TODAY we start our countdown to The Gazette Sports Awards in March as Graham Merry looks at the first five sportsmen and sportswomen nominated for the title of Gazette Sports Personality of the Year.

CRAIG McALLISTER - football: Basingstoke Town's leading goalscorer has now passed the 50-goal mark since making his debut in March 2002 when he joined from Eastleigh. Has also caught the eye of a number of professional clubs and has been on trial at Stoke City, Queens Park Rangers and Luton Town.

ROSS HUNTER - cricket: Ross was voted the Basingstoke and North Hants first team player of the season for the 2003 campaign. As well as being captain and wicketkeeper, he also chipped in with a number of important innings from the middle order.

PETE BEDFORD - powerlifting: Pete retained his world under-67.5kg world title in October in Russia having smashed the world record at the British Championships at Letchworth earlier in the year. He is a member of the very successful powerlifting club at the Sports Centre.

AMANDA PROCTOR - athletics: A runner who completed a clean sweep of victories in last season's Hampshire Cross Country League with five wins out of five, Amanda also picked up a silver medal in the Hampshire Cross Country Championships.

CURTIS CRUICKSHANK - ice hockey: This Ottawa-born Canadian netminder is in his first season for the Wella Bison and is rated as one of the best netminders ever to play for the club. He has recorded two shut-outs this season and has picked up 13 man-of-the-match awards.

See your Basingstoke Extra for a voting form for the Gazette Sports Personality of the Year.