Are you a sporting superstar?

Can your brother bend it like Beckham? Got a mum who really knows her stuff when it comes to teaching tennis? Or maybe your club embodies the Team Teignbridge spirit?

Whatever talent lies in the district, now is the chance to have it recognised! Teignbridge District Council is on the hunt for the best of the best as it opens nominations for its annual Teignbridge Sports Personality Awards.

Nominations are being sought for this year’s awards gala on Friday 28 November at the Langstone Cliff Hotel in Dawlish Warren.

The yearly event has become one of the largest of its kind, recognising and rewarding a number of athletes, teams, volunteers, coaches, and unsung heroes for their hard work and dedication to sport, health and physical activity across the district's local communities.

Anyone can submit nominations for people they think deserve special recognition. Quick and convenient online nominations are being welcomed at www.teignbridge.gov.uk/sportspersonalityawards

Nominations must be in by Friday 19 September 2014.

There are 13 different categories with each one aiming to showcase the individuals and teams who have made a huge difference in sport, physical activity or health within Teignbridge over the last 12 months.

Teignbridge is also calling for sponsors to come forward and get involved.

Cllr George Gribble, Teignbridge Executive Spokesperson for Communities, Recreation and Leisure said:

“Our Sports Personality Awards are a great celebration of the clubs, groups and people in our communities. The event is always a memorable occasion and attracts scores of people brimming with positivity about our district and the great things that happen here. This summer Teignbridge retained its Devon Games to Inspire trophy for the second time – an amazing achievement.

“Nominations are really easy and won’t take long. You can even get them done online through a new web-form on our website. We are also on the lookout for sponsors to become part of this prestigious event by putting their name to a category. We are keen to hear from businesses big or small who are keen to show their appreciation for our sporting superstars who work tirelessly on at what they do.”

Previous winners of Teignbridge’s overall Sports Personality of the Year prize - chosen from the winners of all the evening’s categories - have included the team who helped Teignbridge win the Devon Games to Inspire trophy in 2013, London 2012 Paralympic Bronze Medallist sports-shooter James Bevis, Mary King from the British Olympic Equestrian team; David Swift from the GB Skeleton Bob team; Jai Geyer, the GB Skiing Champion; and local woman Natalie Melmore, who became the 2010 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist for Ladies Single Bowls.

For each category a judging panel will narrow the field to a shortlist of three, who will then be invited to attend the Sports Personality Awards presentation evening along with a guest. In addition to all short listed nominees, their nominators will also be invited to attend the awards ceremony.

Nominations are invited for the following categories of awards:

1. SERVICES TO SPORT (COMMUNITY) In recognition of an individual who has shown true dedicated service to a given club or sport within the community from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
2. SERVICES TO SPORT (EDUCATION) In recognition of an individual; be it a parent, teacher or volunteer who has contributed significantly to the development of a school team or to the coaching of a certain group from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
3. COACH/MANAGER OF THE YEAR In recognition of an individual who has led a team, squad or individual to succeed in their sporting field from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
4. VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR In recognition of a volunteer or a team who has shown commitment and dedication in their chosen sport or physical activity from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
5. SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR WITH A PHYSICAL/LEARNING DISABILITY In recognition of on-going success or an achievement made in a sporting context by an individual From 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
6. CLUB OF THE YEAR In recognition of a club, who has achieved success within their sport. From the 14th September 2013-14th September 2014 Nominations can be related to both performance and/or community sport development.
7. JUNIOR TEAM OF THE YEAR In recognition of a team who have achieved local, regional, national or international success within their sport from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
8. SENIOR TEAM OF THE YEAR In recognition of a team who have achieved local, regional, national or international success within their sport from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
9. JUNIOR SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR In recognition of an individual who has achieved local, regional, national or international success within their sport or conversely experienced success in a variety of sports from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
10. JUNIOR SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR In recognition of an individual who has achieved local, regional, national or international success within their sport or conversely experienced success in a variety of sports from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.
11. SENIOR SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR In recognition of an individual who has achieved local, regional, national or international success from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014 in their chosen sport.
12. SENIOR SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR In recognition of an individual who has achieved local, regional, national or international success from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014 in their chosen sport.
13. YOUNG PERSONS SERVICES TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT In recognition of a young person who has contributed significantly to physical education and sport at a school, a club or as part of the school sports partnership from 14th September 2013-14th September 2014.

ELIGIBILITY:
All the nominees must reside or be in full-time education within the district of Teignbridge To be eligible for all junior awards, the individual must be 16 years of age or younger on 31/08/14 To be eligible for all young person’s awards, the individual must be 18 years of age or younger on 31/08/14 Individuals will not be eligible if they have been shortlisted on 3 consecutive years for any category of award All nominations must be received by Friday 19th September 2014.

NB:
The Judging Panel require each nominator to ensure that their nomination form includes all the achievements and successes of the individual or team they are nominating. please ensure you list their best achievements in priority order. Failure to include vital information may result in the nominee being left out of the shortlist.

For updates and information visit -www.facebook.com/teignbridgeleisure or http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/sportspersonalityawards