsored by Greggs. The Boys In Blue

THEIR blue school uniforms were the inspiration for the name of this up-and-coming Sheffield band.

The Boys in Blue are a young five piece with big hopes for the future, they are also pupils, or former pupils, at St Helen's Royal Catholic School in Hoyland, Barnsley.

At the centre of the young entertainment group are two 11-year-old boys born with life threatening illnesses.

Guitarist and vocalist Bradley Jacobs has Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, an immune deficiency disorder that left his family unable to hug him for six months.

But determined to help him, Bradley's dad Martin became a bone marrow donor and treatment at a Newcastle hospital saved Bradley's life.

Keyboard player Rory Dyson was diagnosed with cancer at just 11-months-old - a big battle for a baby to fight.

But Rory defied the odds to beat the disease and after undergoing extensive treatment, and has now been given the all clear.

Now the boys have pledged to help others through their music.

Together with guitarist Liam Riley, aged 11, and former St Helen's pupils Daniel Smart, 12, on guitar and vocals, and Daniel Marren, also 12, on bass, the Boys In Blue have recorded a CD and raised over £200 for Cystic Fibrosis.

They chose the charity after hearing about a local baby who was born with the disease.

Phil Harrison, headteacher at St Helen's, said: "The Boys In Blue have inspired other children in school to pick up and play instruments.

"They really are Superkids."

Special Award sponsored by Magna Centre. Winner Rachel Low, aged 13, from Stannington, Sheffield

BEING a teenager is tough but Stannington girl Rachel Low has more to worry about than the average 13-year-old girl.

Born with a hole in her heart, Rachel endured five operations before the age of one and developed learning difficulties as she grew up.

But without a diagnosis, her loving family struggled to know how to help her.

Tragedy struck when Rachel was just five years old when her mum died of pneumonia.

Having been struck down with meningitis at the age of 19, Rachel's dad Tom suffered from epilepsy and could not care for her alone so she moved in with her grandmother Ann who made it her mission to get a diagnosis for Rachel's condition.

After a visit to an optician Rachel was diagnosed with Duane syndrome - a condition where the eye muscles used to move your eyes to the side are missing.

Further testing revealed Rachel has the associated Okihiro Syndrome which affects her intestines, heart, eyes and the thought process.

For Rachel to be finally diagnosed was a tremendous relief but just as things were looking up, tragedy struck again in 2006 when Tom had a massive brain haemorrhage and later died.

Faced with yet another mountain to climb, Rachel had to get used to a new routine - without the regular visits she had enjoyed at her dad's house.

Around the same time, Rachel was also faced with the scary transition from a small secure school to a large secondary school - something the family had been warned might upset her.

But despite all the hurdles, Rachel is now blossoming at Myers Grove school.

She attends dance classes and karate lessons and is now a junior black belt at the sport.

Rachel's family describe her as "a lovely girl", who doesn't dwell on sadness and accepts everything life throws at her.

"We are very proud of her and she is one very special young lady," said Ann.

Educational Progress, sponsored by The Source at Meadowhall. Winner Jamie Eyre, aged 14, from Beighton

SHEFFIELD'S worst student was the tag Jamie Eyre had established for himself after being excluded from a string of schools and specialist institutions.

Jamie, now aged 14, from Beighton, was excluded from primary school three times before being permanently excluded from secondary school as a result of his disruptive and violent behaviour.

He failed to settle at a further two inclusion centres before joining the New Direction inclusion centre in June 2006.

Again Jamie got into trouble and he was excluded from New Direction when new principal Gary Saul arrived and decided to sort out the aggressive and confrontational teen.

He let Jamie return to New Directions but he wouldn't let him get his own way and after just two months, Jamie started to turn his life around.

His attendance shot up from just over 50 per cent to 99.9 per cent and he is currently studying for ASDAN Life Skills Award, ECDL and NVQ Horse Care Level 1 and 2.

Jamie has received outstanding progress in ICT, badminton, cross country and soccer and he loves working with the horses at New Direction - he has been so inspired by the animals that he now hopes to train as a jockey.

Outside of school, Jamie has been discharged from the Youth Offending Team programme he was put on after his bad behaviour spilled out of school and in to the community.

He also regularly attends the Young Firefighters after-school programme.

Mr Saul said: "I am very impressed with Jamie's efforts and attitude.

"After a somewhat difficult start I cannot think, over many years of teaching, of another pupil who has more dramatically turned things around.

"He has put tremendous effort into his work at school and as a result has achieved a considerable amount in a short space of time."

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