THE Basingstoke and Deane Sports Awards again proved to be a great success with 20 awards presented to people from right across the local sporting spectrum.

The annual evening was a glittering affair and once again was hosted by the Apollo Hotel and was organised by the Basingstoke Sports Council.

The main event sponsors are the Basingstoke Sports Trust and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Other support came from the Community Leisure Trust, Destination Basingstoke, Basingstoke Deane Rotary and the Ark Cancer Charity.

It proved to be a great night for the Basingstoke Bluefins as they swam to victory in four categories, winning the trophies for Senior Team, Volunteer Coach, Senior Volunteer and Senior Official.

The Bluefins Masters team won the Senior Team title after smashing the European and British record for the 4 x 200 metres freestyle relay at the National Championships in Sheffield.

This was thanks to Oliver Espinasse, Spencer Turner, Sarah Adams and Fleur Parker as they finished a minute clear of the rest of the field. As a result they are ranked one in the world.

The Masters coaching team of Ian Cameron and Keone Crockwell picked up the Volunteer Coach award having joined the club in 2016.

They coached the record breaking relay team, but also took a team to the European Championships which saw them win a bronze as well as number of top eight finishes as well as winning 10 national individual golds.

Cameron said: "This is a great team and we have some many members swimming at every level. Of course taking the European record was the highlight of the year, but we also won 50 gold medals at the Hampshire championship.

The Kempshott coach added: "We have been doing this for just over a year and have had some great results."

Chair of the Bluefins Rebecca Barker won the Senior Volunteer trophy as has worked tirelessly for the club. In 2016 she turned the club's accounts from a £8,000 deficit to a £33,000 surplus. She has now joined a network of swimming clubs with the intention of sharing best practice.

Barker from Mortimer said: "This is amazing to win this, but it for all the volunteers at the club, they are a wonderful bunch."

The final four of the awards for the Bluefins was won by Zoe Sadler who took the Senior Official award after a year in which she qualified as level one judge in February and level two in July.

The 43-year-old from Bramley has since travelled all over the south of England to gain experience working at swimming galas on a voluntary basis. She is a highly valued member of the Basingstoke Bluefins.

Sadler said: "I got into officiating after the club had to cancel a met. This is the off season for me as I am an open water swimmer and it great to give something back to the club.

From the evening Basingstoke have six county finalists, who will be representing the town at the event at Southampton St Mary's Stadium on Thursday March 30.

The six finalists are Chineham Park Running Club and Basingstoke Hockey Club (Club of the Year), Doug Sheppard (Coach of the Year), Anne Flitcroft (Official of the Year), Rebecca Barker (Volunteer of the Year) and Basingstoke Bison (Senior Team of the Year).