SPORTS AWARDS: Time to honour your sporting heroes

Here we go again! The Peterborough Telegraph Sports Awards are upon us once more.
Boxing champion Cello Renda.Boxing champion Cello Renda.
Boxing champion Cello Renda.

Our sportsmen and sportswomen have already done their bit in 2017, and now it’s over to you to decide which achievements you consider to have been the best.

Listed below are some of the many people who made an impression in 2017, but feel free to vote for anyone you feel deserves it.

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The list merely offers suggestions in each category and that’s all they are. The choice is entirely down to you.

Bowls star Nicky Brett (left).Bowls star Nicky Brett (left).
Bowls star Nicky Brett (left).

Also below are the details of how to vote by text.

The top three in each category when voting closes on January 11 2018 will be invited to the annual awards bash at the Holiday Inn, Thorpe Wood, on February 2 when the winners will be announced and the sponsors will present the trophies.

SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

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Darts legend Martin Adams.Darts legend Martin Adams.
Darts legend Martin Adams.

NickY Brett - one of the world’s best indoor bowlers with a stack of national and international titles to his name. A fierce competitor and a great ambassador for his sport.

Darragh MacAnthony - the charismatic Posh chairman who continues to back the club with great enthusiasm.

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CELLO RENDA - been Peterborough’s top professional boxer for over a decade and he’s served his sport and his city with distinction winning titles at three different weights. Everyone in boxing describes him as a ‘great guy’ both in and out of the ring. Works for a boxing charity.

JAMES FERRARA - Phantoms long-serving and well respected skipper. Closing in on 500 appearances for the team in a 10-year spell, the last five as captain. Scored over a century of goals.

Outstanding young athlete Donovan Capes.Outstanding young athlete Donovan Capes.
Outstanding young athlete Donovan Capes.

Georgina Jennings - a fiercely competitive 72 year-old Peterborough Triathlon Club member who is a world champion. Also does sterling work for her club behind the scenes.

GED RATHBONE - Peterborough Panthers promoter who is never afraid to say or do what he thinks best for the city speedway club. Admired by fans for his forthright views and won this award two years ago for keeping the club afloat.

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SLAVA KOULIKOV - the man responsible for bringing the good times back to Peterborough Phantoms. Since his appointment as head coach four years ago he has turned the team into a major force at their level. One of the most respected figures in the game.

PAUL BASTOCK - how can a man who recently broke Peter Shilton’s world record for appearances be ignored? Bastock (47) broke Shilton’s record when appearing in goal for Wisbech in an FA Vase tie. It was his 1,250th senior club appearance.

International swimming stars from COPS, Amelia Monaghan (left) and Rachel Wellings.International swimming stars from COPS, Amelia Monaghan (left) and Rachel Wellings.
International swimming stars from COPS, Amelia Monaghan (left) and Rachel Wellings.

CLIFTON FINDLEY - Peterborough’s vibrant martial arts scene has much to do with Clifton Findley. The former world karate champion, who runs his own Peterborough Freestyle club, plays an active role advising clubs all over the city and encouraging students. He is the UK director of International Sport Karate Association (ISKA).

MARTIN ADAMS - twice a previous winner but you can’t keep a good man down. Works tirelessly for Prostate Cancer UK and on the oche won the British Pentathlon for a record-breaking 12th time.

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CARL JOHNSON - Peterborough Panthers tough-talking team boss who led the club to a double trophy haul in 2017.

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

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CELLO RENDA - won ‘the fight of the year’ against former Posh star Leon McKenzie to become Southern Area super-middleweight boxing champion.

World champion Karim Chan.World champion Karim Chan.
World champion Karim Chan.

ADAM NEILL - Peterborough rower who won the Beitish OIndoor Championship and silver and bronze medals in the GB eight at World Cup events.

STUART BROWN - Thorpe Wood golfer who finished second in the PGA in England (East) Order of Merit standings.

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ADAM DRAKE - a member of the England Over 45 team that won a silver medal at the European Championships.

KYLE FINDLEY - son of former karate king Clifton who won a gold medal at the ISKA world kick-boxing championships in Greece.

