ARE you proud of a coach within your club or do you know a coach who deserves recognition for their dedication to sport?

Has your coach helped either yourself or your team achieve a level of success you didn't think possible?

Has this coach taken steps to continually improve their knowledge and are they recognised as being approachable and understanding?

If the answer is yes to any of the above three questions then it is time to put pen to paper and nominate them for the Basingstoke and Deane Sports Coach of the Year Award.

This award is open to all sports coaches, from first level to paid professionals, within the Basingstoke and Deane area.

All the finalists will be invited to the annual Gazette Sports Awards evening in March 2004, where they will receive a £100 cheque and go forward to the county awards.

The past four years have seen a wide range of sports represented - which is a true reward for their efforts.

Last year, Gary Miller was the winner for his work as coach, as he was instrumental in reviving the mini-section at Overton rugby club in 1997.

Since then, the section has grown from six children to more than 80 and, as head coach, Miller is in charge of developing boys and girls teams from under-seven up to under-11.

The award was the icing on the cake after an excellent season which had seen Overton become Hampshire champions at under-eight.

The year before, Chris Berry of Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletics Club was the winner.

In 2000, netball was honoured thanks to Anna Fearnley, coach for the highly-successful Storm netball team.

The year before, Graham Watt, an ice hockey coach who is still involved with the junior development at the club where his youngest son Ryan plays was the winner. His oldest son Nicky is now part of the Basingstoke Bison.

Application forms are now available on request from Steve Welch at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on 01256 845442, with a closing date of December 1.

Any coach previously nominated, but not winning the award, can of course be nominated again. Last year these were Ed Campbell, coach of the Basingstoke Buffalo, Janet Wilson from the Basingstoke Gymnastics Club, ice skating coach Melissa Galvin and Totally Tennis' Shane Deacon.

So don't delay, make that call today and either nominate yourself or persuade others within your club or sport to put pen to paper.

This is a great award and one that shows the standards of coaches across the borough.