York-based sportsman Tristan Hale has been short-listed to be the Whitbread Young Achiever of the year.

The 19-year-old University of York student is one of 36 young people nominated in the sport section by Brendan O'Donovan, president of the university's Athletic Union, for his work in setting up a Sports Volunteer Programme at the university.

Hale spends many hours every week liasing with volunteers and schools, setting up courses and looking for further funding.

The university now has over 50 students qualified as coaches in hockey, men's rugby, tennis and cricket, among other sports.

O'Donovan said: "Tristan has done all this while still fulfilling his responsibilities as captain of the University Fencing Club and coaching fencing within and outside the university.

"He also regularly represents the university at ballroom and Latin dancing and still manages to find time to study for a full time maths degree."

Among the judges in the sports category is former England badminton international Gillian Clark. The judges will cut the list of 36 down to four finalists in each category at the end of this month.

The winner in each category will be announced at the awards lunch in London on Wednesday, June 11.

Each winner will receive £2,500 for personal and project development, £250 in Whitbread leisure vouchers, and a year's follow-up support. Three runners-up in each category will each receive £250 cash and £250 of vouchers.

Updated: 11:02 Wednesday, April 23, 2003