LEON GOLD - kick-boxing champion from Peterborough BCKA who won two world titles in Portugal plus European and British Championships golds. Also made a BCKA national team coach.

NICKY BRETT - champion bowler from Yaxley who completed the full set of world titles in 2017 when winning the mixed pairs crown. Also won national men’s pairs crown for fifth time. World number two indoors.

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AARON SCOTT - Stamford-based athlete who was king of the road again locally in 2017. Clocked 2.17.46 in the London Marathon to win the bronze medal in the English Marathon Championship. Won Cambridge Half-Marathon for fourth year.

GARY FREEAR - big Wisbech Cricket Club batsman who played a key role in his club clinching the Rutland League Division One title for the first time .

JAMIE SCHOLES - outstanding COPS swimmer picked for England team to compete at Marseilles International. Won gold at the National Open Water Championships and a bronze medal at the British Championships.

PAUL LUNN - excelled on two fronts in 2017. Won a gold medal in his 45-49 age group at the National Triathlon Championships and finished sixth in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. In cycling he smashed the national Clarion 100-mile record riding for Fenland Clarion.

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JONATHAN OAKEY - silver medallist in 16-19 age group at the European Triathlon Championships.

ULRICH OSTERGAARD - the Panthers speedway skipper once again led by example with a string of fine performances in 2017.

JACK HOLDER - the oustanding Panthers rider in 2017. A wizard from Aus.

Rob Taylor - another of our brilliant crop of kick-boxers. Won an ISKA World Championship title in Greece.

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Martin Hobbs - Hicks Karate School member who came out of retirement to win two big British titles.

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

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Georgina Jennings - 72 year-old Peterborough Triathlon Club (PACTRAC) member who won British, European and world titles in 2017.

GEMMA CARTER - kick-boxer from the JAMA club who won four gold medals at the World Martial Arts Games in Florida.

CHARLOTTE TAYLOR - Nene Valley Harrier from Spalding who finished sixth in the European Cross-Country Championships to lead GB to team gold. Also ran in the 10,000m at the World Track & Field Championships.

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CLAIRE STEELS - PACTRAC member who won a silver medal at the World Duathlon Championships in Canada.

ANDREA JENKINS - hammer throwing champion from Nene Valley Harriers. Won throws pentathlon gold at World Masters Championships in Perth, Australia, and two gold medals at the European Masters Championships in Denmark.

JADEN HARRIS - English, European and world kick-boxing champion from Peterborough BCKA. Won the national BCKA best female of the year award and appointed BCKA national coach.

CAMILLA PLUMB - Top city female rower who won many elite races in 2017 and qualified for the Royal Henley Regatta.

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ATLANTA HICKMAN - kick-boxer from the Hicks Karate School who won stacks of gold medals at national championship events.

ALEX BANHAM - ladies club champion at Elton Furze Golf Club for 10th year running.

LIANNE JONES - 21 year-old from the JAMA martial arts club who won four titles at the ICO World Championships.

RACHEL WELLINGS - COPS swimmer who won her first international cap for Team GB at the European Junior Championships in Israel. Also won a silver medal at the British Championships.

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JEORGIA CARR - star all-rounder for Posh Ladies football team and City of Peterborough hockey team.

LINDSAY CLARKE - the 55 year-old Fenland Clarion cyclist won two silver medals at the World Masters Track Championships in Los Angeles, California and she won three National Masters Championships this year. She also set a National Veterans Age Record for 10 miles with a time of 21 minutes 59 seconds.

SARAH CHAPMAN - Market Deeping Tang So Do Club member who won three gold medals at the European Championships in Rotterdam.

Kim Lane - Crowland-based ice hockey player who was a key member of the Bracknell Queen Bees team which successfully defended the English Womens Premier League title. She then gained a professional contract in Switzerland. Also represented and scored vital goals for the GB senior women’s team which won the bronze medal at the World Championships in Slovenia.

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Leah Pearson - Peterborough BMX Club rider who is the east region number one and national number five in the 30+ ladies cruiser class. Competed in the World Championships in South Carolina in 2017 and achieved 15th place.

DISABLED ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR

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JAMES FOX - world rowing champion, Paralympic champion, ranked number one para-rower in the world.

