Truro Hockey Club

SPORTS volunteers have been recognised and rewarded for all their hard work at this year's Cornwall Sports Awards Ceremony.

The 2011 Cornwall Sports Awards invited many unsung sporting heroes to take centre stage, to receive great applaud for all their incredible volunteering efforts.

The annual event, held for the second year at The Atlantic Hotel in Newquay, last Friday, welcomed more than 200 attendees from across Cornwall; including special guests, ex England rugby captain Phil de Glanville and Team GB athlete Mark Lewarne.

Entertainment was also provided in abundance by the evening's compere, Pirate FM presenter Neil Caddy. Closing the ceremony was 19-year-old Sports Leader of the Year Mark Stevens.

Organised by the Cornwall Sports Partnership, the event is now in its sixth year of celebrating and paying tribute to the many volunteers across the county who dedicate their time and efforts to supporting our strong sports community.

This year 13 awards were presented and the well-deserved winners were:

Children's Coach of the Year: Stephen Lowe, Crafthole District Churches Table Tennis

Participation Coach of the Year: Shane Tellam, Perranporth Rugby Club

Young Coach of the Year U25: Vanessa Davies, One & All Judo Club

Performance & Development Coach of the Year: Marek Churcher, Cornwall Rugby & Truro College

Official of the Year: Joshua Latus (Newquay Hornets Rugby Club)

Adult Club of the Year: Cornwall Athletics Club

Junior Club of the Year: Caradon Hockey Club

Club of the Year 2011 (chosen by postal vote, in collaboration with Cornwall & Devon Media Group Newspapers): Penzance Tennis Club

Sportivate Project of the Year: Sportivate Gymivate at three Cornwall Council Leisure Centres

Young Leader of the Year: Mark Stevens, Truro College

Community Volunteer of the Year: James Chudleigh, Looe Rowing Club

Community Volunteer of the Year U25: James Burlingham, Hayle Surf Lifesaving Club

Lifetime Services to Sport: David Pierce, Truro Junior Hockey Club

De Glanville, who won 38 caps for England, and is now working for Sport England, paid tribute to the county's volunteers.

He said: "Without the hard work and dedication of volunteers, clubs simply would not exist.

"It is thanks to you all that there are so many fantastic opportunities for sport in Cornwall. Congratulations to everybody here tonight."

Redruth triathlete Lewarne said: "Having been brought up with sport in Cornwall and worked my way up to representing my country and achieving top International standard, it gives me great pleasure to inspire and motivate everyone involved in sport in Cornwall."

Cornwall Sports Awards organiser, Natasha Howard of the Cornwall Sports Partnership, says: "We've been bowled over by the incredible volunteering efforts of all our winners and nominees.

"It's an absolute honour to organise the event each year, to have the opportunity to formally thank our volunteers for all the amazing work they do.

"It was a record year for nominations, showing how all of their efforts are being recognised and appreciated by the strong sports community we have in Cornwall".

A variety of Cornish companies and organisations support the event, including: Truro College, Sport England, Miller Countrywide, Tony Pryce Sports, Cornwall & Devon Media, Sports Leaders UK, Pyramid Production Services and NHS Health Promotion Service.