Here are your contenders

Finalists for 2017 Wiltshire Sports Awards announced.

WILTSHIRE SPORTS AWARDS

THE finalists have been revealed in the 2017 Wiltshire Sports Awards, set up by the Swindon Advertiser, Gazette & Herald and Wiltshire Times in conjunction with Wiltshire & Swindon Sport (WASP).

Hundreds of nominations were received before the deadline of November 3, with the awards supported by a host of sponsors from businesses all across the county, designed to recognise and reward the achievements and contributions of athletes, coaches, teams, clubs and volunteers throughout Wiltshire.

Newsquest Wiltshire group sports editor Owen Houlihan and WASP CEO Steve Boocock read over the nominations for 12 categories before deliberating and naming three finalists in each.

From mid-December up until the awards ceremony at Devizes’ Corn Exchange on Friday, January 26, we will profile the finalists in each category each week in the pages of the Swindon Advertiser, Wiltshire Gazette & Herald and Wiltshire Times, outlining their achievements and contribution to sport in Wiltshire.

In the meantime, 1968 Olympic 400m hurdles champion David Hemery will join the judging panel to further deliberating on the finalists and decide the winner for each of the categories.

In addition, a Special Achievement Award, sponsored by Imagine Cruising, will be chosen from all the nominations from the rest of the categories.

All the winners will be announced at the Corn Exchange celebration ceremony at the end of January, which will include an audience with 1985 World Snooker champion and now-television commentator Dennis Taylor, who will be guest speaker.

The evening will be a celebration of all of the winners for all of the categories, and tickets are available priced at £15 per adult and £9 per child, to include a buffet.

Tickets can be purchased by calling Ian Parker on 01793 501731 or email wiltshiresportsawards@newsquest.co.uk.

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR sponsored by Reuben Inspired and Jazzbones Creative
Jordan Smith – European Tour golfer
Tom Gale – Trowbridge high jumper
Callum Gingell – Bradford on Avon Canoe Club

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR sponsored by Miles Windows Systems
Shona O’Dwyer – Swindon netballer
Anne Marie Watson – Trowbridge ultra-distance runner
Rebecca Connolly – Swindon female boxer

PARA SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR sponsored by Imagine Cruising
Tiegan Higgs – Chippenham Moonrakers gymnast
Lauren Booth – Planet X, Newport Velo Youth Cycling Club, competitive cyclist
Polly Maton – Urchfont Paralympic world championships medal winning athlete

JUNIOR SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR sponsored by Places for People
George Lewis – Goatacre CC/FC Chippenham/FC Wiltshire/Hardenhuish School
Jessica Daykin – Wiltshire School of Gymnastics
Max Cook – Swindon motorcycle rider

MANAGER/COACH OF THE YEAR sponsored by Swindon’s Bus Company
Cherie Skeats – Esprit Gymnastics, Swindon
Liam Lathbury, Emeralds Boxing Club head coach, Chippenham
Alun Rossiter – Swindon Robins team boss

TEAM OF THE YEAR sponsored by MANS LC
Swindon St George Rugby League
Goatacre Cricket Club
Westbury Ladies RFC

CLUB OF THE YEAR sponsored by Sweets Galore
Stratton Juniors FC
Avon Valley Runners
Swindon Ice Hockey Academy

JUNIOR TEAM OF THE YEAR sponsored by Platinum Motor Company
Wrag Barn Golf Club Junior Team
Warminster RFC Pink Panthers girls
Sheldon School U13 boys handball team

SCHOOL SPORTS PARTICIPATION sponsored by Kingstons Estate Agents
Lisa Adams, head of PE at Lavington School
Ramsbury Primary School
Bitham Brook Primary School, Westbury

COMMUNITY AWARD sponsored by Bowman House
Sam Bullas – Swindon Wildcats in the Community
Active Trowbridge
Paul Rogers, Scrappers Boxing Gym, Swindon

UNSUNG HERO sponsored by Active Trowbridge
Vince Marriott – Trowbridge Basketball League
Diana Viles – Wiltshire athletics coach
Philip Mayberry – chairman Wiltshire Judo Association

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR sponsored by NU Image
Sadie Minturn – Moredon Junior Netball Club
Alan Harding/Michal Jakosz – Trowbridge Basketball League
Lee Bowen – Sanford Link Table Tennis Club/Wiltshire Table Tennis Association

Categories & Sponsors

Special Achievement Award
& Para Person of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Imagine Cruising Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

School Sports Participation

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Kingstons Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

Sportswoman of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Miles Windows Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

Junior Sports Person of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Places for People Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

Club of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Sweets Galore Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

Team of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: MANS Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

Junior Team of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Platinum Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

Manager / Coach of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Thamesdown Wiltshire Sports Award 2017

Community Award

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Bowman House Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

Unsung Hero

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Active Trowbridge Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017

Celebrity Guest Speaker

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Wiltshire Sports Awards sponsor logo

Sportsman of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Jazzbones Wiltshire Sports Awards 2018

Sportsman of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Reuben Wiltshire Sports Awards 2018

Volunteer of the Year

Sponsored by

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Nuimage - Wiltshire Sports Awards 2017