THE Basingstoke and Deane Sports Awards again proved to be a great success with 18 awards presented right across the local sporting spectrum.

The annual evening was a glittering affair, once again hosted by the Apollo Hotel and organised by Basingstoke Sports Council with its chairman Kevin Laing taking on master of ceremonies duties for the event.

The main event sponsor was the Basingstoke Sports Centre, while Specsavers and Basingstoke Rotary Deane were also sponsors this year.

The programme and grant aid cheques on the evening were supplied by the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The evening was opened with a performance by dancers from the Basingstoke Academy of Dance.

Mark Halliday supplied the music for the event and lighting came courtesy of Zeallive.

There were 19 sport scholarships announced on the evening by Basingstoke Sports Centre (Sports Trust) and Basingstoke Aquadrome (Basingstoke Community Leisure Trust).

The Sports Trust scholarships went to Rosie Clarke and Jitka Hall in jiu jitsu; Tony Shering and Kienan Dolan in karate; Cat and Cameron Coveney in pentathlon; Jordan Ford, Harry Richardson and Gemma Bigg in athletics; Liam Hignett in tennis; and Daisy Coleman in powerboating.

Winners of the Basingstoke Community Leisure Trust scholarships were won by Samantha Girle, Grace Merrin, Charlyne Lebosse and William Sadler all in swimming; Terry Brigdale in karate; Tracey Hare and Matt Wright in triathlon; and George Metzger in cricket.

Basingstoke has five county finalists, who will represent the town at an event at Southampton FC’s St Mary’s Stadium on Thursday.

The finalists are Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletic Club in the club category, Lindsey Andrews as a coach, Liz Flitcroft as an official, Owen Richardson in senior men and Tom Jackson as junior volunteer.