THE HIGH quality of sport in the Haslemere area was highlighted at a special awards evening.

Sport Haslemere held a very successful event at Haslemere Hall where more than 130 guests witnessed many sporting stars receive awards for outstanding achievement and their services to sport.

Chris Grimes, chairman of Sport Haslemere and Haslemere Sports Association, paid tribute to the people who won awards.

“We have seen the exciting potential of all ten of the Create a Star award winners, as well as the skill and devotion of the Sports Award winners – we are very fortunate to have such talented people in our midst in Haslemere,” he said.

Special guests for the evening included the mayor of Waverley, Mary Foryszewski, and the mayor of Haslemere John Robini.

Melanie Odell MBE, the president of Sport Haslemere, presented the awards.

The evening’s main sponsor was St Edmund’s School and Melanie thanked all the sponsors for their generous support.

The second part of the evening was devoted to the Create a Star Awards.

Ten young athletes were awarded bursaries of £500 each to help them continue to achieve their undoubted potential as future international athletes.

This was the tenth year of the bursary awards and it has been funded throughout by Haslemere Sports Association – a massive investment of £50,000.

Each of the award winners were announced in turn, setting out their achievements over the past 12 months and were presented with their bursary by the sponsors.

For more information about Sport Haslemere visit the website at www.sporthaslemere.co.uk

Thirteen awards were presented:

School Initiative Award (a new award to encourage participation in sport, sponsored by Clarke Gammon Wellers): Camelsdale School

Sports Team of the Year (sponsored by Health Flex): Chiddingfold Ladies Cricket XI

Junior Sports Team of the Year (sponsored by Woolmer Hill School): Beacon Hill Junior Football Club Under-9 Jets

Sports Award for the Disabled (sponsored by Grayshott Pottery): Steve Wooding of Frensham Pond Sailability

Young Volunteer of the Year (sponsored by St Edmunds School): Lily Henderson of Frensham Pond Sailability

Young Coach of the Year (sponsored by Red H): Alfie Garrod of JK Coaching

Sporting Impact in Schools (sponsored by Cornberry): Camelsdale School

Sports Coach of the Year (sponsored by Active Surrey/Specsavers): Andrew Howard of Haslemere Hockey Club

Sport Initiative (sponsored by Haslemere Festival): Lynn Joyce of Swallows Trampoline Club

Sports Club of the Year (sponsored by Amesbury School): Bugs Netball Club

Junior Sports Personality (sponsored by Sports Locker): Lucas Hutchinson of Grayshott Cricket Club

Special Services to Sport (sponsored by Haslemere Town Council): Kate Brooks of Fernhurst Football Club

Sports Personality of the Year (sponsored by Waverley Borough Council): Jake Kennett of JK Coaching