Jun 30, 2014

The culmination of the 2014 Melton Times Sports Awards took place last night as the town gathered to celebrate a stunning year of success and achievement.

An audience of around 200, comprising finalists, sponsors and guests joined us at Melton Mowbray Market’s banqueting suite to find out the winners of our 12 awards.

The traditional finale of the evening was the Sports Personality of the Year and Junior Sports Personality awards as voted for by more than 600 readers.

Thai boxing world champion George Griffiths topped the poll for junior sports personality, while inspirational coach Andy Harrison was Sports Personality.

There was also a surprise for our special guest, the world champion para-athlete sprinter Sophie Hahn who returned home with the Melton Times Merit Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Title-winning boxer Paul Butlin picked up the first prize of the night, the Sportsman of the Year, and was followed by Commonwealth Games rifle shooter Sharon Lee who was named Sportswoman of the Year.

Some of the most hotly-contested awards came in the Junior Sportsman and Junior Sportswoman categories with the prizes going to cyclist Tom Chandler and multi-event athlete Sophie Pedlar.

Barkby Cricket Club stalwart Hugh Asher was Clubperson of the Year, while British international show jumper Holly Gillott was named Horsewoman of the Year.
There was a double win for Jason Hall who won Coach of the Year award just after his team Melton Foxes Under 15s 2009 added the Junior Team of the Year
prize to their league and cup double.

Mount Group Riding for the Disabled pipped football sides Holwell and Melton Mowbray to Team of the Year, and prolific young striker Sam Thorpe won the Footballer of the Year accolade.