THE winners of the 2015 Active York Sports Awards will be unveiled tonight at a presentation dinner at the University of York.

Sporting achievement in the city will be recognised at the dinner in the Roger Kirk Centre on the Heslington campus, with festivities starting at 6.15pm.

The awards are organised by Active York - the city’s sport and active leisure partnership working to encourage people to be more active more often - and backed by The Press.

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.

The awards have been judged by members of the Active York board, which includes sporting partners from across the city, plus The Press sports editor Stuart Martel.

The leading nominees in each category have been invited to attend the Active York Sports Awards dinner.

Today, we can reveal the nominees in the Volunteer of the Year and Coach of the Year categories.

ACTIVE YORK SPORTS AWARDS NOMINEES

Volunteer of the Year

Jenni Ashby
Jenni, 16, volunteers at the visually impaired Tennis For All sessions run by York Disability Tennis Network. Coach Andy Crocket said: "Jenni's enthusiasm and friendly approach has won her many friends within the group. Lessons are always much easier to run smoothly with volunteers such as her."

Sam McDonnell
Dedicated 18-year-old volunteer Sam helps every Monday at Door 84's kick about sessions at their base in The Groves. Fellow volunteers say: "He shows professionalism and encourages all to have a go. Door 84 are lucky to have him."

Peter Swann
Only two girls turned up ten years ago when Peter arranged the first York Railway Institute Girls Football Club training session. The New Lane outfit are now one of the city's leading girls' clubs with more than 80 players from under-10s to U18s. Coach Chris Collins said: "There would be no York RI Girls Football Club if Peter had not been involved."

Coach of the Year

Beverley Bunyan
Beverley has been involved with York Railway Institute Judo Club for the last 38 years. Having worked her way through from juniors to seniors, the mother of four gained her black belt and began coaching in 1978.

Junior Roberti
Junior has been coaching University of York Futsal Club for the last four years. He is widely regarded as being one of the top three or four futsal coaches in the country. Junior coaches at all levels, from the youth academy he founded through to elite level.

Paul Wilson
Paul is a long-standing member of City of York Athletic Club's committee and is head throws coach, coaching athletes of all abilities and ages. His squad have achieved a lot of success, breaking records and achieving international honours in shot put, discus, javelin and multi events.