2 September 2011 Last updated at 08:59 ET

Essex Sports Awards nominations open

Alex Dowsett won the Olympic hopeful award at the 2010 Essex Sports Awards

Nominations have opened for the sixth Essex Sports Awards which celebrate the county's sporting achievements in 2011.

The event, organised by sportessex, will acknowledge the county's top competitors, volunteers, community clubs and coaches.

The awards evening will be held at Colchester United's Weston Homes Community Stadium on 16 November.

Last year's winners included shooter James Huckle and cyclist Alex Dowsett.

Team Sky rider Dowsett, from Cock Clarks near Maldon, picked up the Olympic hopeful award at last year's event.

He said: "Just to be nominated was a real honour and to win was a shock because of the calibre of athletes I was up against."

The Commonwealth Games silver medallist added it was also a good way to thank people, such as volunteers and local clubs, whose work often went unnoticed.

He said: "They're the guys who keep sport going and are the ones who inspire you to push yourself to the absolute limit.

"There wouldn't be sport without them and so it's really nice to see them up on stage."

The eight categories are:

• Sports Personality of the Year
• Young Sports Personality
• Disabled Sports Personality
• Unsung Hero
• Young Community Volunteer
• School of the Year
• Community Club of the Year
• Coach of the Year

Nominations for the awards close on 3 October and can be made via the sportessex website.

The awards will be hosted by sports producer Glenn Speller of BBC Essex.