THE very best of sporting talent in our region is being celebrated with The Press and Active York Sports Awards, sponsored by Norwich Union.

We are now inviting you to nominate your sporting stars for awards in seven sporting categories.

We are looking for a Sports Personality Of The Year, a Team Of The Year, a Coach Of The Year, a Young Sports Person Of The Year, a Norwich Union Sports School Of The Year and an Inspirational Sports Person Of The Year.

There will also be a Services To Sport award, while the judges will also select one of the shortlisted nominees to receive the Active York Winner Of Winners award.

Tanya Veingard, head of sponsorship at Norwich Union, said: "At Norwich Union, we are committed to supporting athletics at all levels, from playground to podium, making it easier for athletes to achieve their goals and for ten million children to get active, stay healthy and learn key life skills.

"We are inviting the public to join us in making a difference to sport in local communities across the UK. As one of the city's main employers, we are proud to be giving the people of York the opportunity to recognise and reward local sporting excellence through our support of the York Sports Awards 2007."

Kevin Booth, editor of The Press, said: "The Press is delighted to be supporting these new awards, which not only recognise and reward the great depth of sporting talent in the York area but also the work of the unsung heroes who put in hours of valuable work behind the scenes."

All individuals and groups nominated must live and be involved with a sports organisation in the York area.

People can nominate as many times as they want, in as many categories as they want, and the winners will be selected by a panel of judges.

A total of three finalists will be selected in each category and invited to a glittering black-tie awards ceremony, to be held in the city in November.

To nominate an individual or team for any of the awards, which are detailed in the panel on this page, simply fill in the entry form, also printed on this page.

Completed entry forms should be sent to Neil Gulliver, at York Sports Awards, Sports And Active Leisure, City of York Council, 18 Back Swinegate, York YO1 8ZD.

The closing date for entries is Saturday, September 1.