Last updated 19:51, Thursday, 04 September 2008

THE search to find the winners for the Cumbria Sports Awards 2008 has begun.

Forms for nominations will soon be available in branches of the Cumberland Building Society.

Nominations can also be made on the Cumbria Sport Partnership website www.cumbriasport.com

The deadline is October 17 and the awards will be presented at the Low Wood Hotel, Windermere, on November 28.

Oxenholme sailor Anna Mckenzie was last year’s Sports Personality of the Year.

Last year West Cumbria’s sporting talent swept the board. Six of the 10 main awards came west as did three of the five Rising Star awards for young people.

The Dovenby-based M-Sport World Championship Rally business took the Team of the Year Award.

Runner Laura Park, 16, of Dearham, was Junior Sports Personality of the Year.

Tony Tomlinson, of Glasson Rangers amateur rugby league club, was Volunteer of the Year Award.

The judges’ Special Award went to kidney transplant man Daymon Johnstone, of Workington, who won gold at the World Transplant Games.

Distington rugby league man Gary Hewer was Coach of the Year.

And Whitehaven School’s Year 11 rugby league side was Junior Team of the Year.

Rising Star awards went to Cockermouth cricketer Ben Stokes, Kells U16 rugby league captain Gregg McNally, and Cleator Moor girl Amanda Donaldson who plays rugby league for England.

The full list of categories is:

Sports Personality of the Year: The finest achievement throughout the year by an individual.

Team of the Year: Best team throughout the past year.

Performance of the Year: Best single performance by an individual or team during the year.

Junior Sports Personality of the Year (U18 at December 31, 2008): The finest achievement throughout the year by an individual.

Junior Team of the Year: The finest achievement by a young team throughout the past year (Under 18).

Performance Award for People with a Disability: Best single performance by a disabled individual or team during the year.

Special Award: To be awarded at the discretion of the judging panel.

Service to Sport Award: To acknowledge dedicated services to sport(s) in Cumbria (regardless of length of time).

Volunteer of the Year: Greatest contribution to a club, performer, community or school by a volunteer of any age this year.

Coach of the Year Award: Nominations limited to accredited NGB Coaches only.