Features

The annual event is held in recognition of sporting achievement and excellence across the region. Monday night’s ceremony, this year held at Forest Pines Golf and Country Club in Broughton, saw some of the region’s best sporting talent recognised for their achievements.

16-year-old swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds was named Sports Person 2007. Former Grimsby Town full-back John McDermott joined the ‘Hall of Fame’ when he was recognised for his outstanding loyalty to the club.

Denise Woollard, winner of the BBC Yorkshire & Lincolnshire Sports Unsung Hero Award, was honoured for her work with the blind and visually impaired community in North East Lincolnshire. Denise was given the award for her commitment and dedication to The Foresight Project, which organises group activities such as ten pin bowling. Denise will be a special guest at the national Sports Personality of the Year show in Birmingham on Sunday, December 9th, when the national BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award winner will be announced.

There are bursaries of up to £2,500 are available to the winners of each regional award, to help them with their work in sport.

The winners of the awards were chosen by a panel of judges including local sports journalists and BBC representatives.

The winners in the six categories were as follows:

Disabled Athlete - Megan Ainsworth.

• The 14-year-old from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, plays weekly for the Newark Jaguars at basketball, and has made it into the regional under 15 team. Megan is also in the regional team for Boccia, and is involved in New Age Kurling, and Dance.

Manager of the Year - Nigel Adkins.

• Scunthorpe United’s manager has been in charge a year. Continuing the good work of his predecessor Brian Laws, he has seen his side promoted as champions of League One. Scunthorpe United has also made a good start to life in the Championship.

Team of the Year – Scunthorpe United

• Scunthorpe United waltzed away with the League One championship wrapping it up well before the season ended. Proving it was no flash in the pan, United have spent their first Championship season largely in the top half of the table.

Young Sports Person 2007 – Jack Harvey.

• Jack Harvey is a junior carting champion from Lincolnshire. After winning the Margotti Challenge, and Italian Masters Open, at the age of just 14, Jack retained his kart master title, won the final round of the British Super 1, and the European Championships.

Sports Person 2007 - Lizzie Simmonds.

• The 16 year old from Lincoln has recently won the short course 100 backstroke title at the World Cup in Australia to break the Commonwealth record.

Hall of Fame - John McDermott.

• The former Grimsby Town full-back was recognised for his outstanding loyalty to the club for which he played more than 750 games. A fans’ favourite, “Macca” was with the club through good times and leaner years. Friends and former colleagues played tribute to him in a specially-commissioned film shown at the award ceremony.