OPEN water swimmer Scott Dawson was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement prize at the 2017 Energise Me awards evening at St Mary's Stadium.

Dawson, from Southampton, returned to swimming in 2014 after an absence of around 20 years. After shedding five stones, last summer he swam around the Isle of Wight - a distance of 65 miles - in 25 hours and 56 minutes.

Dawson said: "I was very overwhelmed as I didn’t expect the award.

"A lot of people who saw my event were surprised how little recognition for the swim around the Isle of Wight non-stop for charity, so this is amazing.

"My dad told me I couldn’t do this, so I did. And now onto the next challenge!"

Previously the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Sports Awards, the Energise Me Awards is the only county-wide event to publicly reward and recognise the commitment, performance and excellence across all sports and physical activity.

For the sixth consecutive year, Kris Temple (BBC South Today) presented the evening along with special guest Ben Smith, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award 2016 winner.

Award winners and nominees

Club of the Year sponsored by Serious Sport

WINNER: Basingstoke Hockey Club – Hockey

Nominated

Basingstoke & Deane Chineham Park Running Club – Road & Endurance Running, Basingstoke & Deane South Hants Sitting Volleyball Club – Sitting Volleyball, Portsmouth

Coach of the Year sponsored by Energise Coaches

WINNER: Doug Sheppard – Ice Hockey, Basingstoke & Deane

Nominated

Mark Rushall – Sailing, Havant Kim Hill – Swimming, Winchester

Volunteer of the Year sponsored by Hillcrest Structural Ltd

WINNER; Ann Stanhope – Running, Winchester

Nominated

Rebecca Barker – Swimming, Basingstoke & Deane Lily Moore – Multiskills, Havant

Junior Sports Person

WINNER; Alice Tai – Para Swimming, New Forest

Nominated

Holly Mills – Athletics, Test Valley Serena Vincent – Athletics: Shot Put, Eastleigh

Senior Sports Person

WINNER; Georgina Hermitage – Athletics (Para), East Hampshire

Nominated

David Smith – Boccia, Eastleigh Michael Jones – Para Swimming, New Forest

Official of the year sponsored by Energise Coaches

WINNER; Anne Flitcroft – Athletics, Basingstoke & Deane

Nominated

Colin Miles – Football, Eastleigh Lia Waine – Hockey, New Forest

Outstanding Achievement sponsored by Saints Foundation

WINNER; Scott Dawson – Open Water Swimming, Southampton

Nominated

Jenny Warner – Strongwoman, Eastleigh David Williamson – Sitting Volleyball & Wheelchair Athletics, Havant

Making a difference

WINNER; Back to Netball/Walking Netball SE Delivery Team – Netball,

Nominated

South East Hampshire ActiveAbility – Inclusive Activities, Southampton Cycles4All – Inclusive Cycling, Eastleigh

Team of the year

WINNER; Aldershot Ski Race Club (juniors) – Ski racing (dry slopes), Rushmoor

Nominated

Hayling Golf Club 1st Team – Golf, Havant Basingstoke Bisons (senior team) – Ice Hockey, Basingstoke & Deane

Active Workplace sponsored by RS Health & Fitness

WINNER; New Forest District Council –New Forest

Nominated

Eastleigh Borough Council –Eastleigh, BAE Systems Farnborough – Rushmoor 

Service to Sport ponsored by Place for People

WINNER; Derik Brooks – Football, Eastleigh

Nominated

Jim Smallbone – Cricket, East Hampshire Ken Charman – Boxing, Southampton