COMMONWEALTH Games medallist Laura Halford was named  sports personality of the year at the fifth Wiltshire Sports Awards in Trowbridge last night.

The 2014 awards were jointly hosted by Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Health Improvement Panel, and Wiltshire and Swindon Sport and sponsored by Landmarc and hosted by former England rugby captain Phil de Glanville at County Hall.

The event was also attended by special guest Kelly Sotherton, the 2006 Commonwealth champion and 2004 Olympic and 2007 World Championship bronze medallist at heptathlon.

Cricklade's Halford won medals at major rhythmic gymnastics events for both Wales and Great Britain, retaining her all-around individual title at the British Championships and Welsh national champion title.

She followed up by winning three medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, including silver in the team event, bronze in the all-around individual competition and a bronze in the ball final.

Chippenham's C4 paracyclist Lauren Booth, 13, was named Young Sports Personality of the Year.

A member of the British Cycling GB Academy, in the last 12 months she won on both the track and the road.

Her successes included winning the UCI Youth Omnium Championship and breaking the paracycling senior British record for the women’s C4 flying 200m and C4 500m time trial as well as the world record for the women’s C4 flying 200m.

In September, Booth came second in the flying 200m at the British Championships and became new British champion for the para 500m time trial, in 40.654 seconds, a new national record.

The sports personality of the year award for an athlete with a disability went to Box swimmer Stephanie Millward who, at this year's IPC European Championships  won a total of seven medals, including five golds.

The Unsung Hero for the Year was Rebecca Smith, who has volunteered for Bradford on Avon (BOA) Amateur Swimming Club since she was 13. She has graduated from assisting at poolside through team member and team captain, to a Level Two coach and she also serves on the Wiltshire Masters Swimming Committee as secretary.

Smith has been delivering voluntary help to BOA, and to the wider Wiltshire swimming community, for more than 22 years.

Marion and Dave Picter won the Long Service to Sport award, having been involved in football for the past 50 years.

With their support, Malmesbury Youth Football Club was formed in 1989 and now has 200 players and 14 teams.

The duo have also developed a relationship with the local adult team to create a player pathway and encourage the transition from youth to adult football and have been instrumental in securing the long–term future of the club through the negotiation of a 35 year lease.

Young Volunteer of the Year was Ben Holloway, 17, from Chippenham Amateur Swimming Club, with Lee Ness, the head sprint coach at the City of Salisbury Athletics and Running Club, named voluntary coach of the year.

The coach of the year award went to rugby and multi-sport coach Jimmy Deane and Durrington pool swim teacher Shaun Green.

Inclusion Coach of the Year was Colin Baross, who was also recently named the 2014 Wiltshire Athletic Association Coach of the year.

Young Coach of the Year: Elly Humphries - Cheerleading, Level 2 Elly Humphries, the assistant coach at the Phoenix Stars Cheerleading Club in Salisbury, the young coach of the year.

Marlborough Youth FC were named sports club of the year, with the AFC Melksham Ability Counts named most inclusive club of the year.

Highly commended in the Young Volunteer of the Year category was Calne 17 year old Jordan Hyde, part of a group of five young people who have been the driving force in getting a new skate park built in the town.

Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott said: “It was lovely to meet so many people who are involved in sport at this special ceremony. It showcases the exceptional talent and hard work of athletes and the dedication of sports clubs, volunteers and coaches. I am sure people will find them an inspiration.

“We’ve been working hard to build on the success of 2012 and to build a lasting legacy for Wiltshire. We wanted to keep the spirit and enthusiasm created following the Olympics alive and encourage everyone in the county to get more active and, as a result, even more healthy.

“We hope that many more people will be enthused by the sports and activities we have on offer and get involved in as many as possible”.

Some of this year’s winners will be put forward to the BBC Sports Personality’s Unsung Hero and the Sports Coach UK awards later in the year.

Ten scholarship grants were also allocated to young sports people competing at a regional or national level in either an Olympic or Paralympic sport or a sport recognised by Sport England.

The funding will them to access training, take part in competitions, purchase equipment and cover transport costs associated with attending national or international events and is part of Wiltshire Council’s Funding Future Olympians and Paralympians grant programme, which also supports elite athletes.

Salisbury water polo player Katy Cutler, 13, artistic gymnast Jasmine Frost, 11, from Bradford on Avon, Melksham archer Maxwell Harding, 15, cyclist Pete Kibble, 16, Salisbury athlete Lucy-Jane Matthew, 12, Tisbury sailor Hamish Munro, 16, Langley Burrell BMX rider Jamie Phillips, 11, gymnast Cameron Sinden, 15, from Chapmanslade, Chippenham sychronised swimmer Jessica Smith, 11 and Colerne rugby ace Joe Thomas, 16 were awarded grants.