Wiltshire’s sporting heroes, both on the field and behind the scenes, will be in the spotlight this month at the third Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards on September 20.
This year more than 120 nominations were put forward for the awards which recognise the exceptional work and achievements of athletes, sports clubs, volunteers and coaches from across Wiltshire and Swindon.
The top three nominations from each category have been invited to the awards event at the Steam Museum in Swindon.
The ceremony will be hosted by former England rugby captain, Phil de Glanville and will also be attended by Shelley Rudman, 2006 skeleton bob olympic silver medallist and 2012 World Cup Champion.
Following the success of last year’s awards, the 2012 Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Awards will be jointly hosted by Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Health Improvement Partnership, NHS Wiltshire, Wiltshire and Swindon Activity and Sports Partnership, Swindon Borough Council, NHS Swindon, and supported by Liquid Media and Sports Coach UK.
Stuart Wheeler, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for leisure, said: “These awards recognise the amazing achievements of the county’s athletes but also the incredible support and hard work that goes on behind the scenes from clubs, volunteers and coaches.
“In this Olympic year when we see so many successful gold medallists paying tribute to their support team it is fitting that our awards ceremony recognises all those involved in making sports a success in our county.”
Cllr Keith Williams, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure, said: “We have enjoyed a wonderful summer of sport and our sports awards are a great opportunity to showcase the outstanding work going on at grassroots level in Swindon and Wiltshire. I would like to congratulate all our shortlisted sporting heroes for all their achievements and wish them luck for the awards themselves.”
The nominees are:
Sports personality of the year
Gemma Bishop
Jemima Duxberry
Jade Faulkner
Young sports personality of the year
Elliot Burbidge
Elliot Herrod-Taylor
Will Seward
Sports Personality of the year – athlete with a disability
Craig Harris
Louise Hunt
Aaron Moores
Roger Byrne unsung hero of the year
John Bedrook
Pat Harris
Terry McCosh
Malcolm Miles
Sean Price
Geoffrey Russell
Ken Stimpson
John Stowe
Ian Wheeler
Young volunteer of the year
Megan Tidy
Emma Hill
Hayley Lawrence
Official of the year
Maria Bailey
Ray Bell
Richard Moorehouse
Sports club/team of the year
Chippenham Rugby Club
Devizes Canoe Club
Raychem Netball Club
Swindon Dolphins Amateur Swimming Club
Most inclusive club of the year
Swindon Croquet Club
Swindon Leopards Football Club
Trowbridge Amateur Swimming Club
Most innovative club of the year
City of Salisbury Athletics and Running Club
Pewsey 50 Badminton Club
Sarum Sisters
Participation coach of the year
Kim Bedry
Paul Lavis
Ruth Powell
High performance coach of the year
Colin Baross
Jason Parsons
Simon Woodhouse
Inclusion coach of the year
John Page
Sue Tucke
Young coach of the year
Alex Bedford
Amy Cowley
Edward Dobson
Could you lend Olympic medalist Shelley a pooch?
