The race is on ... to find the region’s best sporting talent

THE MAIL’S SPORTING CHAMPIONS AWARDS ARE BACK, BIGGER THAN EVER BEFORE AND WE WANT YOUR NOMINATIONS

THE winner’s list reads like a who’s who of the region’s best sporting talent and now once again the Sporting Champions Awards are back.

The region’s premier awards night recognising the great talent from Hull and the East Riding will take place on January 30, 2019, but the race to make the shortlist for the glittering ceremony at the KCOM Stadium begins today.

From Olympic and professional boxing superstar Luke Campbell and British tennis number one Kyle Edmund to Hull FC’S Jordan Abdull and last year’s winner Holly Bentham, the list of previous winners is a long and illustrious one.

And now the Mail’s Sporting Champions Awards are back, bigger than ever before and we want your nominations so we can honour the region’s best sporting talent and those who sacrifice so much to allow the sporting world in these parts to keeping ticking.

Once again in partnership with our headline sponsor Bishop Burton College, the Mail’s Sporting Champions awards will recognise the best under-18 sports stars of the future, while honouring those unsung heroes who make junior and amateur sport across our region possible. From left, Luke Campbell, Kyle Edmund and Jordan Abdull are previous winners

If you’re a coach, parent, grandparent, school teacher or just a general sports nut who knows of someone making waves in their respective sport then we want to hear about it.

From martial arts, equestrianism, swimming, darts and athletics to football, rugby, cricket, snooker and everything in between, we want to hear about your

success stories or those close to you.

“The Mail’s Sporting Champions Awards have become an important part of what we do,” explained Sports Editor James Smailes.

“Through our weekly Hotshots supplement we strive to give a profile and voice to youth sport and these awards are about recognising the undoubted talent we see gracing our pages every week. The awards have got bigger each year and once again we’re expecting an influx of brilliant success stories.

“We also want to hear about those who go the extra mile to allow amateur and youth sport to thrive in the way it does.

“But it’s not just about the winners, rather bringing together all the nominees and their families in what’s a great celebration of local sport in our area.we want to hear from you because unless these success stories are highlighted, we cannot recognise them."

The awards are split into 12 categories, with boys and girls under-16s and over 16s recognised in those respective age groups, while we also honour the disabled athlete of the year, team of the year, coach of the year and sports club of the year.

With further awards for outstanding sporting school, community award and the sport inspiration award, the Sporting Champions awards are the most encompassing awards ceremony around and we need you to be a part of it.

Voting is open until December 14, with the judging panel looking to reward excellence in the chosen sport with regional and national honours and national representation often given extra weight when making their decision.

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To see the categories, criteria and vote, visit www.hdmsportsawards.co.uk