LAUREN STEADMAN - the Sawtry superstar made it five European Championship titles on the trot when taking the honours in Austria.

JACK ANDERSON - promising 12-year-old COPS swimmer who won four medals at the national para swimming championships.

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KARIM CHAN - Peterborough Athletic Club member who won a gold medal in the long jump at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in Switzerland.

Mike Robertson - Parkway bowler who has been selected for the disabled section of England’s Commonwealth Games team for Australia next April. Won the Disability Bowls England national singles title and the Bowls England men’s triples title with brothers Ean and Tristan Morton.

CALUM TITMUS - fantastic all-round talent. Won a silver medal in figure skating at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria and was a British indoor rowing champion in 2016 and 2017. Also does the pole vault for Nene Valley Harriers and swims for Huntingdon Piranhas.

Brandon Ballard - a 13 year-old who runs distance races for Nene Valley Harriers. His proud teacher and coach Abi Schofield said: “Brandon is a wonderful example of how special needs children can excel in mainstream sport.”

TEAM OF THE YEAR

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PETERBOROUGH SPORTS FC - runaway UCL Premier Division champions and Hinchingbrooke Cup winners. Won the UCL with the highest points total in the country of 112 and most league goals in the country of 150. Scored 250 goals in all competitions. Reached fourth round of the FA Vase.

PETERBOROUGH RUGBY CLUB 1st XV - stormed to the Midlands Division Two title in the English Clubs Championship losing just one game all season.

NENE VALLEY HARRIERS - Southern League Division One champions.

KETTON CRICKET CLUB - Cambs League Division One champions.

PETERBOROUGH RUGBY CLUB UNDER 13 GIRLS - launched in September 2016, this new team completed the 2016/17 season unbeaten with 64 wins from 64 games and eight trophies in the cabinet. They travelled 2,100 miles to beat the best of the rest of England.

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CITY OF PETERBOROUGH SWIMMING CLUB (COPS) - one of the smallest clubs in the Eastern Region with a membership of 170 yet they are the most successful. They are East Midlands champions and have qualified for the National Arena League final in April - the FA Cup final of swimming. Several national champions and this year had four members represent Great Britain.

PETERBOROUGH PANTHERS - Fours (Ulrich Ostergaaard, Chris Harris, Paul Starke, Simin Lambert) and KO Cup winners.

PETERBOROUGH ISLANDERS - the Phantoms second string completed a league and cup treble in the NIHL South Division.

PHANTOMS UNDER 15s - crowned national Under 15 champions beating Chelmsford 3-1 in the final.

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CITY OF PETERBOROUGH LADIES HOCKEY - back to back promotions in the East League clinching a place in the Premier Division for the first time and currently third in the table.

CITY OF PETERBOROUGH MEN’S HOCKEY - came close to promotion to the National League last season and unbeaten at the halfway stage this season.

PETERBOROUGH SPORTS UNDER 15s - trophy treble - League Cup, PFA Cup and Division One title.

DEEPING RANGERS BLUE UNDER 13s - League and League Cup winners.

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DEEPING UNDER 16s - league and county cup winners. John Carver’s side were beaten only twice in three years.NORTHERN STAR UNDER 18s - trophy treble - KO Cup, PFA Cup and Division One title.

NORTHERN STAR UNDER 16s - trophy treble - Northants Cup, League Cup and Division One title.

YAXLEY FC - UCL League Cup winners and best ever finish of third in the UCL Premier Division.

ICA SPORTS - upset all the odds to win the coveted PFA Senior Cup.

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NORTHERN STAR LADIES - East Midlands League Cup and Northants County Cup winners.

YAXLEY UNDER 12s - league and cup double last season - winning the League Cup for the third year running - and unbeaten as Under 13s this season.

YAXLEY UNDER 14 GIRLS - Cambs League Cup and Hunts Cup winners.

PETERBOROUGH BCKA - dominate the sport of kick-boxing nationally and internationally.

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HICKS KARATE SCHOOL - won multiple British and European titles.

PETERBOROUGH ROWING CLUB - the crew of Sarah Sheldrick, Kate Read, Emma Richardson, Hayley Marsters, ANita Carter, Gemma Singleton, Hail Parker, Tina Allen and cox Hannah Parker won a gold medal at the World Masters Regetta in Slovenia.

