THE cream of Brentwood's sporting stars have been recognised at the borough council's annual awards ceremony.
In a massive year for sport, seven deserving winners picked up their prizes from the Mayor of Brentwood, Cllr Ann Coe, while a Torchbearer, 2012 Games Makers and an Olympic canoeist watched on.
Stones Athletic Football Club hit the back of the net by picking up the Club of the Year gong, while best coach went to Janet Hay of Recoil Twisters Trampolining Club, the organisation which also landed the Activebrentwood Award on the night.
It was a hat-trick for the Warley-based trampolinists, who are renowned for their world-class special needs facilities at Keys Hall, with Joe Harris, 13, presented with the Sports Personality of the Year Award for his rise from beginner to national competition in two years.
Other worthy winners were Allanah Allnut, 17, who scooped the Young Volunteer prize for her work for the trampoline club, and Brentwood tennis table protégé Evangeline Collier, 18, from Pilgrims Hatch, who is ranked the number one senior woman in Essex, walked away with the Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.
She said: "I was very proud after the season I've had to come out and get that. It was very rewarding.
"It was nice to be at such a lovely occasion with everybody being recognised for their part in sport."
The Unsung Hero Award was presented to retired school teacher Heather Spinks for all her work with sport at St Thomas School and other sports across the borough.
Cllr Mark Reed, the chairman of the council's retail, community and culture panel, said: "In the race to be the best, Brentwood is several blocks ahead through our advantage of Activebrentwood and its sports awards.
"We got to see the best of our local sports talent; it was surely a preview of what a wider national and international audience will soon also be appreciating."
Activebrentwood is part of ActiveEssex, run by Essex County Council, and was set-up to encourage people to fulfil sporting and physical ambitions.
The ceremony was held at Brentwood Town Hall, in Ingrave Road, on October 10.
