Difficult to list his huge achievements in sport, Tony Manos' nomination as Sports Personality of the Year was based on his outstanding success in establishing wheelchair rugby in Haslemere.
Dependent on first persuading the Rugby Football Union to accept the sport into the town, Haslemere has become one of only 10 clubs in the UK.
Through his efforts a National Wheelchair Development Unit was set up in Haslemere and wheelchair rugby has become a full-blooded sport for tetraplegic sportsmen, gaining recognition as an event in the Paraplegic Olympics in Sydney 2000.
One of Tony's greatest achievements to date was bringing together both ablebodied and wheelchair players on a world tour of five continents, involving 75 people including 33 under-17-year-olds and 14 wheelchair players.
The entourage also included coaches, carers, a doctor and physiotherapist and Tony had to raise more than £350,000 to cover the costs of such a far reaching event.
Now established as the UK centre for national coaching, the Edge now sees regular wheelchair rugby with players from around the country participating and six of the 12 members of the GB National Wheelchair Squad who competed at the European Championships in March came through the development unit at The Edge
The award given to Tony at Woolmer Hill School last week was, said the nomination, for efforts "which should be recognised well beyond the walls of this establishment."
Commendation - Tony Mendum
Tom is a member of Border Athletic Club, and recently competed in the final round of the Surrey League Cross-Country Division four at Lightwater Park. He took fourth place in the competitive Farthing Down race and was awarded winner of the overall series for the senior title for 2002.