JUNIOR SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR (16 or under on January 1st 2017)

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ROBIN TIGER WILLIAMS - outstanding young golfer from Peterborough Milton who made his international debut in 2017 and helped England Boys to Nations Cup and Home International Championship success. Finished third in the English Under 16 Open and fifth in the English Under 18 Open for which he won the Malcolm Reid Salver for the best combined score in the two events.

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BOBBY MOORE - another exciting young golfer. Six year-old Bobby from Thorpe Wood finished sixth in his age group in the Super Six Grand Tour Final on the British Junior Golf Tour.

JACOB WILLIAMS - yet another rising golf star. The 12 year-old from Peterborough Milton also reached the Super Six Final on the British Junior Golf Tour and won the net prize in his age group.

GABRIEL HOWLETT - Market Deeping Tang So Do Club member who won a European title in Rotterdam.

JAKE JARMAN - international gymnast from Deeping who won the Under 16 all-round title at the British Championships. He was also a member of the GB team that won a silver medal at the European Youth Festival in Hungary.

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DONOVAN CAPES - the 12 year-old grandson of shot putt legend Geoff Capes who finished his first season in athletics at number one in the UK Under 13 discus rankings and at number two in the shot.

EDDY PADDOCK - twice a previous winner of this award and still setting the world of kick-boxing alight. Won 33 gold medals in 2017 including three in European Championships and six in World Championships.

LEWIS DAVEY - top Peterborough Athletic Club all-rounder. Silver medallist at both the English Schools Championships (400m) and English Schools Combined Events Championships (octathlon).

IMRAAN SHIRAZI - outstanding young boxer from the Peterborough Police Amateur Boxing Club who reached the semi-finals of the National Schoolboy Championships and won a silver meal at the Monkstown Box Cup, a huge international tournanment in Dublin.

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LUKE CLARK - a member of the national championship winning Phantoms Under 15 ice hockey team who also played for the GB Under 16 roller hockey team at the AAU Junior Olympics in America.

MYLES ROBINSON-YOUNg - COPS swimmer who won gold medal at British Age Group Championships.

Bradley Bowering - exciting ice hockey player who captains England Under 15s and led the Phantoms Under 15 team to national championship glory. Earned a Phantoms senior contract at the age of 14.

Aaron Leonard - a special 10 year-old talent from the Hicks Karate School with a national title to his name.

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Denas JankAUSKAs - another outstanding Hicks Karate School youngster. The 10 year-old won a gold medal at the national ISKA Kick-Boxing Championships.

LIAM ARNETT - exciting Peterborough BMX Club prospect who retained his East Anglian title (Under 8) in 2017.

JOSEPH CAREY - another great Peterborough BMX Club rider. He was crowned East Anglian champion (Under 14) for the fifth year running. Also qualified for the UCI World Championships for the last five years and will represent Great Britain again in 2018 at the World Championships in Baku.

JUNIOR SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR (16 or under on January 1st 2017)

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AMELIA MONAGHAN - picked to swim for GB in the European Junior Championships in Israel. Won a gold medal at the British Age Group Championships.

ISABEL SPINLEY - Deepings Swimming Club member who won a bronze medal for GB at the European Junior Championships in Israel. Won silver and bronze medals at British Age Group Championships.

KELSEY LOCK - A rising kick-boxing star from the Peterborough BCKA club. In 2017, despite suffering a broken leg, she still made the England team and won 23 gold medals.

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ELIZABETH TAYLOR - Peterborough Athletic Club 13 year-old who won a bronze medal in the 300m at the England Under 15 Championships and smashed several club records on the track during 2017.

KATIE SIMNETT - a martial artist from the Bretton-based Master Parker’s Serial Kickers club who won four gold medals at the SCI World Championships in Mexico.

LORENA ISMAIL - kick-boxer Lorena (12) won this award two years ago and could figure again after a great 2017 in which she amassed an impressive 22 gold medals in national and international competitions. Won the WMO European title and three national titles (ISKA, WKKC and WKA).

ELIZABETH CARTER - kick-boxer from the JAMA club who won four gold medals at the World Martial Arts Games in Florida.

