SOUTH Wiltshire’s finest sports men and women gathered at the Stones Hotel at High Post on Friday for the second annual Salisbury Journal Sports Awards.

The evening’s host, the inimitable former Olympian and TV personality Kriss Akabusi, brought his unique style and almost superhuman energy levels to the event as he introduced nominees and interviewed the winners.

Kriss told his story of growing up in a children’s home and joining the army at 16 where his potential as a runner was spotted by his coach, Sergeant Ian MacKenzie.

He highlighted the importance of coaches in developing young athletes, describing them as “vitally important people who transform lives”.

The former presenter of Record Breakers was full of inspirational advice for the young athletes in the room, as well as the more experienced.

“Similarities make you champions, differences make us unique.”

“If you are too scared to lose, you will never ever win.”

“The past is there for reference, not for residence.”

Journal publisher Bill Browne said: “This was no doubt the year of the young stars.

“The city has a wealth of talent at all ages and those who work with and inspire the generation sports women and men coming up the ranks should be applauded.

He added: “It was a delight to see so many youngsters take honours on what was a glittering night.”

Outstanding progression in sport

MARATHON runner Aaron Wilson came out on top in this hotly contested category.

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Aaron started running in 2008 as a new year’s resolution after quitting football, and ran his first marathon in 3:49.

Since then he has steadily reduced his times, recently setting a personal best of 2:33 in Tokyo.

Aaron, who has just completed the World Marathon Majors, said: “It’s a mental challenge against myself really. It’s just a massive achievement once you cross the line.”

Also shortlisted was teenage go-karting sensation Brodie Trayhorn and football whizz kid Daniel Blackburn.

Indoor sports player of the year

BOWLS player Tom Warner scooped the award after what has been a big year for him.

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The highlight was in January when he competed as part of the World Singles Championship, which was screened on BBC2.

He found himself with a wildcard entry within the elite group of the top 32 indoor bowlers in the world.

He is now on the UK Open Singles Circuit ranking list and has won several local titles across the year.

Tom said: “People associate bowls as an old person’s game but it’s not.

“It’s just a great sport, you can play it whether you are young or old.”

Tom said his ultimate aim was to represent England.

Also nominated were rising badminton star Katie Ovenden and Team GB water polo player Katy Cutler.

Outstanding service to sport

ALDERBURY FC chairman Martin Woodroffe picked up this award, sponsored by Aspire Defence, for his huge contribution to the club over many years.

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Martin has helped to grow the side from a village team to a thriving community club - one of the first in Wiltshire to be awarded the FA Charter.

Over 180 young people take part in coaching and competitions at the club thanks in great part to Martin’s efforts.

The club is undergoing a £1m transformation and Martin said: “The future’s looking bright.”

Also shortlisted were former Salisbury FC chairman Dave Phillips, “superhuman” football coach Debbie Sayer and netball coaches Diane Arrandale and Babs Yeates.

Hockey player of the year

HOCKEY ace Anji Whittamore is Salisbury first team captain this year and helped them achieve a top three league finish for the third year in a row in the West Counties Women’s Hockey League Premier 2 division last season.

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She also represented England Masters 45s in a full summer programme which saw them become Silver Medal Winners in the European Championships in Holland.

Anji said this was the proudest moment of her career and a “fantastic experience.”

She said: “Playing for your country, what more can you ask for?”

Also shortlisted was Salisbury Hockey Club’s top marksman Tom Morton.

Cricketer of the year

CRICKETER Luke Evans has had a remarkable season with South Wilts 1st XI, taking 35 Premier League wickets (just one behind the leading wicket taker in the league) and 46 in all cricket for the side.

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He has a premier league strike rate of just 19.26 - possibly the best strike rate of any bowler in the Premier League over the last 10 years.

He was also voted the South Wilts side’s Player of the Season.

Luke, who used to watch Hampshire play with his grandad, said: “I’m delighted. This has been a breakthrough year for me.”

Also shortlisted were Jayden Atkinson and Ben Draper.

Rugby player of the year

POPPY Cleall has just returned from the Women’s World Cup 2017 in Ireland where she won a silver medal for England.

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As a young player she played for both Ellingham & Ringwood and Salisbury rugby club.

She now has 15 caps for England and played in the Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam Winning side.

Although she plays for Bristol now, she supports her local teams as much as possible to encourage more girls and women into rugby.

She said: “I like the collisions and the confrontation and the fact you can express yourself.”

Poppy was unable to attend the awards.

Also shortlisted were Salisbury Rugby club favourites Rob Larkham and Gareth Blackborrow.

The award was sponsored by Regus.

Footballer of the year

EDDIE Perrett started his fledgling career in the Salisbury Youth system.

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He later went on to represent Laverstock and Ford, Shaftesbury, Amesbury and now Salisbury FC.

He was signed as a striker by boss Steve Claridge when the club re-formed before being turned into a wing-back.

