Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2011

IT’S that time of year again when Colchester’s sporting stars are honoured.

The most impressive performers of the year, as nominated by you, will be rewarded at a glittering ceremony at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium, on February 4, 2013.

Colchester’s most prestigious annual sporting awards were first made over 30 years ago.

The Sport Colchester Sports Personality Awards, sponsored by the Gazette, Colchester Institute and The University of Essex, recognise the tremendous achievements of Colchester’s amateur sportsmen and women.

There are separate categories for outstanding achievement during the calendar year at senior and junior level for individuals and teams.

Nominations are open to any individual or team representing any sporting organisation in the Colchester and District Council area.

There are separate awards to recognise achievement over a longer period of time.

The Eric Chapman Service To Sport Award recognises outstanding service and commitment by an individual volunteer for the development of sport in Colchester and The Club Trophy recognises the development of youth sport by a club or group.

The coaches award recognises outstanding coaching assistance given to help sports people achieve their goals.

These awards are particularly aimed at those people who year in year out help others to enjoy their sport and develop their skills.

Finally, the Bill Tucker Awards for seniors and under-18s recognise individuals who by their commitment, tenacity and dedication in the face of extreme hardship or disadvantage or under extraordinary conditions have proved to be an inspiration and role model to their peers and/or the public at large.

The Premier Sports Personality of the Year recognises outstanding achievement during the calendar year by a professional sports person.

The winner will be selected by the judging panel to recognise an individual who is full-time dedicated to the sport in question and/or whose majority earnings come from the participation and/or organising of that sport.

The winner will either be currently representing a club or organisation in the borough or if plying their trade elsewhere will have had strong participation in the borough in previous years.

The aim is to recognise people who may have been excluded by previous criteria yet whose sporting prowess is known throughout the land.

Previous winners cover a wide range of sports from athletics, football, sailing, cricket and rugby through to individual sports such as martial arts, bowling, croquet and power lifting.

Olympic and Paralympic sailors Saskia Clark and Hannah Stodel jointly took the Premier Award last year ahead of their exploits at London 2012.

Gordon Charlesworth walked away with the Coach of the Year award while the Team of the Year were Colchester United Ladies Under-19.

(L) Colchester United Ladies Under 19's

The judging panel consists of representatives of Sport Colchester and the Sports Editor