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ELISE WARD - another star from martial arts (Hicks Karate School) who was a world champ in 2016. Won plenty of big events in 2017.

Jorja Matchwick - a mainstay of the Borough Rugby Club Under 13 side that completed the 2016/17 season unbeaten, this Ken Stimpson pupil has gone on to help the fledgling PRUFC Under 15s to top place in their group of the National Clubs Competition and has been a key player in the East Midlands repesentative side that won all three of their games in ithe first half of the 2017/18 season.

Chloe Brett - daughter of world star Nicky. Chloe (17) bowls for England Under 18s indoors and outdoors. During the summer she won the ladies national triples at Skegness at the age of 16. She has represented the county at many national finals over the past few years.

Katie Tasker - talented triathlete from PACTRAC who was Eastern champion in 2017 and qualified for the British Championships for the third year in a row.

FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

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MARCUS MADDISON - Peterborough United’s best player by far during 2017.

MARK JONES - starred in the Peterborough Sports side during their record-breaking United Counties League Premier Division title win. Scored 47 goals and now skippering the side in the absence of his injured brother Richard Jones.

AVELINO VIEIRA - another Peterborough Sports star. Top scorer in the UCL Premier Division last season with 54 goals.

DAN COTTON - a previous winner of this award (2014) from Yaxley FC. Played a big part in helping the Cuckoos finish third in the UCL Premier Division last season and also win the UCL League Cup. Scored 47 goals last season.

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CASSIE STEWARD - one of the best strikers in the East Midlands Women’s League who shines week in week out for Northern Star Ladies. Scored 25 goals in the Premier Division last season and has 14 goals in eight games this season including three hat-tricks in consecutive games.

JESSICA DRISCOLL - a stand out talent in the Peterborough United ladies team. Superb technical ability and can impact matches through moments of brilliance with her natural flair and skill.

TASH APPLEGATE - another of the stars in the Peterborough United ladies team. Tash has a fantastic work ethic and is a prolific goalscorer. Highly regarded across the county as a talented footballer.

JACK MARRIOTT - He only joined Posh in the summer, but what an impact this dynamic striker has made. He’s scored 17 goals in his first 30 appearances for the club.

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OLIVER MALTBY - An astonishing 62 goals for Pinchbeck in the Peterborough Premier Division last season. He is averaging more than a goal a game in United Counties League football this season.

JUNIOR FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR (16 or under on January 1st 2017)

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LIA CATALDO - a top midfield player who attends Arthur Mellows Village College . Plays for Arsenal Ladies Under 16s and England Under 17s.

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BRADLEY GILBERT - prolific goalscorer behind Peterborough Sports Under 15s terrific treble in the 2016/2017 season. Hit a magnificent seven goals for them in a 10-0 PFA Cup Final win over Leverington. Scored 55 goals for Sports last season.

JAZLEIGH FIFE - attacking midfielder for Peterborough Sports Under 16s. Bags of flair.

Vilian Radic - a real hot-shot from Malborne Rangers Under 14s. Scored 29 goals for them last season and has over 40 to his name already this season.

JAMES PAM - one of the smartest and quickest strikers around in youth football. Hit 30 goals last season for Deeping Under 16s including the winner in their county cup final success.Has eight goals this season for the Under 18s.

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LUKE RYMILL - 55 goals last season for Malborne United Under 12s.

JORDAN GIDDINGS - 13 goals this season for Peterborough Sports Under 18s. Last season 28 goals for Northern Star Under 16s.

Harrison Burrows - level-headed sixteen year-old midfielder at Posh who is highly rated. Been with the club since he was six years-old. Made the bench for the first team in the Checkatrade Trophy. One to watch for the future with first-team boss Grant McCann singling him out as one for the future.

Luca Christoudias - a terrific young player from Stamford who plays for Posh Under 8s. Helped the club win the Pilgrim Cup this year beating Derby County 4-0 in the final and in the Posh Under 8 Festival he scored the ‘goal of the tournament’ - a brilliant solo effort against Manchester City.

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Charlie Bedford - the Posh Under 10 Academy goalkeeper who was picked up from Darren Gibbons’ Club GK goalkeeping school. Praised by opponents Manchester City and Chelsea.

