ET Sports Awards double for Louis
EYE teenager Louis Smith won two major accolades as The Evening Telegraph held their annual Sports Awards at the Holiday Inn Peterborough West on Friday (30 January).
EYE teenager Louis Smith won two major accolades as The Evening Telegraph held their annual Sports Awards at the Holiday Inn Peterborough West on Friday (30 January).The Olympic gymnastics bronze medallist was named Sports Personality of the Year and Sportsman of the Year following a hugely successful 2008 campaign capped by that podium place in Beijing.
When asked how it felt to win the prestigious awards, said: "It is a massive honour and a great way to round off an excellent year for me.
"I have had quite a bit of exposure since I won the medal in Beijing but it is extra special to have won the recognition of people in and around my home town.
"Obviously I still live in the area and read The Evening Telegraph and it was great to walk up there and receive the award in front of many other talented local sportsmen and women."
peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ sportsawards - including photo gallery from the awards night
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But 19 year-old Smith also took the opportunity to take a cheeky dig at the fact that, despite many past nominations, it took an Olympic medal to finally claim the coveted gong.
He added: "I have won two European gold medals and am Commonwealth champion but I guess it needed something extra special to swing the voters in my favour!
"But seriously, I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. It is a great honour and privilege to be held in such high regard by local people and I hope I can count on their backing and support this year too."
Smith saw off competition from London Road in the Personality category with Posh boss Darren Ferguson and chairman Darragh MacAnthony filling the runners-up spaces.
The gymnastics golden boy then pipped Paralympic shooting king Matt Skelhon and prolific Phantoms ice hockey player Nathan Rempel to the Sportsman prize.
Posh still managed to complete an awards night hat-trick after a sparkling 2008.
They scooped the Team of the Year accolade, manager Ferguson was crowned Coach of the Year and star striker Aaron Mclean pipped team-mate Joe Lewis to the Footballer of the Year gong.
World, European and British powerlifting champion Louise Fox came out on top in the Sportswoman of the Year category with karting prodigy Callum Bowyer and martial arts star Kelly Ding taking the junior prizes. Eye Under 9s wizard Aaron Branch won the Junior Footballer of the Year category.
Sandra Cole of Yaxley Football Club was the Unsung Hero winner.
ROLL OF HONOUR
All the winners at the Evening Telegraph Sports Awards 2009
Sports Personality - Louis Smith
Sportsman - Louis Smith
Sportswoman - Louise Fox
Team - Posh
Footballer - Aaron Mclean
Junior Sportsman - Callum Bowyer
Junior Sportswoman - Kelly Ding
Junior Footballer - Aaron Branch
Unsung Hero - Sandra Cole
Coach - Darren Ferguson
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Friday 19 March 2010
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