Quartet of Basingstoke sports stars win gongs at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Sports Awards

Sportspeople, coaches and volunteers from Basingstoke and Deane received a total of 14 nominations for the 18 awards on offer at the ceremony, which took place at Southampton FC, with athletics stalwart Ian Byett the big winner.

Byett, who has been a member of Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletic Club for 50 years, carrying out a wide range of roles, picked up the prestigious Service to Sport award.

He said: “I’m delighted. I’ve been passionate about the sport I’ve been involved in and it’s great to be here among other sportspeople.

“I’ve met a few people here tonight who I have come across before and I’m glad there is a whole range. The number of people who are involved gets bigger each year.”

The other winners from Basingstoke and Deane were modern pentathlete Bradley Sutton, gymnast Megan Kealy and athletics official Steve Snodden.

Sutton picked up the Junior Sportsman award after a year that saw him win the Biathle World Tour and European Biathle Championship.

Sutton said: “It was great to win this prestigious award from my home county and to be nominated by my home town of Basingstoke. It was a very proud moment for me.”

Tumbler Kealy beat the reigning world champion on her way to claiming a British title and was later crowned the world age group champion. She won the Junior Sportswoman award.

Snodden won the Official award for his work helping to run athletics events for both Basingstoke and Mid Hants and UK Athletics.