Waveney Sports Awards

THE quest to find the best gets under way today.

Sporting stars, unsung heroes and dedicated volunteers are all being sought as the search to find Waveney’s leading lights in local sport is launched.

Nominations are now being sought for the 2008/09 Waveney Sports Awards – and the call is today going out to locals in the district to back individuals or teams who have shone on and off the sporting arena.

Promoted by Active Waveney Sports Partnership, The Journal and Waveney District Council if you know someone within the Waveney area who has achieved notable success or made a significant contribution towards their chosen sport, then don't delay get your entries in today!

The annual awards are designed to reward people and organisations that have shown throughout 2008/09 (with the year running from January 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009) that they have achieved great success as an individual, made a big difference to their team, or have made a significant contribution towards their chosen sport, whether in a playing or non-playing capacity.

Examples include the highest standard of coaching, helping others to develop, raising the profile of disability sport, gaining funding, helping to provide opportunities and encouraging people to get involved with sport.

Nominations will only be accepted for people and organisations that live and/or participate within the Waveney district area And with this in mind, nominations are invited for nine separate categories, which are: best sportsman, best sportswoman, best junior sportsman (under 16), best junior sportswoman (under 16), best team, long service award, most valuable contribution by person or organisation to sport, most valuable contribution by person or organisation to disabled sport and most valuable contribution by a club to schools sport.

So if you think you know someone – a team or individual that has achieved sporting excellence – then you too could follow in the footsteps of the 2007 winners:

Best Sportsman - John Bidwell

Best Sportswoman - Ellis Jackson

Best Junior Sportsman - Giarnni Regini-Moran

Best Junior Sportswoman - Charlotte Hicks

Best Team - Kirkley High School U16 Girls Football Team

Long Service Award - Geoffrey Quinton

Most Valuable Contribution to Sport - John Pawsey and Colin Price

Most Valuable Contribution to Disabled Sport - Sue Allen

Most Valuable Contribution by a Club to Schools Sport - Kirkley and Pakefield Football Club.

To enter, simply make your nomination in one of the nine categories and click here to print off a nomination form.

The judging panel includes representatives from the Active Waveney Sports Partnership, the Lowestoft Journal, the Lowestoft & Beccles Schools Sports Partnership, Waveney District Council, as well as the voluntary sports sector.

Please supply as much information as applicable that will assist the judging panel in their decision-making.

Winners of the Waveney Sports Awards will be announced in The Journal and together with their sponsors, they will be invited to an awards evening in June 2009.

In addition, Waveney Sports Awards winners will automatically be put forward to the Suffolk Sports Awards 2009. These are the county level awards and the chosen three finalists within each category will be invited to attend the Suffolk Sports Awards Ceremony at the end of October 2009.

If you would like to nominate someone for a Waveney sports award you can click here to print off a nomination form.

Alternatively telephone Jane Lewis on 01502 523635 for a nomination form or email jane.lewis@waveney.gov.uk to receive an electronic version. The closing date for receipt of nomination forms is April 15, 2009.

Click here to print off a nomination form