The Mail is launching its Sporting Champions Awards 2013 to recognise the best in local talent and sporting achievement. Find out more and enter a candidate here.
IT'S been another great year for Hull and East Yorkshire with the region again proving it is in the premier class when it comes to sporting achievement.
Once again boasting a Premier League football team following the remarkable achievements of Steve Bruce's Hull City side in winning promotion from the Championship, the sporting spotlight is firmly back on the Tigers across the world. With Hull FC reaching the Challenge Cup Final, Hull KR ready to contest in the Super League play-offs, the Hull Stingrays about to start their new season with optimism and North Ferriby and Hull Ionians riding high after promotion, the region is on the crest of a wave.
Added to this is the continued success of Luke Campbell following his move into boxing's professional ranks. There's also the growing reputation of Kyle Edmund, who after being named the Mail's Sporting Champion of 2012, went on to win the French Open juniors tournament and make his first appearance in the men's tournament at Wimbledon.
At the Mail, we know the success of the biggest, higher profile clubs and professionals merely scratch the surface of a thriving sporting region, with top talent on show each and every week. Last year's inaugural awards night, at the KC Stadium, highlighted the wealth of talent, both young and old, across the region, at all levels of sport.
One of the winners on the night was rising table tennis star Harry Dai, who took the Junior Boy of the Year award. Harry was shortlisted after winning the under-11s national championship, and he has gone on to enjoy further success this year, claiming the under-12s national championship, and recently representing England at the eighth Euro Mini-Championships in France.
His father Xiudian Dai said entering the Mail's awards last year had been a great experience for Harry.
"It was great for Harry's achievements to be recognised and reported on in the local paper. He had lots of coverage for his achievements, and it was great when Harry was selected as the winner in his category," he said. "Harry has gone on to enjoy more success this year, and we will be looking to nominate him again this year."
For every player, there are also many dedicated volunteers who give their time to keep communities together, and clubs running. Mail editor Neil Hodgkinson believes sport plays a crucial role in communities, uniting people and helping motivate young children achievement. And he says last year's awards highlighted both the region's strong pool of sporting talent, alongside the huge impact sport has to bring people together.
"We have enjoyed another superb 12 months of sport across the region, with our professional sides and sportsmen once again enjoying great success," he said. "Luke Campbell shone on his long-awaited professional debut, whilst it has been great to see last year's overall winner Kyle Edmund compete so well at Wimbledon, and continuing climbing the tennis rankings.
"We are dedicated to covering sport at all levels across the region, from the top professional sides we have to the many thriving amateur and junior clubs, and continually see, through the pages of the Mail and in our specialist junior section HotShots, that both amateur and junior sports are thriving alongside the professionals across East Yorkshire. There are many true heroes and champions of sport who deserve recognition for their achievements and dedication, and hopefully these awards will identify the most deserving."
The awards are once again being organised by the Mail in association with The Humber Sports Partnership and the Smile Foundation, with the support of a number of other East Yorkshire businesses.Scroll down for an online entry form
Gary Hood, director of the Humber Sports Partnership, which supports organisations committed to providing high quality sporting opportunities, said: "We were delighted to support the Mail in hosting these awards last year, and are thrilled to be here again ready to honour the achievements of people in 2013.
"The awards categories were packed with superb nominations last year, and as I sat on the judging panel, I know just how tough it was to pick out the winners. We would encourage everyone to take this great opportunity to recognise and reward talent, commitment, coaching ability and success.
"These awards will help to publicise community sport and offer opportunities to reward the people who help make sport happen."
Awards will be presented to individuals and teams, young and old and from communities across the county. A total of 15 awards categories ensures participants in all sports, and of all ages, have a chance to win.
