THE inaugural Romsey & District Sports awards have celebrated several outstanding achievements in 2014.

MP Caroline Nokes was among those who presented the 12 awards in the presence of nearly 200 people at Crosfield Hall, Romsey.

Sponsored by the Southern Daily Echo, the Romsey Advertiser and David Wilson Homes, the awards recognised sporting achievements from school children to veterans. Isaac Fitzgerald’s achievement was amongst the most heartwarming. The eight-year-old was awarded the Sporting Inspiration award for his incredible strength in adversity, having overcome leukaemia on the football field.

He is undergoing chemotherapy on a daily basis until March 2016, but scored a hat-trick in his first match after his treatment began, “showing strength and dedication through a true love of the game.”

Old Tauntonians & Romsey Cricket Club’s Under-15s won Junior Team of the Year after winning two league and cup doubles with a 100 per cent record, while Hampshire Collegiate School’s Under-16 hockey players won School Team of the Year for winning the county tournament without losing a game.

Two of the junior sportsperson awards went to Mountbatten school pupils. Athletics star Ben Upfold has won a staggering 44 medals in the last six months, including 29 gold, while dual sportswoman Katie George is in the England U19 cricket development squad as well as representing her country’s Under-15 football team.

Paultons golfer Warren Clark, 14, was awarded the junior disability sportsperson award for reducing his handicap from 32 to 9.3 despite suffering from a learning disability, dyspraxia and dyslexia. Warren also won several competitions and matches for England’s disabled team.

World powerlifting champion Marina Cornwall, 60, won the veteran sportsperson and Hursley Pony Club’s Alice James won the coveted Sportsperson of the Year award for being the National Pony Club’s intermediate dressage champion.

Romsey Hockey Club stalwart David Miles was nominated in three categories and came away with the Coach of the Year award after overseeing a ninth promotion in 11 seasons.

Phil Rowland’s commitment to Romsey Youth FC was rewarded with the Volunteer of the Year accolade, while former cycling pro Glenn Longland, 59, received the Lifetime Contribution award.

The Outstanding Personal Achievement award went to 16-year-old sprinter Amy Teal, a double 100m champion for Hampshire and Hampshire schools who ran a personal best of 12.3 seconds earlier this year and has set Southampton Athletics Club records at 100m and 200m.

Pictures from the inaugural Romsey & District Sports awards night will be published in this weekend's Sports Pink