SPORTING achievement in York will once again be recognised at a glitzy annual awards ceremony.

The 2015 Active York Sports Awards, supported by The Press, will be staged at the University of York on Saturday, April 18.

Active York - the city’s sport and active leisure partnership which works to encourage people to be more active more often - are behind the scheme, which will see gongs handed out in a series of categories.

The Active York board is made up of members representing City of York Council, higher and further education, the city’s professional clubs, community sports clubs and the voluntary sector.

The project aims to help the people of York be more aware of the health benefits of physical activity and to ensure coaching and development opportunities exist for people in the city to improve their performance and to enable them to compete at the highest level.

Award categories, which will honour sporting excellence, volunteers and workplaces, 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.

York Sports Awards Criteria form

Paula Stainton, chair of Active York, said: “The Active York Sports Awards 2015 are a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those involved in sport in the city. It also allows us to increase awareness of Active York and its role in providing support and opportunities, through the city’s sporting infrastructure with the wide ranging clubs, facilities and events that take place within it.”

Paraclimber Sianagh Gallagher was a double winner at last year’s inaugural awards, scooping the Young Disabled Sportsperson and overall Sportsperson of the Year. She said: “I feel really proud of myself for winning. I wasn’t really expecting it and it gave me lots of motivation to keep going with training and to work hard to get better results.”

Cllr Sonja Crisp, City of York Council’s leisure chief and a member of the Active York board, added: “The Active York board is really excited about the forthcoming awards, and I would like to encourage the people of York to make nominations for people from their sports clubs and communities.

“We know there are some dedicated and hardworking volunteers in the sporting community as well as some very talented athletes who Active York would like to see recognised at this year’s Active York Sport Awards.”

York Press:

AWARDS LAUNCH: Paula Stainton, chair of Active York, left, and Sonja Crisp, City of York Council's leisure chief, launch this year's Active York Sports Awards

Award nominations are now open and will 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, which includes a pre-dinner drinks reception, a three-course meal and entry to the awards ceremony.

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

* As part of Active York’s commitment to supporting the city’s talented athletes its Recognising Achievement group is continuing to provide financial grants through its Fund For The Gifted scheme.

The most recent recipients of the grant scheme will be recognised at the Active York Sports Awards.