The awards will culminate in a glittering awards night at the KC Stadium on November 7, where nominees will rub shoulders with stars from the city's professional clubs and other special guests.Award categoriesJunior Boy of the Year (aged up to 16)
We are looking for a boy who has achieved excellence in their chosen sport throughout 2013, either as an individual or part of a team. Their entry must demonstrate commitment, dedication and sheer hard work.Junior Girl of the Year (aged up to 16)
This award will be won by a girl who has achieved excellence in their chosen sport throughout 2013, either as an individual or part of a team. Their entry must demonstrate commitment, dedication and sheer hard work.Junior Boy (aged 16-18)
This award will be won by a boy, aged between 16 and 18, who has achieved excellence in their chosen sport throughout 2013, either as an individual or part of a team. Their entry must demonstrate commitment, dedication and sheer hard work.Junior Girl (aged 16-18)
We are looking for a girl, aged between 16 and 18, who has achieved excellence in their chosen sport throughout 2013, either as an individual or part of a team. Their entry must demonstrate commitment, dedication and sheer hard work.Disabled Athlete of the Year
Disabled sport has proved to be just as competitive, passionate and dramatic as any other, with remarkable achievements and inspiring performances. The nominees in this category must be able to demonstrate high levels of achievement in their chosen sport or discipline. They can either have competed individually or as part of a team. National or international recognition would be favoured by the judging panel.Volunteer/Outstanding contribution Award (sponsored by Sewell Group)
The winning individual will be someone who has made an outstanding contribution and impact at a club or organisation on a voluntary basis.
The individual nominated will have given an unprecedented level of commitment and dedication to a particular sport or activity over the past 12 months.
Entrants who also have made long-term commitments to volunteering to a particular sport, club or organisation will be strongly considered.Amateur Club of the Year (sponsored by Bishop Burton College)
We are looking for a club that provides both a service to its community and strives to compete at local, regional, national and international competitions.
Clubs actively seeking to develop and grow their club, providing a service to the community whilst striving to compete at local, regional, national and international level will be favoured by judges.
We are looking for clubs which have enjoyed outstanding success.Amateur Coach of the Year (sponsored by St Mary's College)
We are looking for qualified coaches who give up their time in a voluntary capacity and have seen the teams or individuals they coach gain success at local, regional, national or international level.
Nominees must be a qualified coach for their chosen sport and show a commitment to developing their coaching skills.Amateur Sportsperson of the Year (sponsored by St Mary's College)
This award will recognise an individual who has achieved outstanding sporting success in their specific field over the past 12 months. The award is open to anyone over the age of 18, and can be someone who has excelled in an individual discipline or sport, or someone who has made an outstanding contribution to a team's success. Achievements at national and international level will be favoured by the judging panel.School Sporting Award (sponsored by Lime Property)
Schools from across East Yorkshire enjoy not only local success, but also nationally. In this category, the judges will be looking for a school which has enjoyed success not just with one outstanding team, but at all levels, and not only in one sport. Schools which can demonstrate a marked improvement in their sporting programmes will also be considered as possible short-listed finalists. The winner will be selected from a final four via a vote on the Mail's website,Sports Team of the Year
The winner of this award will be a team, of any age, which has enjoyed outstanding success over the past 12 months. This category is open to entry for school and college teams across the region, and sides competing in any sport out of a professional environment. The nominated sides should have at least won local competitions in the past year. Sides which have won numerous trophies, or national or international competitions, will be favoured by the judges.Sporting Inspiration (sponsored by Sewell Group)
The winning individual will be someone who has shown incredible energy and overcome barriers, setbacks and challenges in achieving their goals.
This may be following a devastating injury or fighting against the odds to take their place in a team. We want to hear your stories of immense achievement and the winner will be an individual with a truly inspiring story.Professional Sporting Moment – team (sponsored by Peter Ward Homes)
This award will be presented to one of the region's professional sporting teams for the outstanding achievement of the year.Professional Sporting Moment – individual (sponsored by Bishop Burton College)
This award will be won by a professional sportsman who produced the most memorable moment of the sporting year, whether it be a personal victory, or an outstanding contribution in a contest.Sporting Champion/s
This award will be handed to either an individual or team from East Yorkshire to be crowned the overall winner of the night for the top sporting achievement of the year.
The winner will be chosen by the judging panel, with the focus on selecting an achievement of national or perhaps international significance.
The judges will look to reward an individual or team who has demonstrated an ability to continue having a major impact on the sport in which they compete.How to enter:
Fill in the entry form below. Please enter one category per nomination form. People can nominate themselves or others. Entries must be centred around sporting achievements between September 1, 2012 and the final deadline for entries, which is noon, on Friday, October 11.
