FARNHAM Sports Council hosted the 42nd annual Farnham Sports Awards at Farnham Rugby Club last week.

David Gill, the sports council chairman, said: “The standard of nominations for this year’s sports awards were incredibly high, possibly the best ever. There were many fantastic ambassadors for sport in Farnham present at the ceremony, many of whom won awards. To all those who help to promote and develop sport in Farnham, thank you all for your efforts and keep up the good work.”

The Young Volunteer of the Year went to an outstanding swimmer, Gemma Lee-Ross, who has completed both her Level One and Level Two swim coaching qualifications and may well be the youngest fully qualified swimming coach in the country.

Lisa Skirrow, who volunteers at Frensham Pond Sailability and helps run the youth sailing group at Frensham Pond, encouraging young sailors to help with the disabled sailing section, won the Volunteer of the Year award.

The Junior Sports Personality award went to George Asprey, 12, who is highly placed in the Surrey under 13s’ ranking list for the 100k, 200m, shot, discus and javelin. For the discus he is ranked number three in the UK.

Tim Snook was awarded the Junior Sports Personality. He is ranked the UK number two at under 17s for the 10k walk and ranked number four at the five-kilometre walk. Although a junior age competitor, he is regularly competing at senior level.

Marion Stockley, the sports council secretary, said: “Our thanks go to the rugby club for hosting our sports awards evening and to our guests mayors of both Waverley and Farnham and to our local sporting celebrity, Rachel Morris, for supporting the event. We are all delighted that Rachel has already qualified for the Rio Paralympic Games and we all wanted to wish her well.”

As the evening progressed, St Polycarp’s School football team scooped the Junior Sports Team award, finishing off their season by playing at White Hart Lane, the ground of Tottenham Hotspur.

Farnham Golf Club Ladies Team, won the Senior Sports Team award, pulling off their biggest achievement in the club’s history by wining the ladies title in the Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic. Against 2,917 clubs, the Farnham Ladies triumphed in the biggest amateur team competition in the world. The final was played in Spain where Farnham beat Whittington Hearth by four to one to become the Ladies National Champions.

The Disabled Sports Personality award went to Paul Phillips, who assists the Frensham Pond Sailability committee, recently stepping in as acting chairman. His skills and experience have been valued by the Royal Yachting Association which has appointed him to the National Paralympic Steering Group for Sailing.

Sports Coach of the Year went Verity Snook, who has been a race-walking coach for Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club for eight years following a successful international career. She is also the British Athletics Team Coach travelling with GB teams to international competitions.

Joint winners of the Sports Club of the Year were Aldershot, Farnham and District Athletic Club and Farnham Swimming Club.

Among the athletic club’s sporting achievements their women were bronze medalists in the European Clubs Cross country Championships with two of their individual runners, Lily Partridge and Steff Twell, coming in the top four places.

Farnham Swimming Club, is a multi-award winning club, which puts as much effort into ‘behind the scenes’ work as they do into their county, regional and national swimming successes, as well as a ‘swimming for everyone’ ethos.

The Service to Sport award went to Steve Tomlinson, who has been chairman of the mini/junior section of Farnham Rugby Club for more then 10 years. He was responsible for establishing the outdoor pitches at the new club, including overseeing and managing all the work involved in the project.

The Sports Personality of the Year award went to Lily Partridge, who won the English Senior Cross country Championship in February and was the British Inter Counties champion this year.

Suzie Wall from Active Surrey said: “Farnham’s sports awards are organised in conjunction with Active Surrey. All local winners from around Surrey, including Farnham’s award winners, go through to a county assessment panel to be considered for the prestigious Surrey Sports Awards.”