FRENSHAM Sailability coach Lucy Edgar and Beacon Hill Juniors FC chairman Damon Culley have been crowned winners at the 10th annual Surrey Sports Awards.

The event, held at the HG Wells Conference & Events Centre, Woking, was hosted by BBC Surrey’s Tim Durrans and welcomed Team GB Paralympians Tania Nadarajah, who competed in Rio in archery; canoeist and gold medal winner in the women’s 200m KL3 classification, Anne Dickens; and Olympian Liam Heath, gold medal winner in the men’s kayak single 200m sprint and silver medal winner in the K2 200m kayak with partner Jon Schofield.

Lucy was named the winner of the Surrey Playing Fields Young Volunteer of the Year Award. She is the lead coach at the Frensham Pond Sailability youth group which is run for, and led by, young sailors.

She was nominated by her group to collect the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and, through her coaching, promotes a positive feeling of friendship and camaraderie amongst the young people who attend.

She has shown commitment to personal development by also completing her Royal Yachting Association powerboat (PB2) and dinghy instructor qualifications.

Damon Culley, the indefatigable chairman of Beacon Hill Junior Football Club, was named Workplace Challenge Volunteer of the Year.

He joined Beacon Hill Junior FC when his son started playing for the club aged seven. As a parent, he helped the team before becoming a coach.

In 2010, when he became chairman, the club had 50 to 60 juniors playing across the age groups. Damon introduced a policy of ‘football for all’, accepting all new players and encouraging parents to become coaches and gain their FA Level 1 coaching badge.

As a result, the club now has around 380 players across 28 teams, including girls’ sides. The club continues to welcome new players, particularly in the U11, U12 and U13 age groups.

Lucy Edgar and Damon Culley are now put forward for the National Sports Awards.

Campbell Livingston, director of organisers Active Surrey, said: “Our mission is to help Surrey residents be more physically active and it’s fitting that thanks to our sponsors, these awards honour those who play such a key part in that process. All the grassroots coaches, volunteers and clubs who are represented by the winners truly enrich the lives of Surrey people and we thank them all for the enjoyment they bring to so many.”

Liv Corbishley of Active Surrey added: “Honouring those involved in local sport at these awards cannot take place without the support of our sponsors. I would like to extend our gratitude to the category sponsors, including Specsavers, Freedom Leisure, Surrey County Council, 3Wise, Surrey Police & Crime Commissioner, Surrey Sports Park, BBC Surrey and Surrey Playing Fields.”

Further details of the county winners and the other short-listed nominees can be found at http://surreysportsawards. activesurrey.com