ALFIE BIRD - Posh Under 9 Academy keeper also picked up from Club GK and who also receives plenty of praise from top-class opposition.

Ethan Young - a terrific left-back from Peterborough Junior Alliance League side One Touch Football Under 14s. He is currently on a six-week trial at the Nottingham Forest Academy.

Jacob Harte - shines in midfield for One Touch Football Under 9s and has earned himself a place at the Nottingham Forest junior set-up.

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Francis Buckle - outstanding left-back who plays for Yaxley Under 13s.

Lewis Arber - talented central midfielder who is the son of ex-Posh star Mark Arber. Also plays for Yaxley Under 13s.

Louis Rodriguez- a third member of Seb Hayes’ high-flying Yaxley Under 13 side who has caught the eye in 2017. He’s their free-scoring centre-forward.

George Frost - talented midfielder in the Deeping Claret Under 12 side.

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Iona Kemball - midfield maestro in the Holbeach United Under 15 girls side.

WAYNE CORT - Netherton United Under 14 striker with an eye for goal. Scored 29 goals already this season and on his day is unplayable. Superb upper body strength and leggy stride plus great skill and composure.

COACH OF THE YEAR

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SLAVA KOULIKOV - The Ukraine-born coach led Phantoms again to a respectable Premier League finish and a play-off place in another impressive campaign where Phantoms consistently punched above their weight

JIMMY DEAN - After a stellar playing career, Jimmy is now a no-nonsense non-league football boss. Won six trophies in two seasons at the helm of Peterborough Sports.

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BEN NEGUS - the brilliant City of Peterborough Swimming Club (COPS) coach who has turned the city club into a nationally recognised ‘tour de force’. Produces scores of regional and national champions and is a Swim England Elite coach responsible for identifying talent for the 2024 and 2028 Olympics.

PAUL LARKINS - a former international athlete who has transformed the Peterborough Athletic Club road-runners and cross-country runners from also-rans into regional champions. Has also improved track athletes to a high standard and helped Daniel Mees win an international vest. Coaches a squad of 50 young males and females.

LEE ADAMSON - turned Peterborough Rugby Club round after joining from Peterborough Lions. He led the team to the Midlands Division Two title in convincing fashion last season as they secured promotion as early as March and lost just one game all season. Won this award for his work with the Lions in 2012.

ANDY WHITWELL - another previous winner (2013).The Peterborough BCKA instructor keeps his talented team of world-beaters on their toes and also produces new kick-boxing champions every year.

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ANDREW HICKS - another top coach from the martial arts world. Andrew runs the thriving Hicks Karate School and has been producing champions for 20 years.

Mark Bowering - became the first coach to lead a junior Phantoms team (Under 15) to national championship success.

Michael Fox - highly-rated coach at the Posh Pre-Academy who goes above and beyond for the children he’s coaching.

DARREN GIBBONS - runs the Club GK goalkeeping school with a great deal of success. Many of his young students are snapped up by professional clubs.

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RUSS PROSSER - Nene Valley Harriers are blessed with an outstanding coach in Russell Proser. The popular junior endurance coach has been inspiring young athletes for many years and many go on to enjoy national success.

Seb Hayes - popular manager on the junior and senior football front currently doing an ad mirable job with Yaxley Under 13s and Holbeach United in the UCL.

Steve Purnell - the ICA Sports stalwart is one of the best coaches around in junior girls football.

CHRIS BAKER - inspirational head coach at Peterborough Police Amateur Boxing Club.

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TIM NEEDHAM - long-serving track and field coach/team manager at Nene Valley Harriers. Led the club to British Men’s League promotion and the Southern League Division One title.

UNSUNG HERO

Sponsored by The Peterborough Football & Sports Development Foundation

John Torr - Peterborough Athletic Club stalwart now in his 70s. John has been coaching local athletics for 50 years. His Monday night session often sees upwards of 60 youngsters running, jumping and throwing and he can always be depended upon to make the session fun and exciting. Also leads a group of over 40 youngsters every Tuesday and Thursday. It was only in the past six years that John gave up competing himself but he can regularly be seen warming up with his young charges as well as doing the odd run with them.

