SIANAGH GALLAGHER dreams of one day winning Paralympic gold - but for now the York climber has set her sights on becoming the best in the world.

The 18-year-old, last year named as the disabled sportsperson of the year and overall sportsperson of the year at the Active York Sports Awards, will bid for World Champi - onship glory in Paris next year.

A bronze medallist at the worlds in Gijon, Spain, last September, Gallagher has already got off to winning ways this season - winning a paraclimbing event at ROCFest in Manchester.

And, spurred on by topping the podium, she is determined to capture that winning feeling much more over the next year.

“It was my first competition of the season,” Gallagher explained.

“I couldn’t tell if I had finished first or not. It was quite close between me and another in a strong field. One of my aims is to get more silvers and golds. I have had a lot of third places. I would like to get back abroad and competing internationally.”

On her hopes for a future Paralympic appearance, she said: “The sport isn’t in the Paralympics yet but it is getting closer.

“The World Championships is the biggest competition at the moment but it would be massive if it was in the Paralympics.

“My aim is to get gold in the World Championships next year.

Last year there was only one point between me and second place. I have got time and it would be the biggest thing I could do.”

It’s a training slog for Gallagher but the teenager says winning competitions, and scooping the prizes at the Active York Sports Awards, had made all her hard work worthwhile.

“I really wasn’t expecting it,” she reflected after being handed the double gong at the York Sport Village. “I remember listening to them talking about the person who had won it and I had no idea it was me. To know that I won the overall sportsperson of the year was massive.

“It gave me lots of motivation to keep going and train really hard to get better results.

“It is five days a week on the climbing wall and that doesn’t include the other training. It is not just climbing. You have to really try hard. Part of my training is push-ups and pull-ups. I probably spend more time in the gym.

“The awards meant that all the time and hard work that I had put in was worthwhile. It can inspire people to try new things - not just climbing but to get out and do some sport. It means so much that people see how hard it is for me to do this sport and I feel really proud of myself for winning.”

York Press: Sianagh Gallagher a double winner at last night's inaugural Active York Sports Awards, pictured with other award winners.

WINNER: Sianagh Gallagher scoops the main award at last year's Active York Sports Awards

NOW is the time to nominate your sporting heroes for the 2015 Active York Sports Awards.

The awards, supported by The Press, will be staged at the University of York on Saturday, April 18.

Award categories include: Young Male Sportsperson, Young Female Sportsperson, Young Disabled Sportsperson, Team/Club Award, Student Sportsperson, Sportsman, Sportswoman, Disabled Sportsperson, Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Active School of the Year.

Award nominations are now open and close at noon on March 26. Full details of the awards criteria, as well as details on how to nominate, can be found by visiting www.activeyork.org or by emailing sportandactiveleisure@york.gov.uk The awards will be judged by board members and The Press’ sports editor Stuart Martel. The leading nominees in each category will be invited to attend the Active York Sports Awards.

The dinner is open to the public and tickets are priced at £40 per person, or £300 for a table of eight.

For more information, and to book your tickets, visit activeyork.org, email sportandactiveleisure@york.gov.uk or phone 01904 553377.

AWARDS CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA 2015

Young Male Sportsperson (under-18) The aim of this award is to recognise the commitment, dedication and success achieved by young sportsmen in York.

Nominees will have achieved significant success at county, regional, national or international level.

Young Female Sportsperson (under-18) Recognising the commitment, dedication and success achieved by young sportswomen in York, nominees will have achieved significant success at county, regional, national or international level.

Young Disabled Sportsperson (under-18) The aim of this award is to recognise the commitment, dedication and success achieved by the young sportsmen and women in disability in York. Nominees will have achieved significant success at county, regional, national or international level.

Team/Club Award This open age award aims to recognise a local team or club, based in York, that has had a successful year competing within its sport in the last year.

Award for Student Sportsperson (16+) Nominees must be in full-time education and studying a recognised qualification within a college or university within the city.

This award aims to recognise the sporting success of an individual who has achieved when playing or volunteering in their sport.

Sportsman (18+) The winner of this award will have achieved success at a national or international level in the last year.

Sportswoman (18+) The winner of this award will have achieved success at a national or international level in the last year.

Disabled Sportsperson (18+) The winner of this award will have achieved success at regional, national or international level in the last year.

Active in York Award This award is aimed at rewarding individuals who may be training, taking part or competing locally, or taking on challenges or achieving great things in their active leisure time. The aim is to motivate them to continue in their pursuit of their chosen sport or activity and inspire others to get active. This award is open age.

Coach of the Year This award is designed to recognise the important and inspirational role of coaches in York who work with athletes in the city. It seeks to recognise the commitment, dedication and impact their involvement within their sport, their club, their team or on an individual.

Volunteer of the Year This award is designed to recognise the importance of volunteers who either coach, assist or support athletes within York.

Active School Award This award aims to recognise schools where sport and activity have positively impacted upon the school environment through the involvement of pupils, teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers. The award will recognise all involved in ongoing initiatives and events that have made a significant contribution to school sport and to a positive healthy environment.

Active Workplace Award This award aims to recognise organisations where sport and activity have positively impacted upon the workplace with positive effect upon employees. The award will collectively recognise the impact of ongoing initiatives and events that have encouraged sport and activity in and around the workplace, within the last 12 months.