THE annual City and District of St Albans Sports Awards took place on Wednesday at The Vineyard Church, St Albans. Presented by best-selling author and Chairman of Active St Albans, Tom McNab, and following a speech from the Deputy Mayor, Maxine Crawley,

THE annual City and District of St Albans Sports Awards took place on Wednesday at The Vineyard Church, St Albans.

Presented by best-selling author and Chairman of Active St Albans, Tom McNab, and following a speech from the Deputy Mayor, Maxine Crawley, the evening was broken down into three sections: Club Sports Awards, Special Olympics Awards (people with learning difficulties) and School Sports Awards. Event organiser, Tom Burton from the St Albans Sports Development Team provided by St Albans City & District Council and managed in partnership with Leisure Connection, said: "It is absolutely vital to recognise and reward our local athletes, coaches, volunteers, teams and clubs for their outstanding sporting contribution and achievements in the district. A fantastic evening was had by all and we hope to see many of the guests at next year's awards."

Herts Advertiser photographer Dave Harris went along to the glittering celebration and took photographs of the award winners. See the gallery on our website www.hertsad24.co.uk for pictures.

In the Club Sports Awards category Harpenden Under 17s were named Team of the Year after their sensational display to become the top team in the country at their age group.

St Albans Centurions Rugby League club were recognised after they became Rugby League Conference National Champions.

Other winners in the Club Sports Awards: Community Coach of the Year - Female: Recognition - Aisling McSweeney (Loreto College); Winner - Dawn Sewell (Mandeville Primary School). Community Coach of the Year - Male: Recognition - Doug Seabrook (Marshalswick Judo Club); Winner - Shane Rampling (St Albans Centurions RLFC). Official/Administrator: Recognition - Liz Bateman (Marshals Junior Badminton Club); Winner - Wendy Seabrook (Marshalswick Club). Contribution to Disability Sport: Recognition - Dan Rogers (St Albans City Youth FC); Winner - Adam Garland (Special Olympics). Community Club of the Year: Recognition - St Albans City Youth FC; Recognition - Marshalswick Judo Club; Winner - St Albans Athletics Club. Service to Sport: Winner Dave Wray (St Albans City Youth FC).

The Special Olympics St Albans Awards were split into a number of different categories with the winners as follows: Players' Player of the Year: Beginners Swimmer Charlie Binks; Intermediate Swimmer Daniel Shaw; Advanced Swimmer Stephen Thurgood

Session 1 Football Niam Welch; Session 2 Tom Ward; Athletics Olivia Collins; Golf Vincent Siu. Coaches Player of the Year - Beginners Swimmer Paras Shah; Intermediate Swimmer Nicholas Skilton; Advanced Swimmer Jason Ager and Lucy Russell. Session 1 Football Thomas Holley; Session 2 Football James Hall; Athletics Katie Maguire; Golf Moira Siegieniewicz. Coach/Volunteer of the Year Adam Garland. Rowland Shield Jonathan Riggans. Terry Carter Shield Stephen Thurgood.

In the School Sport Awards section the winners were: School Sports Pupil of the Year - Primary Winner: Meghan Hobbs (Aboyne Lodge); Secondary: Recognition - Molly Cutler (Loreto College); Recognition - Ayesha Connaughton (Loreto College); Winner - Gemma Davis (STAGS). Sports Leader of the Year: Recognition - Georgina Impson Davey; Winner - Eddie Gray. Junior Sports Person of the Year - Primary: Recognition - Emily Arbuthnott; Winner - Thomas Hewitt; Secondary: Recognition - Rosanna-May Cannon; Recognition - Robert Gayler; Recognition - Jayme Baggio; Winner - Jemma O'Dwyer

School Team of the Year - Primary: Winner - Aboyne Lodge Netball Team; Secondary: Recognition - Sir John Lawes First XI Football Team; Recognition - Marlborough Under-12 Girls Football Team; Recognition - Beaumont Under 12 Girls Cross-Country Team; Winner - Nicholas Breakspear Dragon Boat Team.

Step Into Sport Award winners: Meghan Chapple, Silver; Elise Clements, Silver; Hannah Walker, Bronze; Jessica Dangerfield, Bronze; Amy Wells, Bronze; Leanne Taylor, Bronze.

Congratulations to all winners and those that received recognition awards. Email Tom Burton on tom.burton@leisureconnection.co.uk or call 01727 827667 for more information on the City and District of St Albans Sports Awards.