TOP sporting talent, achievement and participation in and around Alton has been recognised at the annual East Hampshire Sports Awards.

Organised by East Hampshire District Council, the awards night was held at Old Thorns Manor Hotel at Griggs Green, near Liphook, and featured special guest Roger Black, the two-time Olympic silver medal-winning 400m runner who handed out the prizes.

The Gosport-born athlete turned to athletics after failing in his bid to become a doctor and spoke about the passion he and other sporting legends have that keeps them going through adversity, as well as the dreams, goals and aspirations that push them on.

“The essence of sport is not the victory, but in the struggle to get there. It’s all in the journey,” said Black, who picked up his two silver medals at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 to add to the bronze medal he won in?Barcelona in 1992.

“Tonight, I am happy to be here to honour and support Hampshire’s talented sportsmen and women.”

East Hampshire District Council leader Ferris Cowper was also on hand to launch the authority’s new Elite Sports Fund, which from September will offer grants to promising district athletes, while TV?presenter Fred Dinenage again hosted the awards.

Julie Butler, the district council portfolio holder for customer relations, said: “It’s great to have had so many nominations from such a wide range of sporting areas. It shows that everyone can find a sport that suits them and I hope these awards inspire others to get involved.

“By launching our new Elite Sports Fund, EHDC is putting its money where its mouth is and investing in the district’s sporting future. I look forward to seeing who steps forward for the grants.”

And the future certainly looks bright for sporting teams and individuals in and around Alton if this year’s awards are anything to go by.

Young members of Alpha Trampoline Club were left jumping for joy when they were named Club of the Year, beating off the challenge of fellow nominees Bugs Netball Club and Alton Health & Fun Club.

The club is going from strength to strength and now boasts 89 talented trampolinists, which has added up to an impressive haul of 21 podium finishes at novice level, 24 at regional laevel, and six podium finishes at national level.

The School Team of the Year Award went to Ropley Primary’s lacrosse team, which took two teams to the Southern Regional Championships last year. The school’s A team emerged as clear winners, securing them a place in the National Pop Lacrosse finals in Sheffield in the process.

The Ropley youngsters fended off the challenge of Churcher’s College first XV?rugby team from Petersfield and young footballers from Buriton Primary School, near Petersfield.

Cricketer Hugo Hammond was another Alton winner, earning the title of Junior Disability Sportsperson of the Year.

The batsman and wicketkeeper, who captains the Lord Wandsworth College first XI and plays for Alton Cricket Club, is now an established member of England’s physical disability squad and came out tops against boccia player Tia Ruel, who is studying a BTEC level three diploma in sports at Alton College and lives at Treloar, and Federica Vazzana, who competes for Alton Trampoline Club.

Also among the winners was Ben Norfolk, who was named Senior Volunteer of the Year for his work with Alton United Youth Football Club.

And award nominees from in and around Alton included distance runner Philip Scrase (Master Sportsman of the Year category), Sophie Jarrett and Sasha Wells of Perins School in Alresford (Junior Volunteer of the Year Award category), Christine Bothwell and Hannah Gadsen of Alpha Trampoline Club (Performance Coach of the Year category), and Alton Rugby Club under-11s (Junior Team of the Year category).Young archers from Liphook Scouts were named Junior Team of the Year.

Winners from the East Hampshire Sports Awards will now be entered into the Hampshire Sports Awards, which take place in March.