THE LARGEST gathering of local sporting talent for a year takes place next Friday.

Gazette Sports Awards night is again hosted by the Apollo Hotel and eight major trophies will be presented , including the Gazette Sports Personality of the Year, chosen by readers of this newspaper.

Top performers will vie for the awards of senior sportsman and woman of the year and junior sportsman and woman of the year.

In addition, the unsung backroom volunteers who keep sport in the town running smoothly will be recognised in the service to sport award.

The other two categories are club of the year and coach of the year.

In three issues of The Gazette leading up to the big night, we reviewing the short-listed candidates. Get the current Friday Gazette for details of the shortlisted candidates in the senior and junior women and club of the year categories.

Monday's Gazette will focus on the senior and junior men.