Race is on for combined counties' sports personality of the year (From Worcester News)

Race is on for combined counties' sports personality of the year

9:30am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

VOTING has opened for Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s Sports Personality of the Year award.

This year’s finalists are: Sascha Kindred (Hereford), Josie Pearson (Hay-on-Wye), Jess Varnish (Bromsgrove), Nyree Kindred (Hereford) and Mel Clarke (Worcester).

Residents can vote online at morethansportawards.

com The athlete with the most votes will be presented with the award on the night and the closing date is Monday, November 5.

Steve Brewster, director of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sports Partnership said: “The awards come at a time when the country has seen an unprecedented interest in sport, following the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games which have proved the power of sport and it’s legacy.

“There has never been a better time to nominate our sports personality of the year.”

This year, the partnership received a record number of nominations — 130 in total — with each category hotly contended.

The presentation night is at Worcester Warriors Sixways stadium on Wednesday, November 14, and the top three nominees in each category are as follows : Senior male sports person of the year: Jason Copsey (University of Worcester); Henry James (Kidderminster Golf Club); Barry Swindells (Malvern Joggers).

Senior female sports person of the year: Janet Birkmyre (GB Masters track cyclist); Emma Gooderham (Malvern Joggers); Vicki Hancox (Worcester Riding Club).

Junior male sports person of the year: Edward Higson (Evesham); Brad Lewis (Hereford); Rhys Park (Eardisley).

Junior female sports person of the year: Danielle Lawson (Royal Grammar School Fencing Club); Tazmin Pugh (Pershore Swimming Club); Libby Smith (Redditch Premiers BMX Club).

Coach of the year: Ian Blunt (Oldswinford CC); Emma Patrick (Paralympic swimming); David Mycock (Worcester Blind Football Club).

Young volunteer of the year: Zoey Harris (Ryland Netball Club); Anita Mason (Redditch Youth Fencing Club); Amy Wright (Hereford Lads Club).

Junior team of the year: Kidderminster Baxter College Year 10 football team; Malvern Joggers Juniors; Redditch Road and Path Cycling Club Slipstream Racing Team.

Club of the year: Bromsgrove Gymnastics Team; Pershore Women’s Touch Rugby Club; Samurai Judo Club, Kidderminster.

Disabled sports personality of the year: Claire Cashmore (Team GB); Glenn Scott (Bromsgrove); Luke Sugg (England Blind Cricket).

Volunteer of the year: Andy Harris (Barnards Green Cricket Club); Dennis Hodgkins (Norton Community Youth Club); Abi Penrose (Evesham Rowing Club).

Unsung hero: Ray Gidley (Upton-upon-Severn Rugby Football Club); Graham Maiden (Kidderminster Carolians Rugby Football Club); Derek Russell (Worcestershire Cricket Board).

Be active award: Jane Garner (Swim Inspiration Malvern); Dennis Hodgkins (Norton Community Games); Worcester Parkrun (Worcester).

Olympic Inspired award: Mike Goode (Norton Community Games); Dennis Hodgkins (Norton Community Youth Club); David Mycock (England and Great Britain Blind Football).

Newcomer of the Year award: Bromsgrove Gymnastics Club; Paul Berry (Redditch Road and Path Cycling Club); Worcester Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.