Eastern Daily Press, Active Norfolk Norfolk Sports Awards

The finest that the county has to offer will again be honoured in the third Eastern Daily Press, Active Norfolk Norfolk Sports Awards.

We want you to tell us about your sporting heroes, your sporting role models and your sporting inspirations – whether they are world champions or the talk of your village team.

And we want as many nominations as possible from as many sports as possible – from sailing to shooting and pigeon racing to pool.

There will be seven categories – Sports Personality of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Sports Person of the Year, the Keith Peel Services to Sport Awards, Sports School of the Year and Inspirational Sports Person of the Year – for readers to make their nominations with an eighth, the Active Norfolk Winner of Winners award, chosen from the winners of the other categories.

There will be a winner for each category with a winners’ evening being held at the impressive new Curve facility at the Forum in Norwich, which will be invitation only on November 10, 7 to 9pm.

Laurie Hull, Director of Active Norfolk, said: “With the culmination of another successful year in sport in the county, Active Norfolk are thrilled to be once again supporting our county’s Sports Awards in conjunction with the Eastern Daily Press.

“This annual event is all about celebrating and recognising Norfolk’s talented sports men and women. We would also like to honour those who give up their time to coach and support sports clubs which play such a crucial role in working towards our vision of making Norfolk an active, healthy and successful sporting county.”

AWARD CATEGORIES

Sports Personality of the Year
The category for the sporting champion, aimed at finding the people who have excelled in their chosen sport. This award celebrates the individual but it does not exclude those competing in a team sport. Nominees must be aged 19 or over on October 31, 2009.

Team of the Year
The category for the group of players who have united to form some of the best teams in the county. Finalists could be the world champions at their chosen sport or the youth side that has finally won its first game after numerous attempts trying.

Coach of the Year
The category for the person behind the team or individual. Too often in sport, the focus falls entirely on the sports star in the limelight and forgets the person who made it all possible. Nominees must hold a current recognised National Governing Body coaching qualification.

Young Sports Person of the Year
The category for the under-18s. As with the Sports Personality of the Year, this award celebrates the individual but it does not exclude those competing in a team sport. Nominees must be aged 18 or under on October 31, 2009.

Keith Peel Services to Sport Award
The category for the unsung hero. This could be the parent who washes that filthy kit week in, week out, the organiser of the competitions we all play in or the supporter who never misses a match even when it’s snowing – anyone who deserves a big pat on the back but rarely gets one.

Sports School of the Year
The category for the school that gives its pupils a wide range of opportunities to participate in high quality PE lessons and extra-curricular sport. Our children need to get healthier and so it is right that schools who aim to make this happen are rewarded.

Inspirational Sports Person of the Year
The category for that one person you truly admire and look up to. He or she could have beaten the odds to run the London Marathon or made it to the start line when no one believed it was possible.

Active Norfolk Winner of Winners
Our overall category where all winners are automatically shortlisted. Judges will consider the impact made by all of them in the Norfolk sporting community.

HOW TO ENTER

Email your nomination, along with the category, your name and detailed reasons for your nomination to nathalie.marshall@archant.co.uk

You can nominate as many times as you want in as many categories as you want and a panel of judges will decide the winners in all categories.

Judges will make their decisions on achievements in the 12 months from October 31, 2008 to November 1, 2009.

Closing date for entries is Friday, October 30.

All individuals nominated must reside in Norfolk or be involved with a Norfolk sports club or organisation. All teams and schools nominated must be based in Norfolk. Winners of the awards may be nominated by Active Norfolk for regional or national awards where corresponding categories exist.

The Norfolk Celebrating Talent awards will also be made at this year’s event.