THE build-up for The Gazette Sports Awards has now started and, except for The Gazette Sports Personality of the Year Award, nominations for the categories can now be made.

As well as the awards, there are also cash grants up for grabs for local sportsmen and women from the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council area.

Applicants must be competing at county level or higher in their sport, and must enter via a form endorsed by their coach.

The scheme is co-ordinated by the voluntary local sports council and new applicants from any sport are welcome, with grant preference to up and coming young sportsmen and women.

Forms are available from Steve Welch at the council on 01256 845442.

The form can also be downloaded from the borough council website - www.basingstoke.gov.uk

The closing date for grant applications is December 1 and cheques, ranging from £25 to £200, will be awarded early in 2005.

The top 15 in the junior and senior categories for males and females will go forward to The Gazette Sports Awards.

Last year, Robert Tobin, who just missed out on running in the Athens Olympics, was the senior men's winner and world champion powerlifter Jean Maton won the women's crown.

In the junior section, world champion bowler Claire Spreadbury and kayaking star Scott Simmonds came out on top.

As well as the individual sporting awards, there are also another four awards up for grabs - Club of the Year, Coach of the Year, Service to Sport and the new Volunteer of the Year Award. This last award aims to reward a significant contribution made to sport throughout the year leading up to the awards.

This may be in the form of continued support at a sports club, the dedication shown by a volunteer to a particular programme, or the organisation of a one-off event.

The Service to Sport Award, won last year by badminton player Trevor Shanks, honours a sportsman's sustained contribution to sport and the impact that this individual has made over a number of years, for example, involvement or contribution, that is worthy of recognition, to a particular club or league for a period of time.

For both the Volunteer and Service to Sport Awards, a written statement of 100 words in support of the nomination should be submitted.

This could clarify why the nomination has been made, be a character reference or provide an indication of personality, as well as any additional relevant information.

The Club of the Year Award went to the Basingstoke Gymnastic Club in March 2004. This is always a hard-fought category.

Clubs both large and small can enter with their achievements from the past year.

The criteria needed for clubs to enter includes membership total, committee structure, constitution and code of conduct, annual development or action plan, equality of opportunity in the club, coaching, officials, safety, youth policy and school links, child protection, social environment, fundraising and newsletter, website or handbook, code of ethics, insurance and volunteer support.

The closing date for applications is December 31 and applications should detail the name and address of the club, committee members and contacts, should any further information be required.

The Coach of the Year Award is your chance to honour a team coach and his or her achievements over the past year.

Last year's award deservedly went to Basingstoke Buffalo ice hockey coach Ed Campbell.

This award is open to all qualified sports coaches from the Basingstoke and Deane area.

For an application form, contact Steve Welch at the council on 01256 845442. The closing date for the return of the application forms is also December 31.

In addition to the sports awards, Basingstoke is entering some additional categories in the Hants and Isle of Wight County Awards.

There are currently spaces for nominations for the following categories: Veteran sportsman and woman (40 years or over), disability sportsman or woman (any age), volunteer of the year (under-18 and senior), sports official (any age), sports team (under-18 and senior), official (referee, timekeeper or track judge).

Nominations for all awards should be submitted no later than December 31 to Basingstokelsc@aol.com or posted to Kevin Laing, Sports Council chairman, 1 Meadow Road, Harrow Way, Basingstoke, Hants, RG21 3LL.