Devon Sports Awards Finalists announced

Active Devon has today announced the finalists of the prestigious Devon Sports Awards.

Running for over ten years, the awards attract hundreds of nominations each year, but this year saw a record number of nominations that were judged by an independent panel of experts last week.

The ceremony, hosted by Jenny Walrond (BBC Spotlight) takes place at Sandy Park, Exeter on Friday 10 May, where the winners of each category will be announced. In a partnership formed with local charity The Exeter Foundation, Active Devon will be opening up tickets to the event, which include a three-course dinner, entertainment and access to the ceremony with all profits from the event going to the Exeter Foundation, which grants money to a number of Devon charities.

Helen Pope, Marketing Manager at Active Devon said “the judges were stunned by the quality of nominations this year. There is an army of volunteers, coaches and officials across the county that give their time week in, week out for the good of sport in Devon, not to mention the clubs, teams and players that achieved fantastic success at local, regional and international level last year.

"I feel all of the nominees deserve congratulations for their dedication and devotion to sport. It proved considerably hard to single out finalists from some really strong examples of sporting excellence and even harder to try and decide winners. However, we feel all of those announced as finalists demonstrate going above and beyond what is expected or required of them and stand out as role models within their communities”.

The finalists are: Coach of the Year (senior)

• Lisa Kemp, Newton Abbot Swimming Club – Teignbridge

• Kevin Skinner, Exeter Harriers Athletics Club – Mid Devon

• Steve Squire, South Brent Judo Club – South Hams

Coach of the Year (youth)

• Jazmine Hervin, Football – Teignbridge

• Tom Vinall, Westward Ho! Tennis Club – Torridge

• Scott White – Exe Calibre Dragon Boat Club – Exeter

Club of the Year (amateur)

• Barton Cricket Club – Torbay

• Honiton Running Club – East Devon

• Kingsley School Judo Club – North Devon

Volunteer of the Year (senior)

• Neil Parsons, Lympstone Amateur Boxing Club – East Devon

• Dave Turner, Exeter Saracens RFC – Exeter

• Sue Whiffin, East Devon County Netball Association – Exeter

Volunteer of the Year (youth)

• Becci Helliwell, Cullompton Community College – Mid Devon

• David Morris, Devon Golf Partnership – Plymouth

• Chantelle Prowse, TAS Netball Club - Torbay

Sports Performer of the Year (amateur)

• Tom Daley, Diving – Plymouth

• Ruta Meilutye, Swimming – Plymouth

• Jay Thompson, Gymnastics – Torbay

Contribution to Inclusive Sport

• Paul Gray, Special Olympics – Exeter

• Allen Lewis, Tavistock Specials FC – West Devon

• Jeff Rawlings, Twyford Spartans – Mid Devon

Team of the Year

• South Dartmoor U16 Hockey Team – Teignbridge

• Plymouth Leander Swimming – Plymouth

• Newton Abbot Swimming Club Senior Squad – Teignbridge

In addition to the categories above, there two categories that celebrate programmes delivered by Active Devon partners;

Active Villages Project of the Year

• Junction Archers – Torridge

• Chagford Cricket Club – West Devon

• Age UK Yoga – East Devon

Sportivate Project of the Year

• Creating Chances (Exeter City FC) – Exeter

• Torbay Surf Life Saving Club – Torbay

• Ivybridge Community College & Mountbatten Centre - Plymouth

Other categories where the finalists and winners will be announced on the evening include Professional Club of the Year and Professional Sports Performer of the Year. For more details or to purchase tickets for the evening go to: http://www.activedevon.org/awards2013.