In contention for county accolades

9:00am Thu Feb 16, 2012

Competitors from the Advertiser area are among contenders in the regional sports awards.

Southwell jockey Hayley Turner, Newark Paralympic powerlifter Natalie Blake and wheelchair basketballer Karl Hassell are among the nominations for the 20th Nottinghamshire Sports Awards.

Around 300 people are expected to attend the Nottinghamshire County Council event this evening at the Becket School, West Bridgford.

Former Minster School pupil Turner has been nominated in the Sportsperson of the Year category after riding two Group One winners last season, the first female jockey to do so.

Blake, hoping to qualify for the Paralympics later this year, is on the shortlist for the Disabled Sportsperson of the Year category, alongside Lowdham’s Richard Whitehead, having finished 2011 in the top three in the world in her sport.

In the Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year talented wheelchair basketball player Karl Hassell, part of the Newark Jaguars will battle it out with Bingham Penguins swimmer Oliver Pratley for the award.

Newark Hockey Club junior coach Tim Burch is up for the Volunteer of the Year award while former Newark player Adam Dixon could pick up two awards after his side Beeston are nominated for the Club of the Year and Team of the Year awards.

Others hoping for success on the night include Newark Rowing Club youngsters Jack Smith and Ashley Cowley in the Junior Team of the Year category, joined by Newark Jaguars under-15s.

Mr John Cottee, of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “It is fantastic that the Nottinghamshire Sports Awards is now celebrating its 20th year and fitting that the final is being hosted during such an exciting sporting year with London 2012 and other key events to look forward to.

“The event promises to be a memorable occasion and we wish all of our finalists luck and congratulate them all for making the shortlist.”

Nottinghamshire Sports Awards Finalists, Young Coach of the Year: Amber Wildgust, football; Daniel Edson, rugby union; Jordan Wetton, football.

Community Coach of the Year: Anthony Beaumont, football; Kate Pearson, gymnastics; Michele Harrop, athletics.

Performance Coach of the Year: Angela Weiss, para-dressage; Bill Furniss, swimming; Glenn Smith, swimming.

Team of the Year: Beeston Hockey Club men’s first team; Mansfield Rugby Football Club men’s first team; Nottingham Panthers.

Club of the Year: Beeston Hockey Club; Phoenix Amateur Boxing Club; Worksop Harriers Athletics Club.

Young Volunteer of the Year: Abdulrahman Mohammed, multi-sports; Lucy Harris, football; Peter Wilson, rugby league and rugby union.

Volunteer of the Year: Tim Burch, hockey; Ray Walker, football; Roy Pilgrim, cricket.

Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Beth Vernon, show jumping; Georgia Hohmann, swimming; Sophie Coldwell, triathlon.

Junior Disabled Sportsperson of the Year: Karl Hassell, wheelchair basketball; Oliver Hynd, swimming; Oliver Pratley, swimming.

Junior Team of the Year (supported by sport Nottinghamshire): Beeston Hockey Club under-16 boys; Jack Smith and Ashley Cowley, junior double sculls; Jaguars Wheelchair Basketball Club under-15s.

Sporting School of the Year (supported by Notts Schools Council for Sport): Fernwood Junior School; South Wilford Primary School; The Gedling School.

Roll of Honour: Derek Pickering, cricket; Peter Fendley, athletics; Peter Viles, basketball.

Disabled Sportsperson of the Year: Charlotte Henshaw, swimming; Natalie Blake, powerlifting; Richard Whitehead, athletics.

Sportsperson of the Year: Chris Adcock, badminton; Hayley Turner, horse racing; Rebecca Adlington, swimming.