TOR HARRIS - the hugely successful Peterborough BCKA kick-boxing club wouldn’t function so well without the endless voluntary work undertaken by Tor. She suffers with many medical problems, is in constant pain and registered as disabled, but nothing is ever too much trouble for her. Described by the club’s chief instructor Andy Whitwell as ‘a true diamond’.

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IAN PEPPER – Werrington Athletic Football Club secretary for over 20 years who oversees the running of all club teams from Under 6 to Under 18. He also coaches newcomers at Under 6 level with great enthusiasm and manages the club’s youngest team in the Junior Alliance League. A club spokesman said: “Without the likes of Ian there would be no grassroots football. He shows the best of traits of local junior and youth football.”

DAVE LANE - the owner of Peterborough Phantoms keeps putting his hand deep into his pocket to keep the city ice hockey club afloat . . . because he loves ice hockey.

COLIN DAY - Colin is a one-club wonder. He is Brotherhood’s football through and through. He joined them as a player when he was 16 years-old and 50 years on he is still a big part of the club, who are now known as Peterborough Sports. He’s served as manager, treasurer, secretary and chairman and is their life president.

“He’s always there at home games two hours before kick-off and makes the teas. He’s a true unsung hero, “ said a Sports representative.

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GEOFF GARDNER - Geoff has clocked up 65 years for one club. He joined Newborough Cricket Club when he was 14 and 65 years later he’s still very much a key man. He no longer plays but does a fantastic job as club groundsman.

Steve Purnell - attached to ICA Sports, Steve does an exceptional job in developing girls football.

PAUL CROOKS - hard-working volunteer groundsman at Borough Rugby Club. Done a fabulous job in maintaining their pitches to a very high standard for many years.

ADI MOWLES - huge Posh fan who was the drivng force behind quickly raising the money for the Chris Turner statue at London Road. All £80,000 of it which earned him this nomination from the football club.

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VICKI BAKER - Chris Baker founded Peterborough Police Amateur Boxing Club in August 2013 and it continues to grow from strength to strength with Chris at the helm. He balances a full-time career as a police officer and family commitments while attending nearly every boxing session and competition. But he’ll be the first to tell you that his wife Vicki, also a qualified coach, is the main backbone of the club and really makes it function as well as it does. Does a particularly brilliant job with a newly-formed section for Asian women.

ROBERT WINDLE - won this award in 2014 for the unstinting work he does to develop young football referees in the area. Still does that and much more besides. He can also regularly be found these days talking to pupils at local primary schools about respect and fair play in football. Robert also leads the Peterborough Refereeing Association in wonderful style. In the past he’s brought the biggest names in football refereeing to the city to aid and improve local standards of officiating.

67 Crew - this is a group of speedway fans who carry out stacks of maintenance and track work down at the East of England Showground, the home of Peterborough Panthers. There are about half a dozen of them and they are named the 67 Crew as that was the age of most of them were when they started helping out a couple of years ago.

Jane Leigh - Jane was drawn to City of Peterborough Swimming Club (COPS) as a parent about 10 years ago when her son Dan joined the club. During all of that time she has helped out in some capacity - five years of it spent as unpaid club secretary - and she continues to do so even though Dan is now studying and swimming in the USA. She graduated to official status after smiling her way through exams and recently took the prestigious referee exams as well. A club spokesperson said: “Jane is at every gala working hard as an official. At a time when we are desperate to motivate parents to volunteer, Jane leads from the front. She is always there for swimmers, coaches, volunteers and officials alike. She continues to be a fabulous source of wisdom and inspiration for the parents and quite simply none of us could imagine COPS without her.”

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MargRette BothAmley - Margrette is the Hicks Karate School ‘Supergran’. The 65 year-old makes a four-hour round trip three times a week to transport her grandson Warren Bothamley to classes at the city martial arts school and even further afield on Sundays for competitions. She’s being doing that for two and a half years - often when not in the best of health - and she still has to work part-time to fund the travelling. She also supports other families at the club by looking after their young children while they train or compete and she is also heavily involved with club fund-raising . She is affectionately know by all as ‘Nanny Margrette’.

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