He said the club was aiming for promotion and things were coming together after a bad start to the season.

Eddie also plays futsal for FC Salisbury United.

Also shortlisted were Ben Smith from Downton FC and Salisbury Women FC “goal machine” Zoe Ridley.

The footballer of the year award was sponsored by Cara Glass.

Coach of the year

ENDURANCE coach Phill Morris runs the Independent Intelligent Fitness Club and according to those who know him has complete dedication to athletics.

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He goes above and beyond, often travelling around the country to support them as well as running three extremely well-planned sessions per week.

Phill said: “If you want to be good at something, you have got to have a lot of patience.”

Also nominated were former Bishop Wordsworth’s School head of rugby Terry Gilmore and Salisbury Tri Club head coach Sarah Kemp.

The sponsor was County Tile Warehouse.

Athlete and swimmer of the year

BEATRICE (Bea) Wood is a truly remarkable young athlete, say the people who nominated her.

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Last winter Bea, 14, won the National Schools Cross Country cup final in Liverpool.

She won all her Wessex Young Athletes league races, breaking a 20-year-old league record in the final race.

She went on to represent Wiltshire running in the Junior Girls 1,500 metres in the prestigious English Schools Championships in Birmingham and as one of the youngest competitors in the event, Bea won her heat in a new personal best time.

She said: “I have always loved running.”

Also nominated were runner Alex Mundell and Molly Hole.

The sponsor was The Body Lounge

Community club of the year

SARUM Sisters is an all women running club that encourages ladies to run in a safe environment.

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In the last year it has gone from 20 participants every Monday evening to over 60. It offers walk to run, 2 and 5 mile routes at different pacing.

The motto of the club is “slow down, I want to chat”, the club insists on group support ensuring faster runners encourage and support the others.

Linda Robson said: “I don’t think there’s a single running event in Salisbury where you won’t find a Sarum Sister supporting it.”

Also shortlisted were Salisbury Walking Football Over 50s and Salisbury Triathlete Club.

The sponsor was Bassets.

Disability sports personality

GOLFER Warren Clark, 17, has shown great courage and tenacity to be selected as one of six in the country as an Ambassador for Golf in England and will represent the Golf Foundation.

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Warren, who has autism and learning disabilities, helps out with the juniors at Salisbury and South Wilts Golf club and has also started his own golf charity called Warren Clark golfing dreams.

Picking up the award for the second year in a row, Warren said next year he was aiming to get his handicap down from 6 to 4.

And he has set his sights on competing in the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi.

The award was sponsored by Inspire Mobility.

Young female sports personality

KATIE Ovenden has been playing badminton for many years but in the last year she has really started to make considerable progress.

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She has received a Future Olympians Scholarship award and this, combined with hard work and a good coach - Simon Woodhouse - has helped her to excellent results.

She is by far one of the fittest girls on the circuit and can run 5km in 26 mins and 10km in 58.39.

Last November, as reported in the Journal, Katie became the youngest player to have played in the Salisbury and district badminton league at 9 years old, playing for Bourne Valley Badminton. This year she will play for Salisbury.

Sponsor: Radiquip

Senior team of the year

SOUTH Wilts Cricket Club Third 11 is a team made up of mainly under 21 players who have enjoyed promotion to the County Division Two.

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Their 11-game winning streak is a feat to be admired and the team is now only one of two third teams in county division two. A real achievement for such a young side.

Captain Jody Everett said: “We have had a phenomenal year, getting promoted, which has been a fantastic achievement for the club.

“We have got an absolutely mazing academy system here at the club which brings on home-grown talent.

“To be able to say we won 11 games on the trot doesn’t happen regularly. Its a proud moment.” Sponsor: The Chapel

Young male sports personality

GOALKEEPER Daniel Blackburn Started at Clarendon Juniors where he immersed himself into the football world.

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Those who nominated him say his focus and determination to improve and train hard is admirable.

Daniel has now secured an academy contract with Yeovil Town Football club and trains in Bristol with ex pro Steve Phillips.

He said he models his game on two of the game’s greats -Bayern Munich stopper Manuel Neuer and Manchester United keeper David de Gea.

The young Liverpool fan said his dream would be to play for his favourite club.

And he said football was “a great way to bond with friends”. Sponsor: Radiquip

Sports personality of the year

AT just 14 years old, Brodie Trayhorn is ripping up the track in the karting world.

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He was described by those who know him as a true gentleman and someone all sports people should aspire to be like. Having won the Honda Cadet Championship in 2016, he stepped up a level in the last year and has been taking podium places against drivers five years older than him.

Brodie got into the sport after coming off a motorbike in a nasty accident.

“My mum wanted me on four wheels,” he said. “I had a go at go-karting, I enjoyed it and it went from there.”

Brodie has now been invited to compete against adults in the World Series in Italy.

Sponsor: MG Cannon