YORK people are in the running for top honours in the 2003 npower Active Sports Awards.

The awards, organised by the Federation of Disability Sports Organisations (FDSO), recognise people who have made an outstanding contribution to sports for people with disabilities.

Haxby's Ruth Bickerdike has been nominated in the coach of the year category.

Team manager and coach for both the junior and senior Disability Sport England (DSE) Yorkshire swimming teams, she also coaches the teams for the three national DSE championship events that take place every year.

Over the last three years the teams have won 18 gold, 17 silver and 13 bronze medals which has led to the squad being nominated as team of the year.

Dunnington's 18-year-old Alastair Domville has been nominated for the young achiever (male) award in recognition of his achievements in indoor bowls.

Domville, who has cerebral palsy, scooped gold in the singles event at the DSE regional bowls championships in November last year to earn a place in the national championships in May.

The nominees will find out if they are winners in their categories at the annual npower Active Sports Awards dinner at Leeds United's Elland Road ground on Saturday, March 29.

Updated: 09:09 Thursday, March 27, 2003